The Francesca Grilled Cheese

With fresh mozzarella, pepperroni and grilled shiitake mushrooms, this sandwich is like the Mona Lisa of grilled cheese.

Recipe makes 4 sandwiches

Whatcha Need:

• 7 Tablespoons butter at room temperature, divided
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 8 ounces shiitake mushroom caps, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper
• 4 focaccia-style rolls, split
• 4 fresh mozzarella ovalinesize balls, each cut into 8 slices
• 16 slices pepperoni
• 1/2 cup ripe black olive slices
• 6-8 pepperoncini, halved
• 4 ounces marinated sun-dried tomatoes, dried and thinly sliced

Whacha Do:

1. Mix 6 tablespoons butter with the garlic until light and smooth. Heat sauté pan over high heat; add olive oil, 1 Tablespoon butter, and mushrooms. Season with pinch of salt and pepper; sauté 5 minutes.
2. Spread cut sides of rolls with garlic butter. Heat large skillet or sauté pan. Place roll bottoms in pan, butter-side down. Grill until golden brown.
3. Flip roll bottoms. Layer on each bottom 4 slices Fresh Mozzarella, 4 slices pepperoni, some black olive slices, 3-4 pepperoncini halves, some sautéed mushrooms, 1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes, and 4 more slices Fresh Mozzarella.
4. Place roll tops over. Grill until cheese is melted and bread is crisp and golden, turning sandwiches over once during grilling.

Courtesy of:

• Grilled Cheese Academy