Grilled Cheese with Apple and Bacon

By minicoopercraig

Funky versions of America's simplest sandwich have been popping up in national restaurants and quick-service chains more and more in recent years. Problem is, when restaurants start to get creative, it usually spells trouble for your waistline. Au Bon Pan's Prosciutto Mozzarella Sandwich is a perfect example of this "more is more" mantra, where a few thin slices of cured ham and a mozzarella blanket turn a lunchtime bite into a sandwich that packs as much saturated fat as 5 scoops of Breyer's vanilla ice cream. We're all for innovating, but if you're going to do it, do it right. The curious combination of sweet apples, smoky bacon and sharp cheese isn't just delicious, it contains less than half the calories of most other grilled cheese sandwiches out there.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp butter
• 8 slices whole-grain bread (we love Martin's Whole Wheat)
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 6 oz shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and sliced
• 8 strips cooked bacon

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

Heat the butter in a large skillet or nonstick saute pan over low heat. Slather 4 slices of bread with the mustard, then divide the cheese, apples and bacon among them. Top with the other bread slices and add to the hot pan. The key to a great grilled cheese (i.e., crispy crust, fully melted cheese) is patience, so cook these sandwiches slowly until each side is deep brown and crunchy, about 10 to 12 minutes total.