Fontina Sage Grilled Cheese Food

MINI SAGE-AND-FONTINA GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat; sprinkle with salt. Pour half of butter into small bowl and reserve. Add chopped sage to remaining melted butter in saucepan; stir over medium heat 30 seconds.
• Arrange 8 bread slices on work surface. Brush top side with all of melted sage butter. Divide Fontina cheese among bread slices; sprinkle Parmesan over each, dividing equally. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper. Top with remaining 8 bread slices, pressing to adhere. Brush top side of sandwiches with some of reserved plain melted butter. Press 4 whole sage leaves atop each sandwich to adhere.
• Heat 2 heavy large skillets over medium heat. Place 4 sandwiches, sage-leaf side down, in each skillet and cook until golden brown on bottom, 4 to 5 minutes. Brush top of sandwiches with remaining plain melted butter; turn sandwiches over and cook until golden brown on bottom and cheese melts, about 4 minutes. Transfer sandwiches, sage-leaf side up, to cutting board. Cut each sandwich into 4 pieces (each mini sandwich should contain 1 whole sage leaf). Transfer to platter and serve.

FONTINA & SAGE GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over low heat, heat the olive oil, sage and pepper until warm to the touch. Turn off the heat and let it infuse while you assemble the sandwiches.
• Place the cheese, divided evenly, on two slices of bread. Take care to bring the cheese all the way to the edge of the crust. Top each with a second slice of bread and press flat.
• Lay a heavy or weighted cutting board on top of the sandwiches for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Use a pastry brush to spread the sage oil lightly on both sides of the sandwiches. Make sure you go all the way to the edges and distribute the sage and pepper evenly.
• Heat a cast-iron pan or griddle over low heat. Sprinkle with a few drops of olive oil, then rub it over the whole cooking surface with a paper towel.
• Add the sandwiches and cook, weighted with another heavy pan or a steak weight, until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Keep the heat low so you don't burn the sage or pepper.
• Remove the sandwiches to a cutting board, and cut each in half or in quarters.
• Serve immediately.

CHICKEN SCALLOPINE WITH SAGE AND FONTINA CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the chicken cutlets on a clean work surface, narrow end facing you. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place one sage leaf crosswise on each of the pieces of chicken. Sprinkle each of the pieces of chicken with 1/2 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) of fontina cheese. Roll up the chicken and seal with one or two toothpicks. Warm the olive oil and halved garlic clove in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken. Brown the chicken on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan and remove and discard the garlic. Add the wine and simmer for 2 minutes while scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Meanwhile, combine the tomatoes and red pepper flakes in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the tomato mixture to the reduced wine in the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors marry. Return the chicken to the pan. Simmer the chicken in the tomato sauce for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken over and simmer until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan. Season the tomato sauce with salt and pepper. Spoon the tomato sauce onto serving plates or a serving platter. Slice the chicken into 1-inch rounds. Remove the toothpicks. Place the chicken over the sauce and serve immediately.
• SERVINGS: 4 (MAIN); Calories: 470; Total Fat 20 grams; Saturated Fat: 6 grams; Protein: 9 grams; Total carbohydrates: 9 grams; Sugar: 5 grams Fiber: 2 grams; Cholesterol: 160 milligrams; Sodium: 1,333 milligrams

GRILLED FONTINA & MUSHROOM WITH SAGE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a large nonstick frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter over moderate heat.
• Add the mushrooms, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes (if using) and dried sage, and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the fresh sage, if using.
• Put the mushrooms in a bowl and wipe out the pan.
• Using a pastry brush, coat one side of 4 slices of the bread with half of the melted butter.
• Put them, buttered-side down, on a work surface.
• Top the bread with the cheese and then the mushrooms.
• Cover with the remaining 4 slices of bread; brush the tops with the remaining melted butter.
• Heat the frying pan over moderately low heat.
• Add the sandwiches and cook, turning once, until golden, about 2 minutes per side.