It was that sock that sat right in the middle of the floor for over a week. And her flip-flops that were haphazardly strewn about the living room along with a pile of papers and markers and other 8 year old stuff. And the pile of yet to be cleaned paint brushes sitting on the counter after my husband deposited them, left to languish next to the pile of clean towels that never seemed to get put away.
The little annoyances that last week gave me prickly heat every time I saw them, melted to the background after several national events reminded me that life as we know it can change in an instant.
I’m just grateful I get to once again have this gentle nudge to not take “stuff” so seriously. It is, afterall, just stuff.
As I show you my favorite recipes or share the latest shoes I covet, I don’t want to be insensitive—or on the flip side too melancholy—to events beyond our control. I think it’s important to remember that while we’re all affected by national circumstances, and while saddened or frustrated by them, we must also learn something from them. So I’m working on learning to turn a blind eye to MY issues with what gets my dander up, and be thankful I have loved ones to contribute to my self-induced peeves.
Yesterday I asked Facebook what you were craving to continue my Grilled Cheese Month Friday recipes: Savory or sweet? While the savory side seemed to weigh in pretty heavy, there were a fair number of you in the sweet camp as well. So I made a compromise: Let’s do a savory AND sweet grilled cheese this week. And here she is.
I present…Strawberry Bruschetta Grilled Cheese.
You’ve seen fruit bruschettas before (I made one for Maria’s baby shower) and you’re seen strawberry grilled cheese sandwiches. So what’s different about this one? Here’s the difference: A little olive oil, a little aged balsamic, plenty of fresh basil melted into soft, creamy brie—with just a touch of a bite—on thinly sliced baguette and toasted just right.
You can see how the melt factor can sort of get away from you with that sandwich on the middle, oozing effusively. Oh, it tastes good.
If you aren’t a fan of brie, or are looking for something sweeter for a breakfast griller, substitute the brie for mascarpone or provolone. Or a combo of the two.
So there you have it. A little sweet for some of you, a little savory for most of you. And a flavorfilled grilled cheese for me. It’s going to be a great weekend, I can tell.
Strawberry Bruschetta Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 thinly sliced pieces of sourdough baguette
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 large strawberries chopped (about 1 cup)
- 4 large basil leaves slivered
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
- kosher salt and pepper
- 8 ounces brie cheese
Instructions
- Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread, then flip the bread buttered side down and repeat with the other 6 slices.
- Add the chopped strawberries to a small bowl, sprinkle with the basil leaves and dress with the extra virgin olive and balsamic vinegar. Mix gently then top with lemon zest and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Slice the brie and spread on unbuttered sides of the bread. Spoon a generous amount of the strawberry mixture on 4 pieces of the brie topped bread.
- Place the strawberry stacked bread, buttered side down, in a non-stick fry pan over medium-high heat and top with the other slice of buttered bread. Cover with lid and let cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden.
- Reduce heat to medium and flip sandwich to the other side and cook for 2-3 minutes or until bread is toasty golden and the cheese has melted. The second side will cook faster than the first so watch carefully. Repeat process with the other sandwich ingredients to make the rest of the grilled cheese sandwiches. Enjoy hot.
Happy Friday Faves everyone. I’ll be coaching Smudge’s soccer game, digging up some dirt in the yard (fingers crossed) and getting a jump on next week’s to-do list since I’ll be heading to Temecula for The Traveling Big Summer Potluck. Will you be there too?
If you missed yesterday’s giveaway, here’s the link to enter. Good luck!
[youtube=http://youtu.be/WJiCUdLBxuI&w=600&h=400]
1. After a week of senseless tragedies and senate decisions influenced by the lure of money rather than by the wants of the people they represent, I for one could use a little more happy. Thanks to Amy’s share yesterday via Twitter, this has done the trick. Hey, I sing 80’s songs in the car too, so why do they sound so much better than me? Oh, and yes, he’s playing the keyboards on his iPad. Nice. * New band crush *
2. If I said it once I’ll say it again, I’m a sucker for packaging. Almost as much as I’m a sucker for good pickles. Luckily Yee-Haw Pickles have both things in common. And they’re local. And I now have 3 bottles in my fridge. And I’m a happy pickle-eater.
3. I had my first experience with the Clarisonic when I had a facial at Tucson’s Ritz Carlton Spa where we celebrated my mom’s birthday. I came out my facial with the skin of a 3 year old. Okay, add 35, or maybe more, years to that and we’ll be good. The Clarisonic was a revelation, and lucky me I now have one of my own, and hellllooo, it comes in orange!. As a product hoarder, I’ve decided their cleansing gel is my new fave. With this kind of glowing skin people might start to think I’m pregnant. I’m not.
4. Spring has sprung which means food blogger award season. Take a look at a round up of bloggers who have excelled in their craft and are now nominated for the coveted Saveur.com Best Food Blog Awards. Voting ends tonight so don’t wait don’t waste another minute to uncover some fabulous new food discoveries of your own and make sure you cast a ballot in their favor. It is an honor to be nominated indeed. Winners announced Tuesday, April 23.
5. I’m getting into doing more video (stay tuned next Tuesday for my newest attempt) and so I love catching up on blogs with video added to their site in fun ways. Aube of Kitchen Vignettes does it exceptionally well. Which is probably why she is the Savuer.com 2012 winner of Best Video Blog and is nominated again this year. I could spend all day being teleported to her kitchen.
6. Are you inspired by these excellent food blogger nominees and would like to start a food blog of your own? Follow the advice of my friend and one of last year’s Best Cooking Blog award nominees, Kathryn of Cookies and Kate, who shares her tips and tricks of how to create your own food blog. Just do it, there’s plenty of bites to go around.
7. I often need to send and receive contracts and their are so many options out there. I was recently delivered one from Hello Sign and I quickly became a convert for my own biz. Simple and easy while looking good all at the same time.
8. My shopping habits are either feast or famine and right now I am acting like I may not have another meal because the feast is in full force. These Stuart Weitzman Mach 1 loafers (hibiscus and orange–full speed ahead ladies) are next on my hit list. Maybe after I win the lottery.
9. The Grilled Cheese Academy’s Recipe Showdown 2013 is still in full swing. With so many great prizes you owe it to yourself to enter. In case you are in need of inspiration for what ingredients to pull together to make the ultimate grilled cheese, check out Allison’s book, 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, a comprehensive Ode to curd between two slices of bread.
10. It works in the kitchen. It works in the garden. I think this apron from Food 52 will work on me.
Tweet of the Week: “We are living in a world where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.” ~ Alfred E. Newman via @exceptionalfood
Keep your lemons real. Have a great weekend.
Thanks for reading and please keep in touch by subscribing to FoodieCrush and follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest. This site includes affiliate shopping links of which I receive a small percentage of sales to allow me to create new and special content like this for my readers, so thank you for your support. All opinions are my own.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Love this post. First off, your lead picture is simply THE MOST stunning photo of a grilled cheese I have ever seen! I put a brie, apples, & PB grilled sandwich in my book; I wish I had thought to use strawberries. Wow. Beautiful. Pinned!
And congrats to Allison on her book. Love her.
And to all the great blogs that were nominated on Saveur. In some categories, I truly believe every blog on the list should win!
And am I the only person now who’s yet to try a Clarisonic. I guess so!
heidi says
Thanks so much Averie, your version sounds pretty dynamite too. You always leave me wanting more.
Kathryn says
This is pretty much the sandwich of my dreams.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
I am totally making this ASAP! Holy shoot!
Tieghan says
wow! That is an awesome grilled cheese. The strawberries are beautiful!
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
This sandwich is genius! I love fruit in sandwiches. The bruschetta is amazing!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Great post and great quote ;) Happy Friday…
Ali | Gimme Some Oven says
I adore that apron!!! And you may have convinced me on the Clarisonic. Have been thinking about it for awhile now — sounds amazing!
I’m so glad you went with sweet on the grilled cheese. Love the strawberries and brie!! :)
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
This is one heck of a grilled cheese sandwich, Heidi! Love everything about it: the strawberries, the basil and brie! PS: I am dying for the apron too!
heidi says
We can take twinner pictures of ourselves.
Giulia says
Nice round-up of interesting stuff. And those strawberries with brie just look amazing!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I think I just went to heaven with this killer grilled cheese!
Annalise says
YES! Been excited to see this post since Wednesday. This sandwich looks amazing, may just have to add it to my menu for the weekend!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
What!?! OMG…this sandwich sounds soooooo amazing!! I want one now! lol
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
Sorry…one more quick comment…I was so excited about the sandwich, I forgot to mention that I have a clarisonic as well and it’s the best! My skin’s never looked so good!
heidi says
Ha! My Clarisonic gets me pretty giddy too :)
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Best, sweet grilled cheese ever! You’ve combined my favorite combo into one gorgeous sandwich!
And yes, that apron could totally work for me too. Although I’m sure I’d destroy it in a day – I’m a messy cook!
dishing up the dirt says
This is my kind of grilled cheese! Absolutely stunning.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
Thanks sandwich looks irresistible. I love a little sweet with my savory.
Amarie at The CottonwoodJournals.com says
This is making me drool. Beautiful work. As always.
Jeni {Bakerette.com} says
You had me at “cheese”. This looks absolutely divine!
Cookin' Canuck says
You’re so right…it really is all just “stuff”. And the things that are important are the things we can hug and embrace. They are the things that will matter in a year from now.
I’m absolutely loving this grilled cheese sandwich…a little salty, a little sweet and a little acid. Perfect!
Emily says
Nom, nom, nom!
P.S. It was great seeing you at SNAP! :)
shelly (cookies and cups) says
This grilled cheese is almost too gorgeous to eat. Almost.
And great, now I need those shoes.
Cookie and Kate says
Well hello there, strawberry grilled cheese. Where you have been all my life? Just filed this beauty under “must try”. Thank you for sharing my blog tips, too! Your Clarisonic endorsement may have just pushed me over the edge. I think I need one.
ashley - baker by nature says
This sandwich is like heaven between bread! And you’re so right about the clarisonic! Mine is seriously my bathroom BFF.
Tori @ The Shiksa in the Kitchen says
Oh em gee Heidi, this looks scrumptious!!! So creative. Pinned!
Kimberly says
Made this for lunch today – DELICIOUS. Thanks for the recipe!
Kevin (Closet Cooking) says
That stack of strawberry grilled cheese look so good!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Love everything about this sandwich. Strawberries, balsamic and brie is my favorite combination of ingredients!
Allison @ thebakingyear says
this looks DELICIOUS! Can’t wait to make it!
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch says
I am so drooling all over my Mac.. I love Brie and Strawberries! Deliciousness at it’s best! I also love my Clairasonic, a must have! Now I just need that super cute apron and I’ll be one happy girl!
Julie says
The Strawberry Bruschetta Grilled Cheese looks absolutely delicious. Yum
Jessica Gavin says
That Grilled Cheese looks incredible! I’m craving that beauty right now :)
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Top 10 Temples says
that sounds soo good!
johanseena says
Spread the coconut oil on one side of each bread slice. In a small bowl, combine together sliced strawberries, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add lemon zest, salt and pepper; mix gently. … Place the the bread slices, oiled side down in a medium non-stick skillet and top with another slice of bread
Georgia M says
Talk about taking a grilled cheese sandwich to the next level! Glad I stumbled upon this, will give it a try.
Alessandro Cipriano says
This recipe is delicious, thanks for sharing. I will try it for sure. Awesome blog. Keep up the good work!! Cheers from Switzerland.
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
Thanks!