apple & ham grilled cheese w/ roasted red onion mayo

If you've read this blog at all, you know how I love cheese. And I do mean love, I'm not just exaggerating. Which is why I had to make this recipe - I'd never had a grilled cheese dressed up at all, so this seriously took my breath away! I first tried this one last year, and since then, we've pretty much always do our grilled cheese with apples and sliced meat if we have them. The red onion mayo only gets made if we're feeling really fancy, or if we've been working out religiously haha it's totally worth it, though!!! I hope you other cheese lovers enjoy this sandwich (it's more of an experience, really!) as much as I do.

apple & ham grilled cheese

with roasted red onion mayo

adapted from Paula Deen of the Food Network

Ingredients

(makes 2 sandwiches)

4 slices whole grain bread

1 granny smith apple, thinly sliced

4-6 pieces ham, thinly sliced (I used packaged deli meat)

4 pieces sharp cheddar cheese, thickly sliced

red onion may (recipe follows)

4 Tbsp butter or margarine spread

Directions

Spread 1-2 Tbsp red onion mayo on two pieces of bread. Place two slices of apple on one piece, then layer two pieces of cheese, and 2-3 pieces of ham on top. Cover with the other slice of bread, mayo side down. Spread 1 Tbsp butter on top side of bread. Put the sandwich butter side down in a pan over medium heat. Now spread the top piece of bread with 1 Tbsp of butter and cover with a lid. When the bottom piece of bread is between golden and dark brown, use a spatula to carefully turn the sandwich over and toast the top piece of bread. Remove from pan when bread is between golden and dark brown (or however you like your grilled cheese). Repeat steps to make other sandwich.

red onion mayo

Ingredients

1 medium red onion

2 tsp olive oil

salt and pepper

1 cup mayonnaise

Directions

preheat oven to 375 degrees. on a baking sheet, toss red onion, olive oil, and salt & pepper. roast 25 minutes, or until onion is very soft. remove & let cool. transfer to food processor & buzz til finely chopped. add mayo & pulse until smooth & combined. Store in fridge.