Manchego Grilled Cheese Food

SQUASH, MANCHEGO AND BALSAMIC-ONION GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt 2 tablespoons butter. Toss the squash with the melted butter, maple syrup, chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste on the prepared baking sheet. Roast until golden and soft, about 20 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and toss to coat. Cook, without stirring, until the onion begins to develop a deep brown color, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir and add the balsamic vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the onion mixture thickens and develops an intense sweetness, about 15 more minutes.
• Sandwich build! Butter 1 slice of bread. On the unbuttered side, add the ingredients in this order from the ground up: manchego, squash, caramelized onion, sliced almonds and more manchego. Close with another buttered bread slice, buttered side up. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 3 more sandwiches.
• Heat a heavy griddle or flat pan over medium heat. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the pan. Lightly cook each sandwich, in batches if necessary, until the cheese starts to melt, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Low and slow is the key here so you don't kill your bread before the delicious innards get gooey.

GRILLED SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat grill. Brush each slice of bread on one side with olive oil and grill, oil-side down until lightly golden brown. Turn over and divide cheese among bread slices. Top each slice of cheese with the slices of ham and grill until the cheese begins to melt. Serve with the mustard.

SERRANO HAM AND MANCHEGO GRILLED CHEESE PICKLED BITES

Steps:

• Preheat panini grill or frying pan to high. Spread 1 slice of bread with mustard, top with pickles, ham and cheese. Cover with remaining slice of bread. Spread top outside slice with 1/2 of the butter.
• Place buttered side down on grill on frying pan and carefuly spread butter on remaining side of bread.
• Grill or cook (and press down) 1-2 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly. Cut into triangles and garnish with cocktail onions or gherkins.