Grown-Up Grilled Cheese

For kids, a grilled cheese sandwich is often the gold standard when it comes to mealtime favorites. What’s not to love? Perfectly melted cheese surrounded on both sides by two pieces of well-buttered, crispy bread. The Illinois dairy farmers who proudly raise these ingredients – cheese and butter – might just be bigger fans than the kids eating them. You as a parent should enjoy some cheesy love, too. So we give you: the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese.

Try this recipe with cheese from local dairy farmers like Prairie Pure Cheese, LLC or Marcoot Jersey Creamery.

Ingredients

Whipped Feta Spread

• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 4 ounces feta crumbles
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper

Sandwich

• 2 tablespoons butter
• Artisanal bread, sliced
• ¼ teaspoon dried chives (optional)
• Mozzarella, sliced
• Roma tomato, sliced
• Dry-cured beef prosciutto

Directions

1. Mix cream cheese, feta crumbles and olive oil with a hand mixer. Add in dried basil, minced garlic and cracked black pepper and mix until the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the whipped feta.
2. For the outside of the sandwich, spread butter on one side of the artisanal bread slices.
3. For the inside of the sandwich, spread the whipped feta on the other side of one of the  slices. Layer on dried chives (optional). Top with mozzarella cheese, dry-cured beef prosciutto and tomato slices.
4. In a skillet over medium heat, grill the sandwich until golden brown on one side. Flip the sandwich and continue cooking.
5. Once the outside is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted, remove the sandwich from the pan and enjoy!

Can’t get enough cheese? Try this Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe.