Grown-Up Grilled Cheese

For kids, a grilled cheese 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.

But you as a parent should enjoy some cheesy love, too. And maybe the classic approach doesn’t quite cut it for you. So, we give you: the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese.

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

Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese, feta crumbles and olive oil with a hand mixer. Add in dried basil, minced garlic and cracked black pepper until the seasonings are evenly combined.
2. Spread the whipped feta on one slice of artisanal bread. Layer on dried chives (optional). Add mozzarella cheese, dry-cured beef prosciutto and tomato slices.
3. Spread butter on the outsides of the sandwich then cover and grill. Flip the sandwich on the pan until each side is golden brown.
4. Once the outside is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted, remove the sandwich from the pan and enjoy!