Cheeeeese!

Good golly.  Who doesn't love cheese?  I swear it just may be the most perfect food.  It comes in endless varieties, textures, flavors, and even colors!  The only bother is the whole casein debate.  Don't believe me?  Google it.  So, just the other day I was sitting at home, listening to crazy bluegrass and thinking about the blog when I came to a realization.  We haven't even touched on sandwiches yet!  How could we possibly have skipped one of the most perfect food groups known to man?  Hullo!  Oooey, gooey, crunchy, satisfying, sandwiches.  I decided then and there that this just will not do.  So, I came up with a grown up grilled cheese which can easily be modified for all you meat eaters out there.

Here's what you'll want:

2 slices bread (I like fat whole grain stuff like Ezekiel)
2 slices smoked gouda cheese
1/8th cup of feta
1/2 of a pear, thinly sliced
2 tbsp mustard, preferably something hearty like stone ground
1 tbsp butter
1/4 onion, sliced
1 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette
1 tsp brown sugar
5 slices turkey (optional)
2 slices bacon (optional)

First of all, if you're doing the meat on your sammich you'll want to cook the bacon.  You can go traditional and saute it in a skillet or take Sam's suggestion and bake it.  Also, it's time to caramelize your onions.  Take the slices and just a touch of butter and saute them until they become translucent (3 mins) in any size skillet you want.  Now add your brown sugar and balsamic.  Cook until the mixture absorbs into the onions and set aside.  While that's doing it's thing it's time to assemble the rest.  Take your bread and smear butter on one side of each piece.  Set one slice of bread butter side down in a skillet.  Then start piling things on!  I started with one slice of gouda, then added my pear, sprinkled the feta, then the onions, then another slice of gouda, and finally the last piece of bread.  Now it's time to heat it up!  Cook until both sides are a lovely brown and cheese is melty and delicious.

Now, I chose to throw together a nice little garden salad with mine but this would also be delicious with tomato soup or something.  Or wine :)  Whatever you'd like!

Cheers!
Megan J