The Flu

Blech! Dh and I have been sick all week. No running and very little cooking happening around here. Lots of cravings for comfort foods. Where's mom when you need her?

Since we're in the middle of an ice storm and the kids are home for a snow day, I managed to crawl out of bed around noon and whip up a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches for the girls. They aren't particularly adventurous when it comes to grilled cheese: white bread and American cheese, if given their druthers. I decided that a grilled cheese sandwich was exactly what I need (and a lot less labor-intensive than the Chicken Tortilla Soup with Chipotle and Fire Roasted Tomato that I'd intended to make.) I prefer a little pizazz to my sandwich. I used a good whole wheat bread with lots of texture, preferably sliced thin. A couple of slices of spicy pepperjack cheese, some crisp baby spinach and some thin slices of tomato, topped with a flavorful combo of mayo and Dijon mustard with a little fresh garlic added in. Slather it in butter and brown and you have instant heaven ... albeit not a particularly healthy heaven but a perfect lunch on this cold and icy day. I do have to recommend that you serve it with a steaming bowl of soup or a crispy salad as opposed to the big shot of Nyquil I opted for however. Blech!


Grilled Pepperjack Cheese with Spinach and Tomatoes

2 slices whole wheat bread
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2 thinly sliced tomato slices
Several leaves of fresh baby spinach
2 slices of a good quality pepperjack cheese
Butter

Mix mayonnaise, mustard and garlic together in a small bowl. Spread on both slices of bread. Layer cheese, and spinach on one slice of bread. Top with tomato slices and remaining bread. Spread top slice of bread with softened butter and place butter-side down in a preheated skillet over medium heat. Butter remaining surface of bread and turn sandwich over in skillet when bread is toasted and golden brown. Toast remaining side and remove from heat. Allow to cool for a moment and serve.