Big Cheese Squeeze Alton Brown Recipes

BIG CHEESE SQUEEZE

Steps:

• Find 2 heavy skillets that will nest together. Two (10-inch) cast iron skillets are ideal. Heat them over high heat.
• Meanwhile, spread mustard on one slice of bread. Distribute the cheese evenly over the mustard, season with fresh black pepper and top with second piece of bread.
• Spritz the bread surface that's staring up at you with olive oil using either a Misto or a pump sprayer. A light coat will do; don't soak.
• When the pans are hot enough to vigorously sizzle a drop of water, remove them from the heat and place the sandwich, top-side down, in the middle of one pan. (If your pans are a different size, this would be the smaller one.) Spritz the slice now facing you, as well as the bottom of the other skillet. Lay the skillet right on top of the sandwich. If the top pan isn't cast iron, weigh it down with a brick, can or something of similar heft.
• Wait patiently; crack a beer. When you hear the first bit of cheese run out and sizzle on the pan, it's done. This will take anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the top skillet (you may need to coax it off with a spatula, but I doubt it). Just look at it. It's perfect. Better than Mom's (no reason to tell her).
• Remove to a plate, count to 10 and slice it in half. Take a bite. Take another. So they lost... there's always next year.

BIG CHEESE SQUEEZE

Steps:

• Find 2 heavy skillets that will nest together. Two (10-inch) cast iron skillets are ideal. Heat them over high heat.
• Meanwhile, spread mustard on one slice of bread. Distribute the cheese evenly over the mustard, season with fresh black pepper and top with second piece of bread.
• Spritz the bread surface that's staring up at you with olive oil using either a Misto or a pump sprayer. A light coat will do, don't soak.
• When the pans are hot enough to vigorously sizzle a drop of water, remove them from the heat and place the sandwich, top-side down in the middle of one pan. (if your pans are a different size, this would be the smaller one.) Spritz the slice now facing you, as well as the bottom of the other skillet. Lay the skillet right on top of the sandwich. If the top pan isn't cast iron, weigh it down with a brick, can, or something of similar heft.
• Wait patiently, crack a beer. When you hear the first bit of cheese run out and sizzle on the pan, it's done. This will take anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the top skillet, (you may need to coax it off with a spatula, but I doubt it). Just look at it. It's perfect ... better than mom's. (no reason to tell her)
• Remove to a plate, count to 10 and slice it in half. Take a bite. Take another. So they lost ... there's always next year.

ALTON BROWN'S SOUR CREAM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Brush some of the melted butter around a 9 by 3-inch cake pan. Adhere parchment to the bottom and the sides.
• In a small bowl, combine crumbled graham crackers, the remaining melted butter, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the parchment-lined pan. Place remaining crumbs on a sheet pan and bake both the crust and the remaining mixture for 10 minutes. Cool. Reserve additional crumb mixture for sides.
• In a mixer with a paddle attachment, beat sour cream for 10 seconds. Add the cream cheese and sugar and mix on low for 30 seconds and then turn up to medium. Scrape the bowl.
• In a separate container, combine vanilla, eggs, yolks, and heavy cream. With the mixer on medium, slowly pour the liquid mixture inches When half of it is incorporated, stop and scrape. Continue adding the mixture until the rest of the ingredients are incorporated. Once completely combined, pour into the cooled crust.
• Lower oven temperature to 250 degrees F. Place cheesecake into a preheated water bath, in the oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and open the door for one minute. Close the door for one more hour. Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and place in the refrigerator for 6 hours to completely cool before serving.
• When ready to serve, place the entire cake pan into a hot water bath for about 15 seconds. Unmold onto a cake round or serving dish. Take the remaining graham cracker mixture and press into the sides of the cake.
• To slice, place your knife into a hot water bath and wipe dry each time you make a pass through the cake.

BIG CHEESE SQUEEZE - ALTON BROWN

Steps:

• Find 2 heavy skillets that will nest together. 2 10" cast iron skillets are ideal. Don't use non-stick; it's not safe to heat a non-stick skillet to these temperatures when empty. Place both skillets over high heat.
• Spread mustard on one slice of bread. Distribute the cheese evenly over the mustard, season with a twist of freshly ground black pepper and top with the second slice of bread (which you may spread with mustard or not, as you choose). Lightly spritz the upward-facing bread surface with olive oil, using a mister.
• When the pans are hot enough to vigorously sizzle a drop of water, remove them from the heat and place the sandwich, oiled side down, in the middle of one pan. Lightly spritz the side now facing you, as well as the bottom of the second pan. Place the second pan on top of the sandwich. If the top pan isn't cast iron, weight it down with a brick or heavy can.
• When you hear the first drop of cheese run out of the sandwich and sizzle on the pan, it's done. This will take 3-5 minutes. Remove to a plate, count to 10 (to let the cheese set up ever so slightly), cut in half and serve.