Rainy Day Grilled Cheese Surprise

Today has been a dark very rainy cool day in New York City. Lunch was very late lunch today I'm having a super busy start to 2017!  Sometimes you just need a change of pace for lunch.  This was one of those, "wonder how it would be if I add...." moments in the kitchen.  This will be definitely a make again lunch and a favorite.  If I can I will lay out the Swiss cheese and ham for a bit till they get closer to room temperature to aid the melting of the cheese.   If not and the cheese isn't runny enough I will often cover the pan till it's gooey.  Enjoy!!

Rainy Day Grilled Cheese Surprise

Zesty pickled jalapeños, oozy gooey Swiss cheese, and very thinly sliced ham!   Other versions of this sandwich could be prepared and very tasty with thinly sliced turkey or chicken for sure!

Rainy Day Grilled Cheese Surprise

Serves 1

2 slices of Swiss Cheese (about the size of the bread slice)

2 ounces thinly sliced ham

pickled jalapeño slices 

2 slices of whole wheat bread

1 Tablespoon softened butter

griddle, heavy fry pan or panini press

Method

Warm the frying pan on medium heat.

   

Add 1 buttered slice of bread butter side down in the pan.  Top with 2 slices of Swiss cheese, layer the pickled jalapeños to cover cheese, top with the thinly sliced ham and cover with the other buttered on 1 side slice of bread, butter side up.

Cook till the bottom slice of bread is browned to your preference, then flip carefully to toast the other slice of bread.  When the bread is toasted to your taste remove and eat.   

Warm Hearty Pumpkin Cranberry Oatmeal Bowls

Two of my favorite things about fall....the brilliant leaves against sunny gray skies....and the classic fall flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, the new fresh crop of apples, and cranberries.  Just makes me think cozy fires and hanging around with friends and family.

It fun for me just seeing what's in the kitchen and experimenting with new flavor profiles.  This is one of those recipes with things always in the pantry but a new combo to please the palate.  Super simple, easy and quick...all things you love for a weekday morning recipe.

One of my prerequisites creating a new recipe is nutritional value.  If we fill with food lacking what our body needs, we will wind up eating more later because our body isn't satisfied and that promotes overweight.  The addition of the pumpkin in this recipe boosted our daily intake of Vitamin A, C, iron, B6. and magnesium. Just one cup of pumpkin is 197% of the Vitamin A which we require daily but only 30 calories.   That's a win-win food: tasty and healthy!

Warm Hearty Pumpkin Cranberry Oatmeal Bowls

4 servings

Ingredients

1 cup old fashioned organic rolled oats

4 cup water

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 teaspoons cinnamon (or more to taste)

3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix

2 Tablespoons organic butter

1/2 cup Real maple syrup (or brown sugar)

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1 cup dried cranberries*

Preparation

Pour water into a saucepan and bring to a simmer.  Add oats, spices, and maple syrup.  As the oatmeal is starting to thicken add the dried cranberries.

Cook for 3-5 minutes to desired thickness. 

Serve

In individual bowls with a few dried cranberries on top.   If you want a sweeter oatmeal drizzle a bit more of the real maple syrup on top.  Shown here I drizzled a bit of milk on top.