Bacon Granny Smith Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Everyone loves a good grilled cheese sandwich. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, sometimes a grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect lunch. Yes, even lactose intolerant people love grilled cheeses, though their colons don't. So get out your holy cheese and pray to Cheezus Crust, and make this divine grilled cheese sandwich or are you a naan believer?

In the words of Buster Bluth, "I was told there would be grilled cheese." This isn't any old grilled cheese though, it's a grilled cheese that puts all others to shame. Sure, you could go with something simple and safe, but what's the fun in that? I personally don't understand people who take the safe route; life is for living, so add some apple and bacon to that sandwich! Some people will say apples don't belong on a sandwich, but let them talk and have their wrong opinion. They don't know the joy of something weird and different, so they can enjoy their meal of quiet judgement while you eat one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches of your life.

Bacon Granny Smith Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yields one sandwich

• 2 slices of Sourdough Bread
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 3 oz. Tillamook Cheddar Cheese grated 
• 2 oz. Gruyere cheese grated
• 1.5 Bacon Slices cooked
• 1 Granny Smith Apples thinly sliced 
• 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper freshly ground

1. Heat up two CLEAN skillets over medium heat. That's right two. 
2. Butter one side of each slice of yo' bread. 
3. Add the mustard and pepper to one slice of bread (on the non-butter side, but you're clever so you probably figured that out on your own). 
4. Pile on the cheeses. Stack 2 apple slices and the bacon strips to the pre-sandwich. Top it off with the other slice of bread, butter side up.
5. Place in one of the hot skillets. Let cook for 30 seconds. Take the other hot skillet and place on top of the sandwich and press down. This will help melt the cheese and make it easier to flip. After a minute or so, flip the sandwich over and continue cooking until both sides are golden brown. 
6. Serve with a little salad or some tomato or  butternut squash soup. 

It's that easy to mix up the everyday routine and make something different and delicious. Don't be afraid of people judging your fruity sandwich. Go ahead and make this great sandwich, because if you don't I'll be judging you.

Say cheese, all photos by Katy Weaver 

Maple and Apple Crepe Cake

Oh, that's right internet, it's a crepe cake. Delicious maple crepes stacked between layers of cinnamon sugar apples and a pumpkin spiced cream cheese icing. May your box brownies walk away in shame in the presence of this king of desserts. It's seasonal, impressive looking once you've cut into it, and delicious. A word of warning before you Pinterest-loving-sugar addicts decide to make this, just remember it's so labour intensive you might need to get a building permit, so only make it if you're at like a Walter White level of cooking or greater.  

I don't have much to rant about this week. I always talk about myself on here, but I never ask, how are you? Oh, really? No, way. I can't believe that! Well just tell her next time she goes there to bring a moist towelette. Just remember no one is judging you as harshly as you judge yourself. Okay, back to me and this fantastic recipe that will result in a pile of sugar.

Maple Crepes 

Makes about 16 crepes

• 2 large Eggs
• 3/4 cup Milk
• 1/2 cup Water
• 1 cup Flour sifted
• 3 tablespoons melted Butter
• 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

1. Put all ingredients into a bowl. Mix until there's no more clumps. 
2. I recommend using a crepe pan if you have one, or using a shallow skillet. 
3. Cook each side for about 40 seconds over medium heat.
4. Make as many crepes as possible with the matter.

Cinnamon Sugar Apples

• 4 Gala Apples sliced thinly (about 1 cm thick, a mandolin works nicely)
• 4 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Ginger
• 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Spice

1. Mix all the spices and sugar together in a bowl using a whisk. 
2. In a large skillet with a lid make a layer of apples, then spices, then apples, then spices, until you run out of ingredients.
3. Cover and heat over medium until the apples become soft. Occasionally agitate the apples and move them around to avoid burning.
4. Remove from heat to let them cool down. 

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Icing

• 8 oz. Cream Cheese whipped
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Spice
• 1 teaspoon Lime Zest
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1. Mix everything together in a bowl until it has an icing like consistency. 
2. Pretty easy huh?

Maple and Apple Crepe Cake

• Everything you just made from the previous recipes.

1. This is where things get labor intensive. Get a plate or whatever you plate cakes on. Maybe a frisbee? Start the cake by laying a crepe down, coating it with icing, then a layer of apples, and then top it off with another crepe. Continue layering until you run out of crepes. 
2. Be sure to space out the apples to ensure your cake looks, well cake-like. 

So that's it. The crepe cake. If you're up to the challenge make one yourself and tell me about it in the comment section! Enjoy! 

These crepey pictures by Katy Weaver