I’m always, always on the lookout for the next best grilled cheese sandwich.  I seek inspiration at every turn.  Every turn down the grocery store isle.  Every turn through food magazine features.  And every page turn of my current favorite cook book.

And there she was.  Right in front of me for nearly a month before she jumped out and bit me.  That gorgeous Emmentaler on Rye sandwich inspired our Blueberry Balsamic Red Onion & Gruyere Grilled Cheese.

Let’s begin with the Blueberry Balsamic Red Onions.  My word they were special.

Have you discovered a premium olive oil & vinegars store in your area?  These specialty shops are popping up across the country and we the consumers are the true winners.  I’ve become a regular customer of Gabby’s Olive Branch.  When you enter the store you are greeted by true oil & vinegar experts.  Not only well versed in the health benefits, but masters at flavor pairing.  I never would have put Blueberry Balsamic with Tuscan Herb Olive Oil, but man what a combination.  Strawberry Balsamic with Organic Basil Oil is another favorite.  The duos are endless and the ‘Tasting Bar’ is well stocked.  So is my pantry with no less than a dozen flavor fused oils and vinegars.

The onions are sautéed until tender then kicked up with brown sugar and balsamic vinegar.  I chose blueberry balsamic, any flavor or plain balsamic would be just fine.

I used Emmentaler and gruyere cheese because they were both already open in the fridge, leftover from our Tomato & Cheese Fondue.  If you make this sandwich, you’ll also have them leftover.  Then you can make the fondue, which is delicious with this nice grainy bread dunked in it.

This Blueberry Balsamic Red Onion & Gruyere Grilled Cheese Sandwich delivered a little sweet & sour flavor punch from the onions, which was balanced nicely with the creamy cheese and buttery bread.  Absolutely delicious.

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Blueberry Balsamic Red Onion & Gruyere Grilled Cheese

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author lightly adapted from Food & Wine

Ingredients

For onions…

• 1 large red onion thinly sliced
• 1 Tbl. butter
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 Tbl. brown sugar
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 Tbl. blueberry balsamic vinegar or favorite

For sandwich…

• 2 ounces gruyere cheese shredded
• 2 ounces Emmentaler cheese shredded
• 4 slices grainy bread
• butter for pan grilling

Instructions

For onions…

• Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add brown sugar and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in balsamic vinegar and cook an additional 2 minutes. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

For sandwich…

• Heat heavy skillet over medium heat. Butter one side of each piece of bread. Place two slices butter side down in skillet. Top with generous amount of onions and half of the shredded cheese. Top with remaining bread slices, butter side up. Use a bacon press or other weight and grill sandwiches until golden brown on both sides.

The post Blueberry Balsamic Red Onion & Gruyere Grilled Cheese appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Kate’s Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Grilled Cheese.

Day #27 of National Grilled Cheese Month.  We’re building quite a collection of delectable and occasionally over the top sandwiches.  I enlisted the help of four of my favorite ladies (my nieces Maya, Kate & Jen and my kid Shelby).  Their mission was to come up with their own signature Grilled Cheese.  Here’s how Kate’s came to be.

Note to self:  make monkey bread.

Once we narrowed Kate’s Grilled Cheese down to a version of ‘Buffalo’ I began my recipe research.  I typed “buffalo grilled cheese sandwich” in my Google browser and it delivered 2,570,000 results (in .44 seconds).  You know what?  We’re better than that!

So then I Googled “buffalo cauliflower.”  Results 2,810,000 results (in .19 seconds).  Good to know how much we LOVE our buffalo cauliflower.

Guess what I did next?  I had to know.  Could this possibly be the first recipe I’ve ever made that someone else didn’t think of first??

Me:  “OMG! the internet has never seen a Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Grilled Cheese.  Do you know what this means?”
Inner Voice:  “There might be a reason for it!”
Very true!!
Me:  “Wait until you taste it.  I may have just made the internet.”
Inner Voice:  “It’s a damn good way to sell cauliflower.  Maybe I should serve it with a side of wing sauce for dipping.”
Brilliant!!

Here’s how we put it together.

I think Kate will love the finished product.  Kate, my 1/2 marathon runner, about to move to London for 2 years, who is wondering how she’s going to tote her Dutch oven oversees.  I absolutely adore these ladies on every level.  I started this blog as a way to share family recipes.  I love sharing recipes with family just as much.  xoxo

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Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Grilled Cheese

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby & Kate with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 small head of cauliflower
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 1/2 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce
• 1/4 cup melted butter 4 Tbl.
• Blue cheese crumbles
• 8- ounces Havarti cheese sliced
• 8 slices grainy bread

Instructions

For oven roasted cauliflower…

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat shallow baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Place cauliflower core side down on a cutting board. Slice into 1-inch thick steaks, the ends will fall apart into florets. You should be able to get 4 1-inch thick steaks.
• Coat baking sheet with olive oil. Place steaks on prepared baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake 15 minutes on one side. Turn over and cook another 10 – 15 minutes until nicely browned.
• Meanwhile, combine melted butter and hot sauce in a saucepan. Brush cauliflower liberally and bake an additional 3 minutes. Turn over cauliflower and baste again with remaining hot sauce; bake 3 minutes.

To make grilled cheese…

• Butter bread slices and pan grill, topped with Havarti cheese, roasted buffalo cauliflower steaks, blue cheese crumbles, more Havarti. Turn until golden brown on both sides.
• Serve with a side of buffalo sauce.

The post Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Grilled Cheese appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Every where we go.  I’m in full-out decorating mode, no time for fancy schmancy tonight.  How about an Eat Out of the Fridge/Pantry Week Grilled Cheese Sandwich?!

Spinach Alfredo Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.  By gawwd.  Let’s not pretend to have magical ways to make a Grilled Cheese better than the last.  The truth is it’s all about the bread, then the cheese, then the nuance.

Spinach sautéed with onion, cream sauce, topped with melty cheese sandwiched between bakery bread.  Easy-peasy meal.

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Spinach Alfredo Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• a baguette of earthy grainy bread
• 2 Tbl. butter
• 1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 small onion sauted
• 2 Tbl. butter
• 2 Tbl. flour
• 1 cup milk or cream
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp. Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 6-8 slices Colby jack or cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Wring thawed spinach in towels until moisture is removed, reserve.
• In a skillet, sauté onion in butter until tender. Dust onion with flour, add in milk and bring to a boil. Stir in Parmesan cheese and thawed spinach. Season according to taste.
• Slice baguette into 1/2-inch slices. Butter each side, slather with spinach mixture, top with Colby & cheddar slices.
• Pan fry on each side until golden.

The post Spinach Alfredo Grilled Cheese Sandwiches appeared first on Lemony Thyme.