Panini Update

Back in the day (last year) I shared with you one of my kitchen purchases, the Griddler, aka, my Panini press (Insert 2/12/09 post here).

It is, to date, my most favoritest appliance ever! I do so much cooking on it, it’s such a life saver. It comes with 2 sets of plates: flat, for perfectly round pancakes & eggs & grill, for burgers, bacon & panini’s of course.

Realizing I posted my purchase a year ago, I’m disappointed I have not yet shared one of my meals on here. Boo me. Let’s go ahead & change that right now.

Last night, I invited Donnie & Addy over for dinner. But first, stop at our new Fresh & Easy for some yummy & very affordable focaccia rolls, ham, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella & parmesan cheese. Sounds good already, right? I know.
Once home, bust out the grill & prepare the sandwiches. I love the Panini press even more because you plug it in, turn it on, and you’re good to go in like 5 minutes max. Cut the rolls in half & spread on your choice of tomato sauce. I prefer marinara, but I had some tomato & basil sauce I needed to use up. Next, layer with meats listed above, sautéed mushrooms if you dig the fungi, & top it with both cheeses. Spread some EVOO on top & bottom rolls, and put ‘er on the gill (I forgot to take a pic until I put the last sandwich on, forgive the dirty grill plates).
Press down on the grill & that’s it. Let it cook for 5ish min, just enough to heat it through so the cheese melts. And there you have an amazing Italian gilled sandwich.

How’s your sandwich Addy? It’s bangin Auntie! Thanks ;)

Drunken Frenzo

How horrible is your city when Seth Meyers is making fun of it?

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Sushi 101

I'm back! After a long & much needed hiatus.

For my BIG 27th bday (back in October), Donnie, Meg & Addy bought me a sushi making kit. Cause I'm sort of a fiend, and I love to cook & try new things. I guess sushi doesn't really fall in the "cook" category, but it's definitely a "new thing".

First you start with the ingredients:

vinegar's, sushi rice, dried seaweed, etc.

Next you cook the sushi rice, put it in a bowl, and fan it with a Mexican fan (please ignore the grapes).

Chop up some crap meat (imitation if you're cheap like me), English cucumbers (no seeds or skin), and fresh avocado. Don't forget to make yourself some miso soup either.

Next, you take some seaweed, lay it on the rolling bamboo mat, and firmly press the sushi rice into the 'weed. May get sticky, so use some vinegar.

Once you've got a nice even coat of rice, place 'weed rice side down on a damp cloth. Fill it with your fave fixin's (crab, cuc's & avo's) & roll 'er up!

Just to prove who made 'em, there I am :)

The finished product! Not bad if I say so myself. Definitely have a long way to go if I want a career in the sushi making/rolling biz, but good enough for the Silva's.

As far as the taste...well, I will be using real crab next time. Aragato!