Way back in February, I was minding my own business when a certain post from Katherine at Eggton arrived in my inbox. It was witty and fun, much like Katherine herself, and the recipe was for a tasty grilled cheese sandwich made with cheddar and cream cheese and ham. It gave me a scathingly brilliant idea! (Anybody else grow up watching Hayley Mills in the Trouble with Angels movies?) How about a jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwich, I immediately said to myself, using bacon instead of her ham and adding in jalapeños and garlic? And, ooh, oooh, I could serve them with avocado halves filled with ranch dressing! Yes, I could! I had all the ingredients on hand so it didn’t take me long to answer that question. I kid you not, jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwiches are fabulous! I hope you will agree. I share this recipe along with many thanks to Katherine for the inspiration.
Ingredients
4 oz or 115g grated cheddar cheese
4 oz or 115g cream cheese (at room temperature)
1-2 tablespoons butter (at room temperature) for buttering bread
6-7 slices smoked bacon
1/2 - 1 fresh jalapeño (depending on how hot you like it)
1/2 large clove or 1 small clove garlic
6 slices sandwich bread
Optional for serving: ranch dressing and avocados
Method
Fry your bacon until crispy then drain it on a paper towel. Using a sharp knife, chop the bacon into small pieces
Slice the jalapeño in half, removing the membranes and seeds, if you don’t like things too spicy, leaving them in if you do. Mince your jalapeño and garlic very finely.
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| As you can see, I left the seeds in, but we are gluttons for spicy punishment. |
Mix your cheeses together with the minced jalapeño and garlic.
Add in the chopped bacon and stir well.
Butter one side of each slice of bread. Lay out a piece of cling film on your work surface then place the bread so the buttered side is on the cling film. (One piece of cling film per sandwich.)
Put a third of the jalapeño popper cheese filling on three of the slices of bread. Close the sandwiches with the remaining slices, making sure to leave the buttered side out.
Fold the cling film over and gently press down on the sandwich.
Grill on your griddle pan, until the cheese is all melted and the bread is nicely toasted on both sides.
Serve each sandwich with some ranch dressing to dip. Extra points if you serve the ranch dressing in a half avocado.
Enjoy!
If you are a fan of jalapeño poppers, you might also enjoy this jalapeño popper chicken chili. (Link in the caption.)
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| Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili |
My life will not be complete until I make and eat this sandwich.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same, Renee! Right when it popped into my head, I KNEW it would be good and I headed to the kitchen. My confidence was not misplaced. :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds fantastic! We have some hot pepper lovers here. Can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteHot pepper lovers are the best sort of people, Angela. If you can stand really, really hot, have a look at my habanero pepper sauce. I often add a smear of it to the mayo on any other sandwich I make. http://www.foodlustpeoplelove.com/2011/11/habanero-pepper-sauce.html
ReplyDeleteOh YES please! These sound wonderful and the dipping of the sandwich in Ranch? I thought I was the only person who did that - who knew? I'm thrilled to pin and then make this next time we have grilled cheese which might be very soon now!!
ReplyDeleteThey were wonderful, Kelli! You need to give them a try soon. Thanks for pinning!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amaaaaaaazing! I'm going to try it. And I'm totally going to check out the habanero sauce you mention in the comments. I've had it in my mind that I need to make hot sauce one of these days.
ReplyDeleteAnd seriously, thank you for the kind words in your post. xo
You are most welcome, Katherine. I just speak the truth though. Your blog is one of my very favorites to read because you have tasty recipes AND you make me laugh. Once again, thank YOU for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLately, 2.0 and I have been OBSESSED with grilled cheese sandwiches. Also, jalapeño peppers, because 2.0 bought a jar that's as big as my torso, and now we have to eat them with EVERYTHING. Anyhoo, these sandwiches look next-level awesome, and I'm kinda thinkin' I'd like to dip one in some tomato soup...
ReplyDeleteGrilled cheese dipped in tomato soup is the best! When our girls were little, that was a favorite dinner, especially when their father was traveling. So simple but delicious. Thanks for reminding me!
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