Grilled Cheese...Like You've Never Had It


Don't let the combination of ingredients scare you when making this dish.  I promise, if you like just one of these ingredients alone, you'll absolutely LOVE them together!!! So, with that being said, here's what you'll need.....

1- 12oz package of whipped cream cheese
1- Medium red onion (I love red onion)
5- slices of bacon
4- slices of White Wheat bread
**1- cup of chopped walnuts (can be substituted with chopped figs or dates)
1 1/2 teaspoons regular sugar
3 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
1 tablespoon cooking oil

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Should serve 2-4 people (adjust amount of ingredients to serve more people)

**If allergic to nuts, delete the walnuts from the recipe and it will still taste wonderful!*

Directions:
Prep work:  Cut onion in half, slice thinly, and add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Cut bacon slices in half.

In medium skillet, heat cooking oil.  Add sugared onion and saute or grill.  Make sure you don't burn the onions.  After onions have cooked, remove them and add & melt 1 tablespoon of butter.  Add walnuts and remaining sugar.  Lightly toast walnuts in butter and sugar. Remove walnuts and dust the hot walnuts with an additional small sprinkle of sugar. While cooking the onions and walnuts, at the same time, you can cook bacon by frying in separate pan or baking in the oven.

Now that the onions, walnuts, and bacon are done, it's time to use the remaining ingredients. On two slices of the white wheat bread, add whipped cream cheese (enough to cover the slice).  Then layer on walnuts, grilled onions, and equal amounts of bacon slices to each piece of bread.  On remaining two slices of bread, add a layer of whipped cream cheese and top the other slices to make two identical sandwiches.

Melt remaining butter, add each sandwich and brown on each side (1-2 minutes), making a "grilled" cheese sandwich.  Remove, slice on the diagonal or slice each sandwich into four small squares, and eat while warm. 

Enjoy with a glass of red wine...my recommendation--2008 Menage a Trois Red. (Around $12-$15 per bottle)

Love what you eat and eat what you love,
Shea