Grown Up Grilled Cheese

Lately I have felt as if I have been living under a heavy cloud.  There have been times where I feel like I am suffocating, smothered and unable to grasp a breath.  The past few months seems like a snowball of items that have broken, in need of mending and repair and I feel like I have been treading in a sea with no where to go.  At times I don't see the horizon.

Amazing Mammatus Clouds over Pocatello, ID (photo is an oldie but goodie)

It seems silly to admit I feel this way because of material objects, but that is just how I feel.  Earlier this summer I rear ended an elderly woman, only to be rear ended by a college kid a few weeks ago.  Our truck had numerous (four or five) repairs throughout the summer only to end up as sad leverage for a new car & new note.  My MAC's graphics card went out, we have a roof leak and one toilet is on the fritz.  It is just one thing after another.  I realize I could have it a lot worse than I do, but it just seems like too much all at once for the household.

My husband says this is what happens when you grow up.  Well, call me Peter Pan and send me to Neverland because being a grown up has not appealed to me lately.

Last Sunday a few co workers and myself went out for a little bit of drink and a little bit of food courtesy of our company.  As I finished my very grown up drink and was dreaming about the Grown Up Grilled Cheese Sandwich on the menu, we discovered that the restaurant would not accept our company card.  So up we went to another venue and I left my Grown Up Grilled Cheese Dreams at the table.

Roasted Tomatoes about to become the best Tomato Soup EVER!!! Recipe link below.

Yesterday I decided to make my version of the Grown Up Grilled Cheese Sandwich I had reluctantly walked out on.  The sandwich had so many wonderful layers of flavors.  It had a nice tang from the sourdough, delicious salty crust created by butter and Parmesan, a great bite from the Dijon and tied all together by my amazingly warm and sweet Caramel Pear Butter.  The shredded cheddar ensured a perfect melt and made me think that pear butter and cheddar was MFEO (Sleepless In Seattle reference-made for each other). It is perfect with this soup, which I made as well and the first word that left my mouth was "ridiculous" (as in ridiculously delicious).

Grown Up Grilled Cheese Sandwich
two sandwiches

The Grown Up Grilled Cheese at The River Pub includes bacon and tomato, which I did not have-nonetheless my sandwich was delicious.  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are quite versatile, so feel free to add some goods to this.  Goes great with this ridiculously good soup!

4 slices of sourdough bread
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 oz. Parmesan Cheese, grated on a microplane grater
3 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated on a box grater
Dijon Mustard
Caramel Pear Butter (recipe coming soon)
Arugula

1. Brush one side of bread slices with melted butter and press Parmesan into bread slices, coating completely.
2. Place bread cheese side down and spread two slices with mustard and the other two with pear butter.
3. Assemble sandwiches with bread, shredded cheddar & arugula.
4. In a non-stick skillet , cook sandwiches over medium heat until bread is crisp and golden and cheddar is melted.