GRILLED CHEESE WITH APPLES AND BACON

Difficulty: Easy

Prep time: Less than 20 minutes

Makes: 4 sandwich halves

- 2 tablespoons butter

- 4 slices everyday whole-wheat bread or good-quality store-bought whole-wheat bread

- 4 slices cheese (such as cheddar, havarti, or monterey jack), about 1 ounce per slice

- 4 slices cooked bacon, broken in half to make 8 pieces

- 1/2 unpeeled green apple, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

- 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Carefully rub one side of each slice of bread in the melted butter to coat and set aside. Turn of the heat. 

2. Assemble the sandwiches by starting with a single slice of bread, butter side down, then topping it with 1 cheese slice, half of the bacon, half of the apple, and another slice of cheese. Top with another slice of bread (butter side up this time). Repeat with the remaining ingredients. 

3. Melt the rest of the butter in the same pan over medium-low heat. Add the assembled sandwiches to the pan and cook until the bottoms are lightly toasted, 3 to 4 minutes. 

4. Flip over and, if using, evenly sprinkle half of the grated parmesan over the tops of the two sandwiches. When the bottom are lightly toasted, flip again and cook for a minute or so, just long enough for the parmesan to melt into the bread. Be careful not to burn the parmesan. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan on top of the other side and repeat. Slice and serve warm. 

Tips: 

I avoid pregrated cheese from the store because a powdery anticaking agent has been added to prevent the cheese from clumping together. But packed of quality presliced cheese have no unwanted additives, so i do buy those for convenience on occasion, especially since i find it hard to make such perfect slices myself at home. 

Enjoy your cooking with your loved one

Sumber buku: Lisa Leake, 100 days of real food, 2014