I have a confession to make. In addition to being a Clever Diva, I am also secretly a kitchen gadget goddess. If there’s a kitchen gadget out there, then baby, I own it. I can “rice” potatoes with my potato ricer (it’s also great for squeezing water or oil out of tuna, too!). I can make my own “Uncrustable” PBJ sandwiches for my little boy with my little circle-press-puncher thingy (instead of buying the frozen box brand). I can make fries with my French fry cutter-thingy and slice up an apple with any of my apple-slicing-coring gadgets.
So let me tell you about my latest little contraption, which I should have bought years ago. The cast iron grill press.
Also known as a bacon/steak grill press. It can come in the shape of a rectangle or circle. Its handle is usually wooden or spiral metal/iron and stays cool to the touch. This heavy-but-handy little device is meant to sit on top of strips of bacon to keep them straight and flat when frying. It helps steak cook evenly. But my favorite thing about it? The way it makes grilled sandwiches deliciously and evenly, from grill cheese to panini-style sandwiches. Who needs a sandwich maker that takes up so much room when a grill press does the same thing for you? It usually costs between $15 and $25, which is still cheaper than the fancy sandwich maker or panini press.
This morning, I made my little boy a breakfast sandwich. With a touch of butter or margarine (or Pam) in the pan, I took a French roll, some heated sausage, and cheese and pressed the sandwich. Yes, this is a big, hearty breakfast, but this is a good thing when raising a growing boy who has to make it through school until lunch. And of course, this kind of breakfast isn’t an everyday thing.
Sandwiches can be made with bagels, bread, rolls, and even tortillas and flat breads. The grill press can handle them all. And now, whenever I see my nephew, his eyes always light up and then he asks the usual question in a sweet sing-songy voice… “Auntie, will you make me a goal-done grill cheeeese? Pleeeez?” And you know what? With the grill press, it comes out perfectly golden every time, without dripping in butter!
The grill press is easy to clean. After use, simply gently wipe down with warm water (lightly scrub if you have to) but don’t use any soap. Be sure dry it right away! I wouldn’t even let it drip dry; cast iron rusts fast and you don’t want that.
You can pick up a grill press at almost any store or their website including Bed Bath and Beyond , Crate and Barrel, Target, and Wal-Mart . And don’t forget Amazon, Ebay, or other shopping websites like Nextag.com. Or the next time you go into a Cracker Barrel on your travels be sure to pick one up.
If you have used a grill press (or decide to buy one and try it out), be sure to share your favorite sandwich recipes in the Clever Diva comment section! Or, if you have a favorite kitchen gadget and have an unusual use or two for it, why not share your insight as well?
–Tah for now, DivaKimbling
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