Open Faced Eggplant And Gorgonzola Grilled Cheese Food

OPEN-FACE GRILLED EGGPLANT SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Light a grill. Brush the bread on both sides with olive oil and grill over high heat until crisp on the outside but still soft inside, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to a platter.
• Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Grill over moderate heat until charred on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn and grill until tender, about 3 minutes longer.
• Top the eggplant with the tomato, mozzarella and basil. Cover the grill and cook until the cheese melts, 2 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to the bread, sprinkle with sea salt and serve.

EGGPLANT AND SMOKED-GOUDA OPEN-FACED GRILLED SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Prepare grill for cooking over direct heat with medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas); see Grilling Procedureepi:recipelink.
• While grill is heating, stir together tomatoes, parsley, 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• With a cheese plane or vegetable peeler, shave half of cheese into thin slices (if using mozzarella, thinly slice half of it with a knife) and cover slices with plastic wrap, reserving remaining piece for another use.
• Brush bread on both sides with 1 tablespoon oil per slice.
• Trim off top and bottom of each eggplant, then cut 2 (1-inch-thick) slices lengthwise from center of each eggplant, discarding remainder. Brush cut sides with 3 tablespoons oil (total) and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Lightly oil grill rack, then grill eggplant slices (covered only if using a gas grill), loosening with a metal spatula and turning occasionally to avoid overbrowning, until very tender, 8 to 10 minutes. While eggplant is grilling, grill bread, turning over once, until grill marks form, 1 to 2 minutes total, and transfer to a large platter.
• Transfer eggplant to platter, then top evenly with sliced cheese and return to grill and cook, covered for charcoal or gas, without turning, until cheese begins to melt, about 1 minute. Transfer eggplant with spatula to platter.
• Transfer grilled bread to 4 plates and spoon tomato mixture on top. Drizzle evenly with remaining tablespoon oil and top with eggplant. Season with pepper to taste.

OPEN-FACED TOMATO GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Combine the olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Brush the cut sides of the baguette with some of the flavored oil. Grill cut-side down until toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Rub the grilled sides of the baguette with the garlic. Top with the tomato slices, season with salt and cover with the provolone. Grill, covered, until the cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes. Drizzle with the remaining flavored oil and season with salt. Cut into pieces.

GRILLED CHEESE SAND-WITCHES WITH CELERY BROOMSTICKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a witch's hat cookie cutter, cut out a hat from 4 slices of cheese; set aside.
• Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter. Spread the unbuttered side of 4 slices of bread with the mustard. Place on a baking sheet, buttered-side down.
• Divide remaining cheese, plus any scraps, between the slices of bread on the baking sheet. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up.
• Place sandwiches in oven and cook 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Place a cheese hat on top of each sandwich. Bake until just melted, about 2 minutes. Serve with celery broomsticks.

OPEN-FACED TOMATO AND CHEDDAR GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Arrange tomatoes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons oil, and season with salt and pepper. Broil until tomatoes are soft, about 5 minutes.
• Melt butter with remaining tablespoon oil. Brush over cut sides of bread. Broil until top edges are just golden.
• Arrange tomatoes over bread, slightly overlapping. Top with cheese. Place on baking sheet; broil until cheese has melted and is bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.