Monster Muenster Panini Recipes

MUENSTER MONSTER HASH BROWN FINGERS

Steps:

• Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray and line with parchment with an inch or so of overhang on all sides.
• Put the hash browns in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the cornstarch, salt and smoked paprika and toss well to coat the potatoes evenly. Add the egg and melted butter and toss well to coat. Fold in the Muenster and parsley. Press the mixture firmly into the lined baking dish and flatten the top and sides evenly. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Pour about 1/2 inch of oil in a large nonstick skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Remove the hash browns from the baking dish and cut in half with a serrated knife, then cut each half into 5 "fingers."
• The oil is ready when a shred of potato sizzles vigorously on contact. Slide half of the fingers into the oil and fry until deep golden and set on the bottom (you will know it's time to flip when they are easy to turn), about 3 minutes. Flip and fry the second side in the same way, about 3 minutes more. Drain on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil. Repeat with the remaining fingers. Season with salt and serve with ketchup on the side.

MONSTER MUNCH

Steps:

• Mix cereal, popcorn, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts together in a 4-quart microwaveable bowl.
• Microwave butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla extract together in another microwave-safe bowl, uncovered, on high power until boiling, about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Stir in pumpkin pie spice. Pour over cereal mixture and stir until evenly coated.
• Microwave cereal mixture, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring and scraping down the bowl every minute.
• Spread on waxed paper to cool, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up. Stir in candy corn.

MONSTER MUENSTER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Put cheese and salami on sandwich rolls and add coleslaw in the middle.
• Enjoy.
• I've added different cheeses and lunch meats, but this was the favorite.

THE CLASSIC PANINI

Steps:

• Halve the roll. Drizzle cut sides with olive oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Layer mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, prosciutto di Parma, and basil leaves on bottom half. Top with other half.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-low to medium heat until almost smoking. Lightly brush pan with olive oil. Place panino on pan; cover with a cast-iron or other heavy skillet weighed with soup cans. Gently press straight down. Grill, undisturbed, until browned and crisp on bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. With a spatula, flip panino. Repeat process, grill until crisp and browned on other side, 3 to 4 minutes more. Serve hot.

MINI MONSTER BURGERS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a baking tray with foil and drizzle with a little oil. Arrange the meatballs over the tray, spaced apart, and squash into flat patties using the palm of your hand. Turn the patties over and rub in the oil, then bake for 15 mins.
• Meanwhile, top the base of each roll with a small lettuce leaf. Halve the cheese slices lengthways in a zig-zag to make 'teeth', then cut in half again crosswise so you have eight rows. Cut the cucumber into thin slices on the diagonal to make tongues. Push a cocktail stick into each of the cornichons, lengthways, to make the horns and halfway through the olives to create the effect of eyeballs on stalks.
• Add a burger patty to each of the lettuce-lined buns, followed by a cucumber tongue, cheese teeth and drizzle of ketchup, then sandwich with the tops of the buns. Stick the olive eyes and cornichon horns into the tops of the buns.

MONSTER MUENSTER PANINI

Steps:

• Sandwich dressing.
• In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, relishes, onion, garlic, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, Tabasco, and black pepper to taste. Mix well! Makes about 2 cups dressing.
• Assemble the sandwich.
• For each Panini: on one slice of bread, spread sandwich dressing, while on the other, spread aioli or mayo. Layer Muenster cheese, roast beef, and pastrami, then top with pickles and caramelized onions. Close the sandwich. Brush outer sides of sandwich generously with melted Unsalted Tillamook Butter. Press on Panini grill or toast in pan or on flattop grill. Serve with garlic parmesan fries, sweet potato fries or small side salad.