Build the Perfect Local Grilled Cheese for Comfort Food Season

 

 

By Fen Fenton, Communications Intern, Slow Food Denver

IMG_4300

 

Farmer’s markets are starting to pack away for the winter, and if you’re an ethically conscious eater like us, you’re probably wondering what happens next. Lucky for you, it’s comfort food season, and there are plenty of ingredients available through our craft producers, farmers, and small businesses. Here are some tips and a ~loose~ recipe for just one example: grilled cheese.

 

Ingredients

Softened Butter: It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just grab something produced on a Colorado farm! If you’ve got some time on your hands, try making your own butter by purchasing a bit of local cream, and shaking it up in a sealable container until the liquid separates from the raw butter. Separate and salt the butter. Use that.

 

Bread: 2 slices of something nice and crunchy. Make sure it’s a loaf that’s got some height, so you have a bit more surface area on the slices to work with. You also want bread that doesn’t come in a plastic bag, but is baked fresh at a small bakery—you know what we’re talking about. No one wants a skimpy grilled cheese sandwich.

 

Cheese: Don’t overthink this. The best part about any grilled cheese is the oozy, buttery, and melty center. Here are some examples of excellent melting cheeses: Melville, gruyere, gouda, fontina, raclette, taleggio, and some cheddar cheeses. Do NOT buy pre-shredded cheese—it melts SO much better if you slice or grate it yourself. Plus, you’re supporting local artisans: win! If you’re interested in visiting an independent cheese shop in Denver, check out places like Cheese + Provisions and The Truffle Cheese Shop.

 

Fillings (Optional): It’s a good time of year to be making grilled cheese, and to jazz it up, fill the center with seasonal produce like roasted squash, a few of the last straggler apples, some local jam, or even some pickled garden veggies. Grilled cheese is also a great canvas for trying to eliminate food waste from your kitchen—sauté up that borderline-wilting kale with some shallots before it’s too late!

 

Directions

Preheat an oven-safe frying pan on medium heat. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Melt a tab (1-2 tablespoons) of butter, and grate or thinly slice your cheese (I use about 1 cup of grated cheese) while you’re waiting for the pan to heat up. Spread some softened butter onto the outer sides of the sandwich. Layer your sandwich on a cutting board. If you’re using filling, I recommend layering it in between some cheese, so the cheese clings to the bread, and the filling doesn’t slip out all over the place. Toss another tab of butter into your pan and stick that sandwich right into the pan. Cook the first side until it becomes a nice golden brown. Flip the sandwich, lifting it to melt in another tab of butter if necessary (I typically think it is, so both sides get crisp). After flipping the sandwich, sling that pan right into the oven. Keep an eye on the sandwich in there, letting the cheese melt for a few minutes and the bread get nice and golden. When it’s ready, take the sandwich out and immediately transfer it to a cutting board to set for a sec. Cut the grilled cheese in half and serve it with some stone-ground mustard or Colorado pickles, depending on what you’re into.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Recent Posts

March 2024 Letter

March is always an interesting time in Colorado. Spring starts to tease us with its elusive warmth and the passing of the Spring Equinox, but that is coupled with frequent snow storms and a ski season still in full swing. This March we’ve been balancing the changing...

Slowly Savoring Colorado Wines

Growing up in the Columbia River Valley of Washington state, my parents tended beautiful flower & vegetable gardens while my dad foraged and made fruit based wines. Stopping by a winery for a picnic on our drive back from camping or other adventures was so common...

February 2024 Letter

February has come, and nearly gone, with lots of exciting updates here at the Denver chapter of Slow Food. We awarded four new Snail of Approval establishments, welcomed new board members to our organization, hosted two private celebrations, and more!  Last month we...

January 2024 Letter

  We’ve been hard at work to bring so many exciting things to fruition, which we couldn’t be more thrilled about. The changing of the year has brought a new staff member, new Snail of Approval awardees, the launching of a brand new program, and more. In the first...

A Positive Take on Social Media

Many have chosen to take a break from social media with the start of the new year – an effort worth commending. We’ve all fallen victim to doom scrolling and lost minutes or even hours of our lives to the black hole that the internet can become. While there are...

December Letter: Entering the New Year

It’s upon us, a new year in the form of 2024. The changing of the year can bring so many different reactions and emotions. As a team, our sincerest hope is that the coming year brings joy and opportunity for you and your loved ones. However, we acknowledge that...