Grilled Chocolate Sandwich

A lot of my recipe ideas come from the books I happen to be reading at the time.  Because I read about a book a day...well, maybe 5 a week, I can't remember the book I was reading when I read about this amazing idea.  Two women were having a gab session when they decided to have some grilled chocolate sandwiches.  That's all they said about it.

A lot of books with recipes include them at the end.  I flipped to the back of the book, no recipe.  But this sounded like the perfect late night snack for a girls get together.  No females dropped by my house so I decided to invent the sandwich and force feed offer it to my husband for dessert after a light meal of soup.

We all know and love grilled cheese, right?  And almost anyone can make one of those.  I started with that premise and decided the chocolate could be from Nutella.  Nutella has a hazelnut base, so I figured it was a protein and sort of, kinda, healthy.  I decided this based on no actual basis in fact.

 

This isn't actually a recipe as much as an idea you should take into consideration. 

Bread
Nutella
Butter

 

Yep.  that's it.  I used an electric griddle, but any fry pan would work.

 

Just spread some Nutella on a slice of bread.  I used white wheat, cause I am all about healthy CHOCOLATE sandwiches.

 

Place another slice on top and butter the outside of that and place the buttered side down on the hot pan.  Then butter the side facing you.  When the bottom is a toasty brown flip the sandwich over and brown the other side.

"HEY!"  I can hear you yelling.  "That isn't a recipe.  I do that for grilled cheese when there is nothing else in the fridge and I need some comfort food."

Yes, but did you ever think about chocolate instead of cheese?  I thought not.

 

The sandwich dessert was pretty good.  The outside was buttery and crispy and the Nutella was warm and melty.  In fact, I could have slathered on a thicker pile of the chocolaty goodness.  But remember, we are going healthy, here.

Lee wondered why I didn't add fruit inside.  You know, like Elvis used to like grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches.  I am not a slices of banana fan, but you go right ahead and add some.  Even better would be some sliced strawberries.  Or raspberries and use a Panini pan.  Or even a George Foreman Grill.  You see where I am going here?  Easy peasy and delicious. 

And if you add fruit to the Nutella protein, it is a main course.  AND healthy.  Sort of.  Kinda.

Ham, Brie and Apple Sandwiches

Once again I was reading a book and one of the characters mentioned food.  Then it stuck in my head and I had to have it.  And this is why they do product placement in TV and movies!  I am such a sucker.

The story had people at a wedding shower or something like that (THESE details escape me, not the FOOD) and they were served ham, brie and apple sandwiches.  I thought it might be good to melt the brie.  Or maybe have them in a Panini sandwich.  One problem.  I don't have a Panini press.  Oh, but I DO have a George Foreman grill and that is the poor man's Panini press.

 

Ham, Brie and Apple Sandwich

Thinly sliced ham.  I used Black Forest ham.  I like the smokiness.
Brie
Apple,  I used Granny Smith
French Bread
Mustard  I used honey mustard
butter, softened

If I had been able to find a chutney, I would have added that.  You should use it if you live in a civilized area.

 

Heat the George Foreman grill

Peel and thinly slice the apple.  Slice the French bread about 1/2 to 1 inch thick.

 

Generously spread the mustard on both slices of the bread.  Fold the ham to fit the slices and place on a slice of the French bread .  Add a few slices of the brie to cover.  Don't worry about the rind.  You will never see it.  Then place the apples on top.

 

Place the other slice of French bread on top and butter it.

 

Place the butter side down on the hot grill and butter the top slice of bread.  Close the cover and wait for the magic. 

 

I cooked it for about 4 minutes, but feel free to peek.  I stopped when the top was brown and the brie started to ooze out of the sandwich.
 


Serve it with the rest of the apple.  And a tall glass of Sangria, should you be so lucky.