Panini

Among many other things, I got a panini press for Christmas, and today decided to try it out. So I scrounged through the kitchen in search of ingredients. It was an experiment, and I was surprised at how it turned out.

Ingredients:
2 slices of sourdough bread
1 pack of tuna
lettuce
2 full cross-section slices of onion
2-4 slices of bell pepper
3-4 slices of boiled egg
mustard
honey mustard

Procedure:
Warm up the panini press
In a pot filled with water, boil 1 or 2 eggs. I like hard boiled, but soft boiled is also fine. Let cool off, remove shell, and slice up.
Spread mustard on one piece of bread, and the honey mustard on the other.
To build sandwich, start with the mustard slice on the bottom. Lay the lettuce, followed by the onion, bell pepper, and egg. Add the tuna and top with the honey mustard slice.
Lay the sandwich on the panini press and... well... press. Keep an eye so it doesn't burn. It only takes a few minutes, if that. Remove from press, being careful because it is hot, slice in half and serve.

There are many possibilities with the panini press, and I hope you will all come along with me as I take my food journey.

Scrambled Eggs

Here's a great recipe for scrambled eggs I developed over the last week.





Ingredients:
4 large grade-a chicken eggs
1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup white onion, diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
1 large jalapeño, diced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon Amateur Chef's Original Spice Mixture (found in an earlier post)

Process:
In a large pan or skillet, cook onion and peppers in olive oil.
Sprinkle garlic powder and gently toss until onions are lightly browned.
Add the eggs; either individually, or mix them beforehand in a bowl or measuring cup and add the mixture all at once.
Stir continuously until eggs are completely cooked.
Season with Original Spice Mixture and serve.

This dish serves two people, or one very hungry person.
Optional: serve with dashes of your favorite hot sauce. My favorites include: Frank's, Tabasco, and my own Amateur Chef's Original Hot Sauce (to be featured in an upcoming post)

Ramen

Here's another fun way to spice up the bland and ordinary instant ramen meal. Have you ever thought, "Yeah, I like ramen. I wish there was a way that I can enjoy it for breakfast." Wish granted. With this recipe, you can enjoy your favorite instant noodle meal in the morning or at anytime. Ramen with Steak and Eggs!

Ingredients:
1 steak(preferably left-over), sliced into strips.
2 large grade A chicken eggs
1/2 cup white onion chopped
1 package instant ramen
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil (you can use same amount of butter instead)
1 teaspoon Eric's Original Spice (recipe follows)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground peppercorn medley (black, white, green, pink)

Process:
Fill a small pot with enough water to cover noodles and turn stove to medium high. Once water boils, add noodles, but not the flavor packet. After three minutes, stir noodles then strain the water out. Add the flavor pack and mix. (I chose the chicken flavor but you may use your favorite) Set aside.
in a fry pan add 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or butter) and heat on medium high. Add onions and steak. Sprinkle half of the Original Spice and the garlic and black pepper. Stir continuously for 2-3 minuets or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add the eggs and stir. Continuously stir for a minute. Remove from heat and add any remaining spice.
Mix the egg mixture into a large bowl with the ramen and serve.

Can serve two, can be eaten by one.

Eric's Original Spice
1 part peppercorn medley (black, white, green, pink)
1 part crushed red pepper
1/2 part kosher salt
1/2 part garlic powder
2 parts dried cilantro

mix all ingredients into a spice grinder and pulverize into a powder.

This is a delicious way to add flavor to ramen and spice up your breakfast at the same time.