Better Than Grilled Cheese

I have been rather lax in getting my posts up, lately. Our computer died and I am using our very old (7 years?) laptop.  It has been acting up, also.  When that happens I save what I have and walk away.  No point in throwing it out the window.  So the following post was written a few days ago and has been waiting for me to finish it and add pictures.  Here's hoping!

   

It has been cold and snowy.  I decided on grilled cheese for dinner.  But not just any grilled cheese.  Special grilled cheese.  There is a tiny hole-in-the-wall diner in Roanoke called Pop's and they serve a plethora of yummy grilled cheese sandwiches.  If they can do it so can I.

Better Than Grilled Cheese

Bread  This should be obvious!
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 Granny Smith Apple
Ham
Sweet, Hot Mustard
Butter, softened

My favorite ham is Honeybaked Ham.  We had some in the freezer left over from Christmas.   In a perfect world, I would  always use Honeybaked ham.  But it is expensive and a long trip into Roanoke, so I was thrilled to know it was there for the taking!  I trimmed all the fat and set it aside

   

Core, and peel the apple.  Slice it in 1/4 inch slices.  Slice the cheese.  Cut enough pieces to cover one slice of bread for each sandwich.  No.  You can't use American cheese wrapped in plastic.  You have to use REAL cheese.  Make sure it is the SHARP cheese.  You want to taste cheese in your grilled cheese sandwich, don't you?

   

Assemble your sandwich.  After I cut everything and started layering it, I wanted to add something extra and remembered the sweet, hot mustard.  Don't leave this out, either.  It really added some sweetness and a bit of punch, all at the same time.  I spread a thin layer on one slice of bread.

Heat a pan or griddle on medium, or use a panini. I am not a panini fan as I don't like smooshed sandwiches, but use what you like.  Butter the top side of the sandwich and place it butter side down on the pan.  Then butter the side facing you.

Heat until brown, about 2 minutes, and then carefully flip it over.  I do this using two spatulas, one on top and one on the bottom.

   

When the second side is nice and brown, remove to a cutting board and cut it.  Serve immediately with something healthy, like fruit or a salad.  Because this is not healthy.  But it is goooood.

Sheesh.  More computer problems.  Can't wait for the new one to get here!