A Trying Time in the Kitchen - Pt. 1
>> Saturday, 14 March 2009
My friends, never before have I ever been so frustrated, confused and at times angry in the kitchen as I have been this past week.
It all started last Monday as I was trying to make a couple of things in order to complete a forthcoming column that I am working on. For the full details, please read this week's column and be sure to check back next week for part 2 in which I will reveal what has given me all this pain in the kitchen this past week.
Now on to easier things to prepare. Remember this post? About the butterflaps? Well, a few days ago a reader emailed me for the recipe and in our conversations, she said that she wanted to try making 2 batches, one with the butter and the other with a cheese paste! The cheese paste idea immediately got my attention. While I knew all along that eating the butter flap with sharp cheddar was an excellent idea, I didn't think about actually stuffing it with a cheese paste. This is why I love talking about food, so many ideas are shared. So you know what? Uh huh, I made the flaps and these are called cheese flaps for obvious reasons.
Here's my Cheese Paste Recipe and the dough is any regular white bread dough.
Ingredients
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (New Zealand or English cheddar works great)
2 tablespoons grated onion
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons spicy mustard
1 tablespoon butter (salted or unsalted)
Method
Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mash to a paste with a fork
Look at it here still very warm with the melting cheese paste. All you need with this is a cup of tea or coffee.
I've also been doing some blog cooking. Through Chef Paz, I've discovered a fantastic South Amercian food blog. The author, Laylita, is Ecuadorian and she makes some great food. I am overjoyed at the many ways she uses plantains. And you know how much I love plantains. Visit her blog, you will not be disappointed.
When I saw this recipe, I knew immediately that I had to make it. And the cilantro hot sauce that accompanies it contrasts perfectly with the sweetness of the plantain and the mildness of the mozzarella cheese. It is one of those versatile sauces that will work well with many things - seafood, meat, spooned over plain rice etc. Laylita's recipe for the baked ripe plantains are here and the sauce is here.
Have a great weekend and a wonderful week everyone!
Posts
89 comments:
OH NO!!! So sorry about all the frustrations :-( Everything looks fabulous!!
looks great anyway...those plantains are amazing
I love the cheese rolls! Yum! And the plantains look spicy and delicious. Sorry about your frustrations, can't wait to see what you've cooked up.
I'm sorry to hear about your frustrations... Anyway, everything looks fantastic!
Cheers,
Rosa
Those cheese rolls look amazing! Love the images.
Nice idea.. It definitely sounds much better with the cheese paste.
We all have our days in the kitchen :)
The kitchen is a wonderful venue to rid one of frustrations and on occasion, the source of some!
That cheese paste & dough has me in awe...d-lish!
Those cheese flaps. They're ... enough to make me want to give up my efforts at being vegan. ;)
The cheese flaps look so tender and delicious! And I love plantains so much.
I saw that hot sauce on Paz's site. It looks so good!
Sorry to read about your frustrations, now I really need to know what you are making...see you next week!
LL
Cheese flaps to plantains look terrific. Think I might try cheese flaps or a smaller version of them as hors d'oeurvres.
I'm DYING to know what you were making. The part that's confusing me is that you said you could only find 2 recipes for it. Otherwise I would thought it was some kind of biscuit-y thing.
But then I thought maybe it was some kind of samosa dough, but the milk threw me off. I have seen a recipe for a sweet milk tortilla that used milk in the batter. Cynthia, you have me stumped!
Cheese rolls look yum!
I am in the middle of my son's b'day party, just fed them all and now they are on Guitar Hero screaming their head off, needed a break, came here! :D
Plantain dishes are delicious!Enjoy the weekend, one more b'day tomorrow for us.
What a great dish!! I too love plantains. Usually when something is frustrating--it is worth it because you are coming up with something new. Can't wait to read Part 2--
Those cheese flaps look good. And I bet that cilantro hot sauce will go great with a lot of foods.
OMG! Those cheese flaps have me drooling on the keyboard! YUM can't wait to make them! Sorry you've had a frustrating week in the kitchen. Can't wait to see what you've cooked up!
So sorry Cynthia. Anyway, the plantains looks sooooo gooodddd
Wow...Those cheese flaps look divine...the baked plantain looks delicious. Can't stop ogling. Lovely pics.
Oh dear, so sorry about those frustrations. Here's a well-deserved hug.... HUUUG! Those butter flaps are calling my name!
Hello my dear friend! It was with something great. Yummy!
Have a great Sunday.
Kiss for you
soo sorry to hear about your frustrations .. but that looks gorgeous as always
I lov love the idea with cheese. Looks so yummy.
amazing pics:)
I hope things get better :)
And mebbe I will do cheese flaps also. LOL, I'm waiting to get off my diet to try those butter flaps. But now you say cheese, hmm...
It is hard to beat the rolls in the original but add cheese and you have my attention:D
Frustrations I could see it, two posts popped up in my reader! I guess u ve deleted the first one!
Hope u re settled down, the cheese is absolutely delicous with mustard! The plantain is delicous!
Those rolls look absolutely amazing :)
That cheese rolls are sooo yum..!!feel like it'll melt in mouth..:)
The cheese rolls look amazing! And the the plaintain dish looks very delicious. I get frustrated in a kitchen from time to time but it usually resolves in a good recipe eventually.
you are not right for sharing that plantain recipe without telling me first! do u know how much i LOOOOOOOVCE plantain!? it's the best.thing.ever. i've eaten! in fact i made a plantain smoked gouda omelette/fritata today for brunch!
hope the kitchen ailments clear up!
everything looks so yummylicious as always!! i looove plaintains too!!
Whatever you've been frustrated about, I'm hoping it's resolved by next post! Meanwhile, I'd love those cheese rolls for breakfast!
That cheese rolls are delicius!
Beautiful images.
Bye,
Stefano
I would grab those cheesy rolls anytime :-)
Cynthia, I love plaintains. I feel in love with them in Dominican Republic a few years ago! Thank you for Laylita's link.I heart those cheese rolls!!!!
Sometimes, new recipes can be tough. I have had my moments, too especialy with recipes for food which I am totally unfamiliar with.
And thanks for the cheese paste idea. I'm definitely going to try that version.
Sorry to hear about your baking disaster, Cynthia. I'm no expert... can't troubleshoot your failure. I don't know what you were making. Are you going to tell us next week?
Life has it's ups and downs. It'll bring colors to your life. No worries dear, it'll soon go...
But one thing for sure, that butterflaps look so yummy.. wishing for one right now!
I'm sorry to hear about your frustrations but those cheese rolls look amazing!
goodness gracious! I'm drooling like crazy.
hope you're feeling much better now! vent it out on your cooking! chop with extra bang and toss with extra flair! hee!
I am loving that cheese flap bread. I could just climb in there and lay down. Yum!
Oh boy that cheese paste bread looks sooooo delicious! Sorry I have been out of the blogging world for a couple of weeks and never got around to your comment about not being able to subscribe to my new blog. Honestly I have no clue why. I'm still trying to figure out the whole wordpress thing. Sorry about that.
Those cheese flaps are so tempting! I can't imagine how it goes perfect with a cup of tea.
Oh, my gosh! Everything in this post looks sooooo good -- from your cheese flaps to your plantain and the hot sauce. I'm definitely going to have some plantain and that hot sauce this week. ;-)
I'm glad you were able to make it and like it.
Paz
p.s. I like that you sliced your plantain. ;-)
Paz
Oh my gosh Cynthia.. I can't wait to read your reveal on what you have been up to. I have never had much success with flour mixed in with butter at room temperature in a scone or biscuit type application. I figure if there is no yeast the butter best be chilled and rubbed in. I'll be waiting with abandon! :)
And I love baking plantains. My mother-in-law is from South America and has taught me some wonderful recipes with them. Fried like a fritter, boiled in soups and baked with a sugar glaze.
I love the recipe from your Ecuadorian friend.. how delicious is that!
Sorry abt all the mess and frustration. I agree. Sometimes most recipes just don't work. I have had many similar experiences. So, there are a lot of us in the same boat. That should cheer you up:)Wonderful cheese rolls. Love it.
Cynthia - those cheese flaps look absolutely amazing - oozing with goodness!
I made this about 1.5 years ago... only, my cheese paste came out of the buns... everything tasted great... but the pics didnt look appealing. I made them for my niece :)
The pics are and the post is great :)
Wow!! Never thought of this..
:)
Cynthia,
I know how it feels when you are not having a good day at kitchen ...Hugs to you for that ...
and trust me the plaintain bake looks so delicious and the idea of having the cheese as filling sounds so fantastic...
Hugs and smiles
The bread with cheese made it even better! Lovely presentation of the plantain dish. Looks so mouth-watering.
Love the cheese paste and the pic with it as the filling is just amazing.
Your anger in the kitchen has lead to some definite good results. I am so tortured by seeing everyone baking fantastic bread and everything. Those butterflaps were so good and now you also have cheesy ones.
those cheese butter flaps are so tempting! i don't even need tea with them.really.
I see that you have spiced the cheese up . that's the way I like it. i would even use a pepper jack cheese.. for i like my cheese very very spicy.
Cynthia I have not ever seen a better looking plaintain.
don't we all have our days:-(
Hmmm it's just about lunchtime and that cheese flap looks good enough to eat through the screen. So does that cilantro salsa. I'm a spice nut.
Looks fabulous. I just drool over your pics. I
loved Laylita`s blog too. I saw the plantain recipe and wanted to try them. Your post is a reminder. Thanks.
I guess It's not as easy to write a good recipe as one might think! Now, forgetting that... I am drooling at these delicacies here! Looks too good! Also, thank you for sharing the corn soup recipe... I know I will love it :)
YUMMY thats just my kind of recipe, I love bread and cheese.
Everything looks really good. No one would have ever know it was such an effort.
Everything looks so yummy! Cant tell that you had a frustrating time :) The plantains look fantastic!
would love to pinch a little bit and taste it... must be so delicious with all of the combination!
Wow Cynthia, your pictures always get me drooling over the keaboard!!!
Those plantains look awesome :D
Oh! It happens sometimes! Can't help it.. Will take a rest for a while to come up the frustration! All the items looks delicious.. especially the plantains.. they looks fabulous!
Lethal entry all around. The Cheese Flaps look to die for and I LOVE plantains also. Hope things get better in the kitchen soon....
Those cheese flaps look gorgeous - what a lovely idea and that plantain dish looks so elegant.
Dear friend: I need to try these cheese rools, look just deli. I'm expecting the second part of the story. Too bad you had such a bad time in the kitchen, it does happen once in a while. Thanks for your comment.
thanks for dropping by my blog
whenever I visit ur blog
I am in AWE !!
SUPERB DISHES
The plantain looks superb. Such a great cheesy selection you've made!
This is really superb! I am going to try the sauce soon! Tks!
Hi Cynthia,
first time here ...fantastic blog
iam glad I came and checked it out :)
-Meenal
cynthia,
its been quite long time since i visited ur blog.:(
ripe plaintain pic is so beautiful.Wonderful recipes
Doesn't that plantain look mouthwatering;lovely recipe as well as photo! Sometimes the kitchen becomes real battleground..maybe that's why it is fun; when we step out as the conquerer? Will check in next week to see what happened to the butter and flour.
Ronell
The cilantro hot sauce....how do you make that?
Oh wow--those cheese flaps look AMAZING!!
I have had similar frustrations with butter. In fact, I've actually gotten to the point where I refuse to even try making biscuits because mine never taste...right ;)
I shouldn't look at your photos first thing in the morning - I really need to eat something now!
I've never thought of putting cheese and ripe plantains together never mind the cilantro chutney...this is a must try for me.
Will report back...
I love cheese paste , your looks so good.And I am sorry about you hunger and frustration
Cheese flaps? You are killing me here, Cynthia! These actually remind me of the little cheese-filled rolls that you get in Argentinian restaurants here in London (which I love!). Definitely bookmarking these babies. I really don't like bananas at all, so I usually recoil at the thought of plantains - this recipe is intriguing though. Stunning pics as always :)
The cheese paste looks so amazing! I am new to plaintains but it looks so appealing to me! I am going to check it out soon.
oh this is awesome . . . . you are now torturing me! arghhhhhhhhhhh!
Well this looks delicious! sorry about the frustration though...
This blog is beautiful.
I loved this block.
Add a blog you know.
Greetings from Turkey
jade.(yeşim)
Hello Cynthia, I'm IN the Caribbean.
Your food stories in our newspaper are discussed in this home.
As for plantain, I think it's THE most versatile food: http://sapodilla.blogspot.com/2006/10/food-of-possibilities.html
Those plantains are gorgeous. I saw this on Pazs site too and was intrigued.
I love your cilantro sauce. Thanks for sharing the link of a blog.
So beautiful picture and come out so delicious in ur first try. I love all ur recipes in ur blog and became very crazy about ur blog. Is it ripe banana or unripe green colored plantain that used for making chips?
Post a Comment