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Diana Duyser holds a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that she says bears the image of the Virgin Mary.
HIGHLIGHTSBecause feta and blue cheeses can be pretty pungent, you may want to consider using them sparingly and pairing them with milder cheeses that melt well.
Fontina and Gruyere cheeses have an earthy, nutty flavor to them so they combine nicely with mushrooms and veggies. They pair with 'earthy' spices like sage. They melt well and are great additions to mac & cheese and frittata dishes.
Content
OVERVIEW
There's nothing like a good grilled cheese sandwich or bruschetta, either by itself or complimenting a soup. Of course "Best" is a matter of taste. The key for both sandwiches is to choose good quality breads and for GOODNESS' SAKE, choose a quality, hand-crafted cheese. Forgo the bland, cardboard-tasting junk you find in plastic pouches hung in the deli section.
Baking is a craft - cooking is an art. You have so many options! In fact, many of these combinations can form the foundation of gourmet pizzas and frittatas. Experiment with condiments like jalapeno jelly, chutneys, and your favorite hot sauce. The following are just some ideas to get you going. And who knows - your next sandwich may end up on ebay, like Diana's.
Traditionally, for a good toasting an iron skillet with a lid is used at medium heat. You can grill them, fry them - and, as Johnny Depp illustrated - you can even iron 'em! Spread butter or olive oil on the side of the bread that'll be grilled. Some cooks opt for a thin coat of mayon- naise. Grate hard cheeses for a uniform melt. Tomatoes can be very liquidy in or on a sandwich - choose a meaty/paste variety like Roma, Sausage, and Rio Grande.
> Jarlsberg or muenster, turkey, cranberry and stuffing
> Smoked gouda, red onion- sauteed, cumin
> Spinach-sauteed w/ garlic, goat cheese, prosciutto (optional)
> Goat cheese mixed w/ mole paste, bacon, roasted peppers
> Feta & pepper jack, lamb, salsa, cucumber-chopped, rosemary or dill, mint
> A creamy cheese, red grapes- sliced or tomatoes, eggplant- cooked, mint
> Fontina, portobello-sauteed w/ garlic, balsamic vinegar or Worcester sauce, onion, sage
> Jarlsberg, smoked ham, basil pesto or mayonnaise, apricot preserves
> Edam, hummus, chutney, roasted pepper, garlic, avocado
> Blue cheese & provolone, roast beef, peppers, dab of horseradish
> Ham and/or turkey, Swiss, Jarlsberg or Gruyere cheese, brown mustard, cranberry or currant jelly
> Cream cheese & muenster, dates and/or figs, avacado, cucumber, sprouts, basil, green onion, lemon juice
>Edam & goat cheese, figs or dates, pecans-blanched, prosciutto (optional)
> White cheddar cheese, apple butter, apple slices, rosemary, ham or pork (optional)
> Sharp white cheddar, bacon- cooked, Bartlett pear-sliced, 1 tb maple syrup (optional)
> Cream cheese or dill-havarti, smoked salmon, red oinion, avocado, capers
This simple food dates to the 15th century from central Italy. Traditionally, it consists of a grilled open-faced bread rubbed with garlic and extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and topped with spicy red pepper, tomato, vegetables, beans, cured meat, and/or cheese. The most popular American recipe simply involves basil, fresh mozzarella, tomato and a little balsamic vinegar. Variations include many of the recipes we've previously listed.
> Goat cheese, tomato-diced, red oinion, basil, garlic, balsamic vin
> Gorgonzola or fontina, onion, tomato, walnuts, olive oil
> Sun-dried tomatoes-sliced, bell peppers-roasted, garlic, artichokes, basil, lemon juice
> Blue cheese and provolone, salami and/or prosciutto, red oinion, Red Bartlett pear-sliced
> Sun-dried tomatoes-sliced, bell peppers-roasted, mayo & pesto, zucchini
> Goat cheese, tempeh, avocado or guacamole, red oinion, black olives, sprouts, lemon juice
> Goat cheese, zucchini, peppers- roasted, jalapeno jelly
> Cottage cheese, plum tomato, chives, pine nuts
> Bacon or sausage-thin, egg once-over-medium, ricotta and Parmesan or cheddar, tomato, rosemary
> Meatballs-thinly sliced, onion, tomato paste spread over meat, feta or melt favorite cheese topping, oregano
> Refried bean paste, corn salsa, green chili, chili powder, tomato, top with sour cream
> Meatballs-thinly sliced, Thai peanut sauce, cumin, clove, melt cheese topping
> Lamb strips, goat cheese & orange juice, balsamic vinegar, garlic, cinnamon, tomato
> Lamb strips, papaya, peach, cilantro, onion, lemon juice, ricotta cheese & mint optional
> Crab cake, goat cheese, dijon mustard, mayo or yogurt, chives, tarragon, avocado & capers optional
> Peanut butter, banana-fried w/ honey, fluffernutter or marsh- mallow, chocolate bits & dates optional