Waffle Maker Grilled Cheese 3 Ways

INGREDIENTS

For the Fig & Shallot Jam:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup diced shallot
• 1/2 cup fig jam or preserves
• 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Kosher salt to taste

For the Grilled Cheese:

• 8 slices brioche bread
• 1½ tablespoons softened butter
• 8 oz. sliced smoked gouda
• 2 cups loosely packed arugula
• ¼ cup micro-planed parmesan cheese
• Fig & Shallot Jam

DIRECTIONS

For the Fig & Shallot Jam:

1. In a small frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the shallots. Allow shallots to cook until translucent and starting to brown, which will take 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Remove pan from heat. To the pan, add the fig jam, vinegar, black pepper, and salt. Stir to incorporate all ingredients.
3. Place the jam in a small jar to cool until ready to use. Fig & Shallot Jam will keep for up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge.

For the Grilled Cheese:

1. Make the Fig & Shallot Jam according to the recipe and set aside.
2. Spread a small amount of butter on one side of each slice of bread.
3. Turn the bread butter-side-down on a cutting board and build your grilled cheese sandwich by placing one slice of smoked gouda on each slice of bread.
4. Onto half of the stacks, place 1/2 cup of the arugula and then bring the two stacks together to form the sandwich. (The order starting at the top is butter, bread, cheese, arugula, cheese, bread, butter.)
5. Plug in your waffle maker and set the slider to medium. Allow the appliance to preheat; the green light will be illuminated when it’s ready.
6. Place each sandwich onto 1/4 of the waffle grid. Sprinkle the tops of the sandwiches with 1 tablespoon each of the parmesan cheese and pull the lid down. Depending on the thickness of your bread, the lid probably won’t close all the way. That’s fine! Just give it a little gentle pressure and then let the sandwiches cook for 4 minutes.
7. The green indicator light will let you know when they’re ready. Lift the lid and remove the grilled cheese sandwiches. Allow them to cool for 2 minutes.
8. Cut them in half and spread the top of each with a generous amount of Fig & Shallot Jam.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
• 8 sprouted whole wheat bread
• 8 oz. sliced provolone
• 2 medium sliced avocados
• Sriracha (to taste)

DIRECTIONS

1. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on one side of each slice of bread. Turn the bread oil-side-down on a cutting board and build your grilled cheese sandwich by placing one slice of provolone on each slice of bread.
2. Onto half of the stacks, place 4 or 5 slices of avocado, and on the other half, squeeze some sriracha. Bring the two stacks together to form the sandwich. (The order starting at the top is olive oil, bread, cheese, avocado, sriracha, cheese, bread, olive oil.)
3. Plug in your waffle maker and set the slider to medium. Allow the appliance to preheat; the green light will illuminate when it’s ready.
4. Place each sandwich onto 1/4 of the waffle grid. Pull the lid down. Depending on the thickness of your bread, the lid probably won’t close all the way. That’s fine! Just give it a little gentle pressure and then let the sandwiches cook for 4 minutes.
5. The green indicator light will let you know when they’re ready. Lift the lid and remove the grilled cheese sandwiches. Allow them to cool for 2 minutes.
6. Cut them in half and serve with a few extra slices of avocado and some extra Sriracha.

INGREDIENTS

For the Vanilla & Honey Oranges:

• 2 medium minneola oranges (peeled and pulled into segments)
• ¼ cup local honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

For the Grilled Cheese:

• 8 slices butter-crust bread
• 1½ tablespoons softened butter
• 8 oz. double cream brie
• 3.5 oz. (one bar) 72% dark chocolate
• Vanilla & Honey Oranges

DIRECTIONS

For the Vanilla & Honey Oranges:

1. Into a medium jar, place the orange segments, honey, vanilla, and salt. Place the lid on the jar and shake to incorporate.
2. Set aside in the fridge until ready to use. The oranges will give up some of their liquid that will mix with the honey and vanilla to create a syrup.

For the Grilled Cheese:

1. Spread a small amount of butter on one side of each slice of bread. Turn the bread butter-side-down on a cutting board and build your grilled cheese sandwich by placing two ounces each of double cream brie on half of the slices of bread.
2. Onto each of the other half of the slices, place 1/4 of the bar of chocolate. Bring the two sides together to form the sandwich. (The order starting at the top is butter, bread, cheese, chocolate, bread, butter.)
3. Plug in your waffle maker and set the slider to medium. Allow the appliance to preheat; the green light will illuminate when it’s ready. Place each sandwich onto 1/4 of the waffle grid. Pull the lid down. Depending on the thickness of your bread, the lid probably won’t close all the way. That’s fine! Just give it a little gentle pressure and then let the sandwiches cook for 4 minutes.
4. The green indicator light will let you know when they’re ready. Lift the lid and remove the grilled cheeses using a spatula. Allow them to cool for 2 minutes.
5. Cut them in half and top of each with a few Vanilla & Honey Orange segments and a drizzle of the syrup that’s collected at the bottom of the jar.