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, a fair number of you were 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’ve 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 a thinly sliced baguette and toasted just right.
You can see how the melt factor can sort of get away from you with that sandwich in 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 flavor-filled 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
- ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ 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.
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This recipe is delicious, thanks for sharing. I will try it for sure. Awesome blog. Keep up the good work!! Cheers from Switzerland.
Thanks!
Talk about taking a grilled cheese sandwich to the next level! Glad I stumbled upon this, will give it a try.
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
that sounds soo good!
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That Grilled Cheese looks incredible! I’m craving that beauty right now :)
The Strawberry Bruschetta Grilled Cheese looks absolutely delicious. Yum
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!
this looks DELICIOUS! Can’t wait to make it!
Love everything about this sandwich. Strawberries, balsamic and brie is my favorite combination of ingredients!
That stack of strawberry grilled cheese look so good!
Made this for lunch today – DELICIOUS. Thanks for the recipe!
Oh em gee Heidi, this looks scrumptious!!! So creative. Pinned!
This sandwich is like heaven between bread! And you’re so right about the clarisonic! Mine is seriously my bathroom BFF.
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.
This grilled cheese is almost too gorgeous to eat. Almost.
And great, now I need those shoes.
Nom, nom, nom!
P.S. It was great seeing you at SNAP! :)
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!
You had me at “cheese”. This looks absolutely divine!
This is making me drool. Beautiful work. As always.
Thanks sandwich looks irresistible. I love a little sweet with my savory.
This is my kind of grilled cheese! Absolutely stunning.
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!
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!
Ha! My Clarisonic gets me pretty giddy too :)
What!?! OMG…this sandwich sounds soooooo amazing!! I want one now! lol
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!
I think I just went to heaven with this killer grilled cheese!
Nice round-up of interesting stuff. And those strawberries with brie just look amazing!
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!
We can take twinner pictures of ourselves.
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!! :)
Great post and great quote ;) Happy Friday…
This sandwich is genius! I love fruit in sandwiches. The bruschetta is amazing!
wow! That is an awesome grilled cheese. The strawberries are beautiful!
I am totally making this ASAP! Holy shoot!
This is pretty much the sandwich of my dreams.
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!
Thanks so much Averie, your version sounds pretty dynamite too. You always leave me wanting more.