I've paid my dues, time after time; I've done my sentence, but committed no crime. And bad mistakes

[hazelchaz]

Mom's out of the convalescent hospital, and staying with my elder older sister in Huntington Beach. In fact they've got a full house tonight, because along with her husband and Dad, my younger older sister is staying over too. Us four siblings (my younger brother came up from San Diego) and library_lynn spent the day sorting out clothes and other things at the house into "keep - discard - donate" bags. Made some excellent progress.

After my sisters picked up Mom and Dad at the convalescent hospital, I stopped by Trader Joe's and went on up to L.A. for the 4th 2nd Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational. The people at Trader Joe's had helped me figure out what I was going to cook. I ended up with the mini pita pockets (24 to the bag, 2 bags), the Bonbel "Baby Bel" mini Gouda cheese (6 to the bag, four bags), and a jar of Red Mole Sauce. I'd cut each mini cheese in half, open up a mini pita pocket, take a knife-full of sauce and spread it in there and then put in a semicircle of the cheese. Grilled it up and handed them out.

I had enough for 48 Spicy Mini Pita Mole (mo-lay) Gouda Quesadillas. "Moledillas" for short. I'd called up Christian to tell him I wouldn't be in the first heat, but I was still able to compete in one category, so 16 of the sandwiches were handed out on judging plate; the other 32 went to a lot of hungry people.

The party was a huge success. Christian estimates there were 400 or 500 people there. They had a couple of tables for "exhibition grilling" -- non-competitive cheese sandwich making. I was over there, I'd brought my own cooker so I didn't need to use one of theirs and I gave away about two-thirds of my sandwiches at random.

Next year: take the day before the party as a vacation day, and prep 100+ sandwiches to be ready to cook. Also, we should consider bringing our own work lights, the light from the top of the building was blocked numerous times by many hungry people.

And they gave me a third place trophy. How about that? It's very nice, as grilled cheese sandwich trophies go.

Chaz

Comments

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your trophy! I wish I had known about this, I might have given you some competition for third place. Or not.

Next time

[hazelchaz]

See grilledcheeseinvitational.com -- start checking it every week next January.

Chaz

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

Holy Mole. Do we get to see a photo of the trophy?

[magicheide.livejournal.com]

Congrats! Maybe Playboy will publish this recipe too under hors d'ouvres!

[neo-serenity.livejournal.com]

mmmm, grilled cheese...

Glad your mom is doing well. And congrats on the trophy!

[crookedfeet.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! The sandwiches sound delicious!

[(Anonymous)]

Given the crowd this year, I think more exibitionism (grilled cheese, that is) would be good. Happy to help with that. I had a ball running around and serving cheezy goodness to hungry people.

[nitroace.livejournal.com]

This last comment is me. Somehow I wasn't logged in.

Exhibitionism

[hazelchaz]

Thank you very much for your help, you were great. It was nice of you to bring your minionsfamily along to help pass out too. TMI was talking about renting a generator for some full-strength floodlights to fix the light problem, but I think we could accomplish the same thing with a couple of camping-style Coleman lanterns.

And I'll bring my own folding table. Maybe some chairs, too, standing that long can be hard on the back and knees.

Next year I want to bring four or five bottles of the spicy cider.

And if they assign me a cooker, I can use my own cooker to heat up the cider and keep that going. (In which case, maybe more than five bottles?)

Mmmmmm..........

[reziac.livejournal.com]

I feel drooly just thinking about it. Grilled cheese is the only sandwich that rivals peanut butter as a classic. Hope I hear about the next one in time to go!! (Especially since I love 'em, but can't cook 'em worth a darn :(

And congrats on the placement!

Re: Mmmmmm..........

[hazelchaz]

Grilled cheese sandwiches are tricky, because different kinds of cheese melts at different rates. Basically you're done when the bread's a bit toasted (to get that crunch) and the cheese has melted (to get that gooey goodness).

If you find 'em difficult to cook in your kitchen, try doing it outside in the dark...

Re: Mmmmmm..........

[reziac.livejournal.com]

...and different kinds of bread (even among plain white breads) crisp up at different rates (both internally and externally), also dependent on the form of butter used ... getting 'em "just right", with crunch and gooey correctly juxtaposed, is indeed an art form. Ideally, the result makes you long for chicken-noodle soup to go with your grilled cheese sandwich -- the perfect lunch!

I have enough trouble frightening a slab of meat outdoors in the dark (how my grill usually gets used)... I don't think I'll try sandwiches there :)

[baka-kit.livejournal.com]

I am so glad I found the card with your lj; I've been wondering (and worrying) what happened to your parents. Besides being a fangirl, I work at the Borders in Costa Mesa, where they used to come in and shop every Tuesday. Please tell them that Kit and Meg (who also works there) send their best wishes.

[magicheide.livejournal.com]

Hi Chaz!
My mom's check up went well, I am just angry that they cannot do more for her. I hope your mom is recovering nicely! I received my postcards today and brought some to school. I love the one of you and Lynne!

Huggs!
-Heide