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 

Thai Chicken and Waffle Sandwich

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Thai Chicken and Waffles

One of the greatest pieces of advice I've ever heard was from

Alton Brown

who said, "Never take advice." I am open to criticism and feedback though, because without them you can't get better. But advice is more one sided than a HP Laserjet P3005ch printer (it doesn't have duplex printing). When it comes down to it, you're the only one who knows what you really want and what you have to do to make it happen, so start being selfish and start working towards something awesome. 

For some reason in today's culture, selfishness is portrayed as a negative trait, although people forget is that this is what made this country great in the first place (that's right I'm making this a cultural thing). We broke away from the British Empire because we wanted to do things OUR way. We didn't get involved with WWII until we were attacked and it affected us. 

Knowing that your crazy idea is a great one, and actually having the guts to go out there and make it happen doesn't make you insane or eccentric; it makes you successful and a goddamn American. Frankly I'm tired of having artificial roadblocks being put up, especially for people of my generation.  Just get out there and create something, whatever it may be. 

chicken and waffle sandwich

What do those old-man style ramblings have to do with Thai chicken and waffles? Almost nothing. But let's be honest, "Thai chicken and waffles" sounds like a weird, crazy idea, until you actually make it happen and try it. Remember an idea is only as good as its end product, so ignore that advice and prove those nay-sayers wrong.

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produce

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Before I get into the recipes, I want to make a couple shout outs! First, thanks to

Flavour Gallery

for sending me

an awesome apron

(I was wearing it the entire time I was cooking all this). They also have a bunch of cool food t-shirts you should check out. The second shout out is to

Kraken rum

because I love the stuff and would love a free bottle or two. The great thing about Kraken rum is that you get to yell, "RELEASE THE KRAKEN!" Everytime you open the bottle.

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dirty colada

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Dirty Coladas

I know it's not a direct translation, but dark rum produces a "dirtier" look than white rum

• 1 part Kraken Dark Rum
• 1 part Coconut Cream
• 2 parts Pineapple Juice
• 2 parts Ice

1. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until the ice forms a smooth texture. 
2. Pour into a glass and garnish with a lime slice.

carrots

cabbage

coleslaw

Rice Vinegar Slaw 

• 1 Carrot grated
• 1 Zucchini grated
• 1/2 Red Cabbage chopped
• 1/2 Red Onion chopped
• 1 clove Garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
• Juice from 1 Lime
• 1 pinch Salt
• 2 tablespoons Sugar

1. Add the cut up vegetables to a large mixing bowl toss with the vinegars, lime juice, sugar, and salt. The best way to mix everything up is to use your hands.
2. Once your salad is tossed, let the slaw sit in the fridge for about 15 min before serving. 

rice flour waffles

Ginger-Lime-Coconut Waffles

• 1 1/4 cups Rice Flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Sugar
• 1 can Coconut Milk
• 1 heaping tablespoon shredded Coconut
• 1 Egg
• 3 Tablespoons soft butter
• 1 teaspoon ground Ginger
• 1 pinch of Five-Spice
• 1 Lime juiced and zested

1. Sift together all dry ingredients. 
2. Add the lime zest and shredded Coconut to the dry mixture.
3. Whisk in the rest of the ingredients. Once the batter is mixed together add to your waffle iron. [These are really good by themselves too, don't think you need to make a Thai chicken and waffle sandwich when you make these.]

chicken

sweet and spicy chicken

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

• 1 lbs. Chicken Breasts cut into thick strips
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 2 teaspoons Fish Sauce
• 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
• a dash of Garlic Salt

1. Heat the oil over high in a wok or large skillet. 
2. Add the pepper flakes to the oil and let their flavors seep into the oil.
3. Toss the chicken into the cooking vessel. Move the chicken around a bit so it doesn't clump together in the pan. 
4. Add the fish sauce, garlic salt, and brown sugar to the pan. Keep stirring to avoid burning the sugar. The chicken should finish cooking within a couple minutes, depending on what type of stove you have. 
5. Serve with the sauce that is created when cooking the chicken. 

Assemble your sandwich by placing a waffle on a plate, add the chicken and some of the sauce then the slaw and a bit of cilantro and top with another waffle.

Once again my partner in crime, 

Katy Weaver

, is responsible for these mind-blowing photos. She's right in the middle of her busy season and still finds time to help me out with this little project, she's sort of the best you guys.

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chicken and waffles

Port and Fig Chicken Salad Sandwich

This delicious leftover sandwich was made from last night's chicken from this recipe. The chicken in this salad was extra flavorful, because it was soaked overnight in the fig sauce. I pulled appart the chicken and added:

• 2 tablespoons of finely chopped red onion
• 1 carrot peeled
• 1/4 toasted walnuts (finely chopped)
• the leftover figs from the port and fig chicken recipe (about 6 figs cut into 4ths)
• the leftover sauce from last night's chicken
• 2 heaping table spoons of light mayo

Then just mix until everything is covered in the mayo and scoop onto some toast, bread or a plate.

Then toasted some sourdough bread and topped one slice with some medium sharp Tillamook cheddar cheese and some arugula. The end result is a high class sandwich made from leftovers.