Since The Goddess knows she can’t get anything by you, she’s not even going to try.  You’re thinking, didn’t The Goddess post a loaf?  Well, yes she did…The Roasted Butternut, Brie and Caramelized Onions en Croute.  Okay, so she screwed up and reversed the order of the posts, but she not going to trash this, because it really is a delicious option.  And the cooler weather seems like the perfect time for this oozy, delicious grilled cheese.  First, we need to take care of some business, so to speak.  I wrote this post a couple of years…yes, The Goddess said years, ago.  She was doing her packing and coming and going to and from Florida.  She had spent waaayyy too much time away from The Spicy Honey (he keeps her in check, you know), but they’re together full-time now.  So, all is right with the world and the space-time continuum is in balance.   You may have noticed a slight shift in her ingredients and how she uses them.  Also, she will be cooking for two.  She will try to remember (and we all know what a wonderful state her memory is in…hence this post!), to suggest options for at least four people.  So she’s off to a more normal life…and then, there’s hurricane season…let’s not get her started.

When The Goddess should have been packing like a maniac, she was gallivanting, with her docent friends for lunch, at The Kitchen, which is a nice little restaurant in the lobby of The Hartford Public Library.  She’s mentioned this before, when she gave you Roasted Butternut, Brie and Caramelized Onions en Croute, ‘lo those many months ago.  She mentioned this before, but it’s worth mentioning it again.  This little lunch spot may be the best kept secret in the Hartford dining scene.  The Kitchen is part of The Billings Forge Community Works Program.  They are busy “promoting access to healthy food; engaging youth; and developing employment opportunities and economically sustainable social enterprises” in the community.  They are partnered with The Firebox, which is heavily involved with the farm-to-table movement, and produces some pretty great food, too.  Anyway, you should visit these places and support them in any way you can…they do good works.

We all ordered a variety of things, but The Orchid Mother and I shared the “Butter-Me-Up” Grilled Sandwich with Mystic Melinda Mae Cheese on it.  That’s a serious grilled cheese.  And it was wonderful.  This is a really delicious combination and a great way to use up some leftover roasted butternut squash.  So last night (actually back in November!), as The Goddess rummaged through her every dwindling fridge, she found some leftover roasted butternut and a smidgen of caramelized onions.  Naturally, she thought, ‘why not give it a try?’  She topped some nice white bread with Muenster cheese (she didn’t have any Melinda Mae at the time), then a light spread of fig preserves and laid on some of the roasted butternut squash slices. Next, she topped it off with some thin slices of pear and a healthy glob of caramelized onions.  These onions still had a bit of crunch to them and weren’t quite so “jammy” as they usually are.  Then, a light smear of mayonnaise on the bread (remember, mayo works better than butter for making crispy, evenly browned grilled sandwiches!), into the skillet, low heat and a bit of patience and Voilá…dinner!

It worked so well, she decided to make it again for breakfast…The Goddess eats crazy things for breakfast.  To make it more breakfast-y, she added a fried egg!  Yum!  Then for lunch, she used apple slices and added some bleu cheese (another container out of the fridge!) with the Muenster, and opted for some nice whole-grained bread.  She nixed the fig preserves, as she decided it made the sandwich too sweet for her taste buds; the fruit and caramelized onions added enough sweetness for her.  While The Goddess needs all the sweetness she can get, as you know, it’s really more of a character issue, than dietary. All the sandwiches were successful in their own ways.  She thinks next time, and there will be a next time, she’ll add some bacon and maybe a schmear of mustard.

This sandwich is reason enough to make extra roasted squash.  The Goddess is thinking she’ll be making this flavor combination into a pizza in the very near future.  By the way, you can purchase Mystic Melinda Mae at Whole Foods, Big Y or from the Mystic Cheese Company directly, if you want to go that route.

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