Grilled Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches

Grilled Cheese! Who doesn't love grilled cheese sandwiches? If grilled cheese doesn't take you back to your childhood than I don't know what does! Nothing is better than a buttery grilled cheese sandwich with american cheese on white bread, right? Well that's what I thought until I made Grilled Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches!!  I swear I made these grilled sandwiches three times in the past two weeks. Some people call these "Grown Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, but not in our house. The boys absolutely LOVE them!

What makes these sandwiches so delicious is using Italian bread, fresh mozzarella, ripe vine tomatoes and pesto. The pesto really adds a burst of flavor. You could make this sandwich in your panini maker but I thought it was perfect making it on my griddle pan, plus easier clean-up. The cheese is extra thick and ooey-gooey. And every bite you take you taste the buttery Italian bread.

So move over grilled cheese and make room for grilled tomato mozz! Don't get me wrong there will always be a place in my heart for the traditional grilled cheese sandwich. Once you taste this recipe you may have a difficult time deciding which to make. Hummm…grilled cheese or grilled tomato mozz?? In our house right now the choice is grilled tomato mozz!

Salute to a delicious alternative to traditional grilled cheese!

Grilled Tomato Mozzarella Sandwiches (Click to print recipe)

Prep and cook time: 30 minutes

Serves 4 (for 1 sandwich each)

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of thinly sliced italian bread
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
• 1 small jar of basil pesto
• butter
• salt n pepper

Using a griddle or large sauté pan, heat 2 tb butter over medium heat. Butter one side of slices of bread. Add 4 slices to griddle or pan. Spread a layer of pesto to the top of bread in pan and then add 2 slices of mozzarella, 2 slices of tomato to the top and season with salt n pepper. Now spread a layer of pesto to the other 4 slices of bread and place on top on sandwiches in pan. Let cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until bottom slice is golden brown and cheese begins to melt. Using a spatula carefully flip the sandwiches over. Cook for an additional 5 minutes and flip back over until cheese is melted. Cut sandwich in half and enjoy!

Food Impressions:

Nate: "These are so awesome! I love the tomatoes on it. The crust is a little to hard."

Tyler: "Yum, what is the green stuff?" Pesto. "Wow that's super good!" "Can I have another?"

Zachary: Immediately asks for 2 sandwiches before he even takes a bite of his first. I told him to finish one sandwich first….he did and had two!

Dave: "Delish!"

Andrea: A great weeknight meal, especially a meal you want to eat in front of the TV. The taste is amazing and its' satisfying enough for dinner meal.