EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Perfect Panini with Sincerely, Brigitte Cheeses

Perfect Panini with Sincerely, Brigitte Cheeses

When balmy spring breezes blow away winter’s chill I lean towards quick, no- fuss meals so I can head outside at every chance I get.This seasonal shift  is a perfect time to turn to your panini press for quick and creative melted cheese sandwiches that can easily be tailored to everyone’s tastes. I’m always on the lookout for distinctive cheese but sliced cheeses, with unusual flavors, are harder to find. That’s why I was so thrilled to discover Sincerely, Brigitte cheeses.

 Brigitte Mizrahi saw a gap in the upscale kosher cheese market and ran with it. Her all natural cheeses use non-animal sourced microbial rennet and starters so they are perfect for vegetarians and kosher keepers. They source hormone free milk from small Wisconsin dairy farms and inspire with a wide range of flavors including the Blue Marble Cheddar I’ve been playing with.

Photo: Liz Rueven
Photo: Liz Rueven

This Blue Marble Cheddar combines delightfully meltable cheddar with welcome sharpness from veins of blue cheese squiggling throughout.Cheddar mellows the flavor just enough so the blue is forward but not overpowering (or stinky!)

Sincerely, Brigitte’s Blue Marble Cheddar would be glorious draped over your favorite veggie burger or melted into a baked potato. For all but the most sophisticated kids, this cheese is more adult friendly but there are plenty of other sliced cheese flavors in this line (think: Tomato Olive, Chipotle, or Parsley Chive) to satisfy less sophisticated palates.

 

Photo: Liz Rueven
Photo: Liz Rueven

I’ve turned to my oft neglected panini maker to celebrate spring with early watercress, raisin bread and cranberry preserves to press the sandwich of my dreams. Consider using fig jam or spread if you prefer to highlight the sweetness of the raisin bread.  While watercress is a perfect match for the subtle sharpness of this Blue Marble Cheddar, you can tame it further depending on your choice of spread and thinly sliced green apples or pears.

 

Photo: Liz Rueven
Photo: Liz Rueven

Pressed Cheese Sandwich with Sincerely Brigitte Blue Marble Cheddar Cheese

 These flavor combos make the leap from winter to spring with the season’s earliest watercress, a perfect match for distinctive but tamed blue cheese. Sweeten your sandwich with fig spread or add a hint of tartness with cranberry preserves. It’s best to bring all ingredients to room temperature so the cheese will melt before the raisins get too toasted.

Makes 2 sandwiches using a panini grill

This recipe is dairy

Ingredients:

4 slices raisin bread

4 slices Sincerely Brigitte Blue Marble Cheddar Cheese

1 teaspoon cranberry preserves or fig fruit spread

¼ cup watercress, washed and patted dry

Green apples or firm pears, thinly sliced- optional

 

Directions:

Bring all ingredients to room temperature. Pre-heat panini grill.

Spread 1/2 teaspoon of fruit jam on half of each sandwich. Layer apples or pear, if using them. Place 2 slices of Sincerely Brigitte cheese on each sandwich and top with watercress leaves. Close the sandwich and place on panini grill.

 Exert pressure on top of grill and remove sandwiches when cheese is thoroughly melted. Check periodically to be sure that raisin bread is toasting to your liking.

Note: These grilled sandwiches would make great appetizers, too. Simply slice sandwiches into triangles and serve with crisp white wine of choice.

This post is sponsored by Sincerely, Brigitte. All opinions are my own. Please help support Kosher Like Me by supporting our tasty sponsors. 

Photo: Liz Rueven
Photo: Liz Rueven

7 Comments

Leave a Reply