Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Bacon and Pear

Ingredients

• French or Italian loaf bread, sliced
• Bacon, cooked
• Bartlett pear
• Sharp white cheddar cheese, high quality
• Butter, softened and spreadable

Directions

1. Assemble the sandwiches: Heat a cast iron skillet to medium high heat. Layer your sandwich—bread slice, cheese, pear slices, bacon, bread slice. Spread butter over the top of the sandwich.
2. Toast on cast iron skillet:
3. Place the sandwich top side down (butter side down) on the hot pan. Butter the exposed side of the sandwich. Let cook for a minute and then use a metal spatula to turn the sandwich over to its other side.
4. Press down with spatula or second pan: While you are toasting the sandwich on the second side, press down on the sandwich with a spatula.
5. Alternatively, you can mimic a panini press (albeit without the ridges) by heating a smaller cast iron pan on a separate burner. Use the weight of this pan to press down on the sandwich from above.
6. The sandwich is done when the sides are toasted and the cheese is melted. Cut in half and serve.