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| Inside Out Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches |
For three semesters, my little sister Renatta has been
living in St. Louis and attending St. Louis University. I’m fortunate enough to
have my two sisters-in-law as well as my sister all living within minutes of
me, and having Renatta so close at hand has been icing on the cake! We usually
see each other at least once a week and while her motivation might our
chauffeuring services and the baked goods I pawn off on her, I’m more than
happy to oblige.
This
semester she’s off on the adventure of a lifetime—studying and living in Spain
with a few of her best friends, a college experience I never took advantage of
and will forever wish I had! I’m thrilled for her (and thrilled to be the
keeper of her nail polish collection while she’s abroad), but of course missing
her all the same. Although I would’ve loved to take advantage of her baby
whispering skills come February, what I’ll most miss are the simple nights of
just hanging out with her and Julia, essentially continuing the patterns we
established growing up, albeit now four and a half hours south.
These
inside out grilled cheese sandwiches were the star of one such evening. We
huddled in my kitchen one Friday night a few months ago, swapping stories from
the week and gossiping about Jennifer
Lawrence’s haircut (consensus: big fans!) while I prepped these
sandwiches. The occasion may have been ordinary, but the sandwiches certainly
weren’t! The insides are spread with a marmalade mustard mixture, and then
stuffed with pickles, ham, and cheese. The goodness doesn’t stop there,
however, because the outsides of the
bread are then coated in parmesan cheese. The result is a cheesy, crusty
exterior that gives way to tangy, gooey innards.
The other
great thing about sisters, besides the obvious? They’re always willing to split
another sandwich with you, when you’re simply too full for another but they’re
too good to resist a few more bites!
One Year Ago: Candied Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies
Two Years Ago: Beef Roast with Mushroom Bourbon Sauce and Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad
Three Years Ago: Life Cereal Snack Mix and Chicken Curry Soup
Four Years Ago: Crockpot Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Curry & Honey
-4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
-8 slices sourdough bread
-1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
-1/2 lb sliced Swiss cheese
-8 oz thinly sliced ham
-dill pickle slices (optional)
-2 tbsp Dijon mustard
-1/4 cup orange marmalade
Directions:
1. Butter each slice of bread and sprinkle with Parmesan, pressing down to help it adhere. Invert the slices onto a work surface with the cheese side down.
2. Top four of the slices with the Swiss cheese, ham, and pickles. In a small bowl, mix together the mustard and marmalade. Spread on the remaining 4 slices. Close sandwiches and cook on a griddle or skillet over moderate heat until golden. Flip to cook other side. Finished sandwiches should be crisp on the outside and melted inside, about 3 minutes. Cut in half and serve immediately.
