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This is one of the recipes that quickly made itself into the must-do-when-chilly list. By combining the apples with the caramelized onions with the cheese, you get a tasteful sandwich all around.  First, some tips to up your grilled cheese game: Choose thick bread slices that will hold up when toasted. I’ve also found that whole wheat bread makes a much steady sandwich base than white bread. For the cheese, pick cheeses that will melt and work as a glue for the rest of the ingredients.

We chose both gouda and mozzarella. One for flavor, and one for the melting power. Gouda has a wonderful flavor, but it’s not so great for melting… so we’re pairing it with the mozzarella. We love to think of the mozzarella as our best friend of cheeses, as it melts beautifully, to get both the melting power and flavor perfection we’re after.

Now, the magic. Caramelizing onions, is to slowly cook them in a little fat until they are richly browned. We’re adding a bit of apple juice (or apple cider if you have available) to increase their natural sweetness. This is a great way to pull flavor out and improve it by adding the simplest of ingredients. After the onions are cooked down, we also added thyme and sage.

Caramelizing the onions takes a bit of time, so be patient. And all together, the sweetness of the onions paired with the crisp of the apples is unbeatable. The effort is well worth it! At Almacenes Siman we found a small tin for the apple cider, as well as a non-stick pan perfect for cooking these wonderful sandwiches, and a small wood board to serve the sandwiches in. Make sure to visit the stores this Black Friday for great store-wide sales. 

Helga & Kitty

Apple & Caramelized Onions Grilled Cheese

Recipe adapted from Half-Baked Harvest
Makes: 2 sandwiches

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
¾ cup apple cider
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 pinch cayenne pepper
4 slices thick whole wheat bread
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ cup shredded gouda cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 apples, thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions to the melted butter and cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
2. Season with salt and pepper, adding half of the apple cider, continuing the cooking process for another 5 minutes, until most of the apple cider has evaporated. Add the rest of the cider and continue cooking until the onions reduce in size and change to a golden color. Add the thyme, sage and cayenne pepper. Cook for an additional minute and remove from the heat.
3. Brush the outside of each slice of bread with olive oil.
4. On the inside, layer in the following order: gouda cheese, caramelized onions, sliced apple, sprinkle a but of chopped thyme and finish with mozzarella cheese. Top with the other slice of bread, olive oil side facing up.
5. Heat your skillet. Place the sandwich (or two if they comfortably fit in the skillet), and cook until golden on each side, from 3 to 5 minutes per side. Serve immediately.

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