GRILLED CHEESE AND PROSCUITTO ON ROSEMARY BREAD
After Dan died, I didn’t feel like eating. I just made whatever was quick, maybe a bowl of Cherrios. Then one day I was mindlessly watching TV and came across the Food Network. I was never one to watch cooking shows, but this one had Giada De Laurentiis, who Dan liked, and she was in Venice, so I stopped surfing to watch. This recipe is based on the grilled cheese sandwich she had at Harry’s Bar. It looked so wonderful, it made me hungry! And I happened to have all of the ingredients, so as soon as the show was over I went right to the kitchen and made it. It was great, and started me cooking for myself again. Eventually I found that kalamata olives are a great addition to this sandwich. Buon appetito!
Super easy/super quick. Not especially healthy, but great for those days when you really should eat something delicious.
Ingredients: bread, prosciutto, cheese, olive oil, (optional pitted Kalamata olives).
Notes: most grocery stores have bakeries with a variety of breads. The one I love for this recipe is Rosemary Olive Oil bread. The cheese I like to use is Kraft Natural Grated Italian Five Cheese.
Kitchenware: skillet.
Take one slice of bread and put cheese on it. Drizzle a little olive oil in your skillet. Take the other slice of bread and rub it around until evenly coated with oil. Set it on top of the cheese slice, and set the sandwich in the skillet, oiled side up. Brown both sides, over medium or medium/low heat, until cheese is melted (turn carefully!). Turn off heat. Open sandwich and put a slice of prosciutto on one side.
Close sandwich and serve with pitted Kalamata olives.
The reason I don’t put the prosciutto in the sandwich before it goes into the skillet is because the heat changes the flavor. I first tried prosciutto in Italy with Dan, and loved it. In the summertime most restaurants serve it as “Prosciutto e melone”: prosciutto and cantalope. It’s got this great salty/sweet thing happening.
Note: I prefer a good San Daniele prosciutto. When I can’t find that, I like the Citterio All Natural Prosciutto.
Jean,
Another favorite in our home. I tried this for lunch on a Sunday afternoon for my husband and son. Many times my youngest son who is 17 comes home from school and says “mom would you mind making me “that” sandwich.” I swear he skips lunch at school just so that he can have this instead. Thanks for the wonderful recipes.
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Yay! Thanks, ladies.
I think Velveeta might be interested in the tag line: “Grilled Cheese. Bringing families together.” I can hear Sally Kellerman doing the voice over.
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Well, My family has always said that I am the greatest grilled cheese mom in the country, after this one I think I may take over the world! Thank you so much for this, I love making all different kinds of ‘grilled cheese’!
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Jean, this is really delicious!! The combination on Rosemary bread is incredibly tasty and a snap to put together. Thanks for a real keeper of a recipe.
Terri
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Jean are these your original photos in your food section? You would be great at taking photos for cookbooks or advertisements. My all time favorite comfort food is grilled cheese sandwich and tomato bisque soup. Yum, I better get off the computer and go make me some or I will dream about it tonight. HAHAHAH
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Yes, my photos, thanks Amanda. Oh yeah, grilled cheese and tomato soup, comfort food from my childhood too! And I have to confess: I’m a dipper. ~ Jean
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Just a little added yum: put some shredded Parmesan on a plate and dip the oiled or buttered bread in it before you put it in the skillet. Crusty cheese on the outside and melty cheese on the inside = heaven sandwich! Gotta watch it closely in the skillet or the cheese will burn. I like sourdough bread and colby-jack on the inside. Thank Guy Fieri for this one…
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Damn! I have to remember to sit back when I’m reading these recipe suggestions…I just drooled on my keyboard!
Jean
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Sounds yummy. Grilled cheese is a great comfort and so easy. Thanks for sharing.
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