The Hungry Apple

thanks·giv·ing/ˌTHaNGksˈgiviNG/: a prelude to the Christmas season

Seriously. I love Christmas.

Eating a Thanksgiving meal once is really all I can wrap my mind around. If you are the same way, here is a recipe that will help you use up that extra turkey while adding the new flavors of grilled cheese and bacon. BACON!

 Take all of these guys and get ready to assemble.

Get your bread buttered!

Place it in the skillet

Get it toasty brown.

It’s just a fancy grilled cheese people. Sure to cure any Thanksgiving over spirited indulgences or a great snack when you return from Black Friday madness.

THANKSGIVING GRILLED CHEESE

8 slices farmhouse, ciabatta or white mountain bread

1/2 pound turkey (leftover from the big day or from the deli)

4 slices of fontina or havarti cheese

6 slices of crispy bacon

1/2 cup cranberry dressing

4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

freshly grated pepper

sea salt

Instructions and directions: 

Heat a large skillet or grill pan to medium heat.

Meanwhile butter 1 side of each piece of bread and sprinkle a little sea salt on each piece if desired. On a paper towel or cutting board turn 4 pieces of the bread face down so that the buttered side is touching the paper towel. Spread 1/4 of dijon and mayo on each of the 4 pieces of bread. Spread 2 tablespoons of cranberry dressing on top of the dijon/mayo. Layer turkey, then bacon, then cheese and a few twists of pepper. Place open faced sandwich in skillet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Top with the non buttered side of the 2nd piece of bread so that the butter is facing up. When bread touching pan begins to brown (2-3 minutes) flip and brown the other buttered piece.  At this point you should smush the sandwich for best results.