Grilled Ham & Apple Cheese

There is something so comforting about a grilled cheese sandwich.  A basic grilled cheese usually doesn't take any thinking ahead, nothing that needs to thaw in the fridge overnight or throw in the crockpot at breakfast.  As long as you have cheese, bread, butter, and a stove you can make a grilled cheese that is delicious and at least somewhat satisfying.  It always takes me back to my childhood, especially grilled cheese and tomato soup during Lent.

This is not quite that basic grilled cheese.   Like this Blackberry Bacon Grilled Cheese I shared a few months back, this ones takes a few more ingredients and very slightly more prep but if you can make a basic grilled cheese you can most definitely make this.  It's perfect for this time of year when the apples are pretty plentiful and can be found pretty cheap.  If you need a way to use up...one.  This might be the answer.

I'm a big fan of paring fruit with meat.  Pineapple pizza is one of my all-time favorites, definitely my favorite pizza.  There is the above mentioned Blackberry Bacon Grilled Cheese, this Hawaiian Lasagna, and a Blackberry Grilled Chicken Sandwich.  I had a delicious apple, ham, and brie sandwich on our Holland (Michigan) trip in the spring and enjoyed it so I knew I'd probably like this too.  And I did. 

This isn't quite standard ingredients we always have on hand but they weren't hard to find.  When I was looking at Aldi for some white cheddar I found this "specialty" apple cinnamon white cheddar which seemed like it would be perfect for these sandwiches.  And it was although I'm sure regular white cheddar would also work well, the cinnamon and apple tastes in this wasn't super pronounced.  You also need some apple butter for this.  I happened to have some my sister made for us as a stocking stuffer (Thanks, E!) but it has to be a pretty easy thing to find in the stores this time of year especially or make your own with the multitude of Pinterest recipes or just so happen to have a sister who makes some and gifts it to you...either works!

If you are looking to spice up your standard grilled cheese a little and can appreciate some fruit in a sandwich, this should be for you!

Grilled Ham & Apple Cheese
yield: 3 sandwiches
Ingredients
-6 pieces of sturdy bread, we used a sourdough from Aldi
-1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
~3.5 ounces white cheddar cheese, sliced
-12-15 pieces of sliced ham
-apple butter
-spreadable butter

Directions
1) Spread butter on one side of each piece of bread.  Lay out on a cutting board, butter sides down.  On one piece layer cheese and then apple slices.  On the other piece of bread, spread apple butter on the side without butter.  Top with 4-5 slices of ham. 
2) Put one butter side down in a skillet set over medium-high heat.  Top with the other slice of bread + toppings, butter side up.  Grill both sides, flipping once.  Serve immediately!

Source: slightly modified from Annie's Eats