{flavor stories} grilled cheese sandwiches... 12 Mar 2012

I like a good hearty sandwich, but I love a grilled cheese! I can't decide exactly which I like best so I thought I'd share what I've been making lately. Last week, I tried sliced and buttered baguette with chopped olives, mozzarella, provolone and casalingo salami. It was something like a muffuletta with the ingredients inside, while on the outside it was treated like a panini. I made it on a cast iron grill pan, using the weight of another heavy skillet to gently press the sandwich as each side got toasty. This way {since I don't have a panini press} they turn out just as great.



And then a few nights ago, I tried buttered raisin bread with white cheddar, casalingo salami, sliced fuji apples and my winter pesto—which includes a handful of picked arugula, half a handful of flat leaf parsley leaves, a splash of olive oil, a sprinkle of kosher salt and a generous handful of walnuts ground together with a mortar & pestle—and those were really delicious!

*For a vegetarian alternative skip the meat, these sandwiches are just as great without.

So tell me folks, what are you favorite grilled cheese flavors? I'd love to try a new combination!
—Nikole

{photos and styling by Nikole Herriott for Oh Joy}