The Art of Comfort Food

The grilled cheese is one of the easiest and cheapest comfort foods to prepare at home. All you really need to make the simple sandwich are 2 slices of your favorite bread, plenty of melty cheese, and real butter. Basically, the fat on fat on fat concoction takes about 5 minutes to grill up and lunch or dinner is served.

As a kid, my mom would grill up a few of these cheesy creations at once for us kids. It was typically the weekend lunch or even dinner meal....served with a big glass of chocolate milk. The sandwiches ALWAYS tasted better when she'd make them, especially when prepared with wheat bread, medium cheddar cheese, and of course butter. She never used margarine.

The great thing about comfort food is that there is no wrong way to prepare it. And when it comes to sandwiches, there really are a million and one combinations. I recently discovered one of the most amazing takes on the grilled cheese combining crusty grilled raisin bread, talegio cheese, and apricot-caper sauce. Enjoy!

Short Rib and Tallegio Grilled Cheese with Apricot Caper Puree

Yields 4 sandwiches

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

15 dried apricots

1 tablespoon nonpareil capers

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

8 slices dark raisin bread

5 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

4 small handfuls arugula

3 oz chopped braised beef short ribs

8 ounces taleggio cheese, rind removed, at room temperature

4 pinches fleur de sel

Preparation:

Place apricots in small saucepan and add water just to cover. Bring to full boil and immediately remove from heat. Mix in capers, mustard and olive oil. Pulse in blender to chunky consistency; set aside. 


Spread one side of each bread slice evenly (to the edges) with 1/2 tablespoon butter. With buttered sides down, top four slices with 2 tablespoons of apricot mixture, handful of arugula and equal portions of cheese. Top with remaining slices, buttered side up. 


Place large skillet over high heat, and melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Reduce heat to low and add sandwiches. Cook until browned and crisp on both sides, about 2 minutes a side. Transfer to a platter lined with paper towels, and sprinkle each with a pinch of fleur de sel. Cut in half and serve.

Recipe courtesy of:

The Foundry on Melrose

7465 Melrose Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

Phone: (323) 651-0915

Restaurant website: http://www.thefoundryonmelrose.com