Roasted Pepper Pesto Grilled Cheese Food

CHICKEN, ROASTED PEPPER, AND PESTO SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread 1 tablespoon Basil Pesto on 1 side of each slice of bread. Top 4 slices of bread with Marinated Chicken Breast. Top the chicken with the roasted peppers. Place the remaining bread slices, pesto-side down, on top of the peppers.
• Combine the basil, garlic and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.
• Put the vinegar, herbs, mustard, powder if using and oil in a large resealable plastic bag. Close the bag and shake to combine all the ingredients. Open the bag and drop in the chicken breasts. Close and shake the bag to coat evenly. Freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, under cold, running water, or in the microwave at 30 percent power for 1 minute at a time.
• Heat a grill or grill pan. When the grill is hot, place the chicken on the grill and cook for about 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. You can also bake the thawed chicken in a 375 degree F oven for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.

ROASTED GARLIC AND RED PEPPER PESTO

Steps:

• Peel away dry outer skin from garlic head.
• Leave skins of garlic cloves intact.
• Cut off pointed top portion with a knife, leaving the head intact but exposing the individual cloves.
• Place garlic head, cut side up, in small baking dish.
• Drizzle with oil; cover and set aside.
• Halve the sweet peppers; remove stem, membranes and seeds.
• Place peppers, cut sides down, on foil lined baking sheet.
• Bake peppers and covered garlic in a 425 oven 20-25 minutes or until pepper skins are bubbly and blackened.
• Remove peppers.
• Place peppers in a clean brown paper bag and seal.
• Let stand 20-30 minutes or until peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Continue baking garlic 20-35 minutes more until garlic cloves feel soft when pressed.
• Set garlic aside to cool.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully peel peppers.
• Cut peppers into pieces.
• Remove garlic head from oil, reserve oil.
• Press to remove garlic paste from the individual cloves.
• In food processor bowl or blender container combine roasted pepper pieces, garlic paste, reserved oil, Asiago or Parmesan cheese, black pepper and salt.
• Cover and process with several on-off turns until smooth.
• When necessary, stop food processor or blender and use a rubber scraper to scrape the side of bowl or container.
• Stir in thyme.
• To store, place in airtight container and store in refrigerator up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 3 months.
• To serve, bring pesto to room temperature.

PESTO GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread one side of a slice of bread with butter, and place it, buttered side down, into a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Spread the top of the bread slice in the skillet with half the pesto sauce, and place a slice of provolone cheese, the tomato slices, and the slice of American cheese onto the pesto.
• Spread remaining pesto sauce on one side of the second slice of bread, and place the bread slice, pesto side down, onto the sandwich. Butter the top side of the sandwich.
• Gently fry the sandwich, flipping once, until both sides of the bread are golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes per side.

GRILLED CHEESE & PEPPER SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute onion and peppers until tender. Divide between 2 bread slices. Top with cheese and remaining bread. Spread outsides of sandwiches with butter., In a large skillet, toast sandwiches over medium heat until golden brown and cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes per side.

PESTO-CORN GRILLED PEPPERS

Steps:

• For pesto, combine 1/2 cup oil, grated cheese, basil, sunflower kernels and garlic in a blender; cover and process until blended., In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add chopped red pepper; cook and stir until tender. Add corn and pesto; heat through., Halve peppers lengthwise; remove seeds. Grill peppers, covered, over medium heat, cut side down, 8 minutes. Turn; fill with corn mixture. Grill 4-6 minutes longer or until tender. If desired, sprinkle with shredded cheese.