mini grilled cheeses
 
 
Ingredients
for the sandwiches:
  • mini ciabatta rolls (slightly trim off the "roll" top), or another bread of your choice
  • fresh mozzarella slices (1 big slice per mini-sandwich)
  • a few sundried tomatoes, chopped
basil & arugula pesto:
  • 1.5 packed cups basil
  • 1.5 packed cups arugula
  • ⅓ c. toasted walnuts
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 teaspoon miso (if you don't have miso, just use salt, to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or more if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon honey (or agave)
  • pepper to taste
caramelized onions:
  • sliced yellow onion
  • splash of olive oil
  • splash of balsamic
  • splash of honey or agave
  • pinches of salt
balsamic mushrooms:
  • splash of olive oil
  • splash of balsamic
  • pinches of salt
Instructions
  1. for the pesto: In a food processor, blend all pesto ingredients together except the olive oil. After everything is combined, drizzle in olive oil while the food processor is running. Taste and adjust. If its bland, add some salt and pepper. If it's too tangy, add more honey or sweetener, if it's not tangy enough add more vinegar or lemon juice. Set aside.
  2. For the caramelized onions: In a medium sized skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and salt and saute until translucent. Add balsamic and honey (or agave) and saute until they cook down and are brown and caramelized (about 4 more minutes). Set aside.
  3. For the balsamic mushrooms: In a separate medium sized skillet (or wipe out the one from the onions), heat oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms and a few pinches of salt and cook down for 5 minutes or so, careful to not burn them to the bottom of the pan. Add a splash of balsamic to deglaze. If mushrooms are sticking, add a little more oil, or a few splashes of water to loosen them up. Cook until they're browned and wilted down. Set aside.
  4. Assemble the sandwiches: I actually grilled these open faced - the side with the cheese longer (so the cheese could sufficiently melt), the side with the pesto, not as long (so the pesto wouldn't dry out or become bitter), and then put the 2 sides together, pressing down gently to get them to stick.
Recipe by Love and Lemons at https://www.loveandlemons.com/mushroom-pesto-grilled-cheese/