Hot Honey Recipe
16 ounces pure honey
2 to 3 tablespoons dried cayenne, serrano, or habanero peppers
Splash of vinegar
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add honey and add peppers. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, do not let honey boil. Remove from heat and taste for desired heat, adding more peppers or hot sauce if desired. Cool and pour through a fine sieve into a Mason jar or glass bowl with a lid.
Yield: 2 cups
Hot Honey Ciabatta Grilled Cheese
1 head fresh garlic
Olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 to 3 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
¼ teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Pinch kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 ciabatta buns
2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, grated or chopped
½ cup smoked gouda cheese, grated
½ cup Jarlsberg cheese, grated
Couple of grinds of fresh pepper
2 tablespoons hot honey
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a sharp knife, cut top of garlic head off enough to expose cloves. Place on a small piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Wrap foil around garlic and bake for 30 minutes or until garlic is very soft. Remove from oven and let cool. In a small bowl, blend butter, oregano, parsley, and Parmesan cheese with a fork. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves into butter mixture and mix well. Using a serrated knife, cut buns in half. If top halves of buns are overly fluffy, pull out some of insides before buttering. Spread garlic butter mixture liberally on crumb side of each bun. Flip buns over and top with cheeses, black pepper, and a drizzle of the hot honey. Replace tops and using a spatula, press down to compress cheeses. Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill-pan to medium-high heat. Place sandwiches in pan and cook approximately 2 minutes per side, pressing again with a spatula to help melt cheese and achieve a crispy exterior. If cheese is not completely melted in the center, lower heat and cover with lid for 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from pan, drizzle with additional hot honey and serve.
Yield: 2 sandwiches
