The Lisa Marie Grilled Cheese Recipes

BUONA LISA PIZZA

Steps:

• Place a pizza stone or an inverted rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven and preheat to 500.
• Toss the roasted peppers, tomatoes, basil and minced garlic with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Cook the sliced garlic in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat until golden, about 1 minute. Cool slightly.
• Stretch or roll out the pizza dough into a 12-to-14-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Generously dust a pizza peel or another inverted baking sheet with cornmeal and place the dough on top. Drizzle with a little of the garlic oil and season with salt. Top with the mozzarella, provolone and tomato-pepper mixture, then sprinkle with the pine nuts and sliced garlic.
• Slip the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet and cook until the crust is golden and crisp and the cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Top with goat cheese before slicing.

THE PERFECT GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Oven method (great for a crowd of six or fewer): Put a rimmed baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Make one sandwich per person: Sandwich 2 slices of cheese between 2 slices of bread. Spread or brush the outside of the sandwich with 1 tablespoon of fat. Place on the preheated baking sheet and cook until the cheese starts to melt, about 5 minutes. Flip the sandwich and bake until golden brown, an additional 5 minutes.
• Panini press method (for crispy crunchy sandwich that needs minimal attention): Sandwich 2 slices of cheese between 2 slices of bread. Preheat a panini press to medium heat. Spread or brush the outside of the sandwich with 1 tablespoon of fat and place in the press. Close the top and cook until lightly browned and the cheese is melted, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Skillet method (fool-proof and low-tech): Sandwich 2 slices of cheese between 2 slices of bread. Preheat a skillet over medium-low heat. Spread or brush the outside of the sandwich with 1 tablespoon of fat and cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the sandwich, and continue cooking until browned and the cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes more.
• Great combos:
• 1. Pepper jack and sourdough, brushed with chili oil
• 2. American and white bread, brushed with butter
• 3. Swiss and rye, brushed with mayo
• 4. Cheddar and brioche, brushed with butter

MUSHROOM GRUYERE GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• For the truffle spread: Thoroughly combine the robiola, lemon zest, rosemary, truffle oil and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Reserve at room temperature.
• For the mushrooms: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add just enough of the mushrooms to loosely cover the bottom of the skillet (you should be able to see the pan between the mushrooms). Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, then gently turn the mushrooms over as they brown and soften.
• Add a little chopped shallot and garlic, some butter and some rosemary and thyme to the pan. Continue cooking until the mushrooms are tender, about 2 minutes more; transfer to a paper towel.
• Wipe out the skillet and repeat the process, cooking the mushrooms in small batches. Reserve at room temperature.
• For the grilled cheese: Preheat a griddle over moderately low heat to 350 degrees F.
• Brush one side of each bread slice with softened butter. Spread the opposite side with truffle spread (1/4 cup per slice). Top each with a slice of fontina and a slice of Gruyere Spoon 1/2 cup of the mushrooms onto each slice. Sprinkle with the herbs and season with salt. Close the sandwiches.
• Set the sandwiches on the hot griddle and press with a large baking sheet weighted down with cans. Cook until toasted, 3 minutes per side.
• Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally and serve hot.

ISLANDER GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• For the pork belly: Preheat a flattop to 350 degrees F.
• Pour the olive oil onto the flat top. Add the pork belly and sizzle on each side until the edges are crisp and golden but the middle is still soft, about 2 minutes. (You can prepare the pork belly while the sandwich is melting on the flattop.)
• For the islander grilled cheese: Place 2 ounces of Cheddar on each slice of bread, add the basil and close the sandwich. Ladle some clarified butter on the flattop and add the sandwich. Grill the sandwich until the bread is crisp and golden and the cheese is melted. Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board. Use a spatula to open the sandwich and add the pork belly. Add the Pineapple Sriracha Jam, then add the cucumber sticks. Close the sandwich and cut. Voila!
• Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden. Add the ginger, sriracha, pineapples and lemongrass. Cook until the pineapple begins to break down and soften slightly, about 20 minutes. Remove the lemongrass. Use a stick blender to puree the mixture or puree the mixture in a blender in batches.
• Mix the sugar and gelatin in a bowl, then add it slowly to the sauce. Bring to a hard boil and boil, skimming the foam off the top, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce. Let cool, then stir in the cilantro.

PEPPERONI GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Divide pepperoni evenly among 4 slices bread; top each with 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining 4 slices bread.
• Heat griddle or large skillet over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, top each of 4 slices bread with 1 slice cheese. Top each with another slice each bread and cheese and remaining slice bread. Butter top and bottom of each sandwich.
• On griddle, cook each sandwich until golden brown on both sides and cheese is melted. Cut each sandwich into 2 triangles.