Waffled Avocado Grilled Cheese

My daughter has a frequent lunch date at a friend’s house. At the end of those days, every time I ask her how was her lunch she replies, “It was awesome. Her mom makes the best grilled cheese!” Of course, being a mom, a pang of jealousy hits me. “What do you mean another mom does something better?” Then the food blogger in me takes over: “Better?! Whaaaaaaaat?!” So begins the onslaught of research. “What kind of bread does she use?” “Do you know what kind of cheese?” “Is there more than one type of cheese?” My daughter graciously answers each question–although with an ever so slight eye roll–nd they continue. “Does she use butter? Oil? Both?” “Does she use a skillet?” And then it came, what I assume is the reason said “Grilled Cheese Queen” as earned her title, “Mommy, she just uses a panini press. Jeez.” AH HA! That’s it! She hasn’t somehow uncovered the ideal temperature necessary to react with a certain type of pan that creates the ideal balance of stretch and gooeyness with a proprietary combination of cheeses.

But then the disappointment sets in.  I don’t have a panini press. Rather than obtain another appliance I must precariously origami into a cabinet, I turn to an old friend–the waffle maker. Currently owning the title of “Most Valued Kitchen Appliance” thanks to its ability to make French toast faster and more efficiently on weekday mornings, my waffle iron is a bit of big deal around here these days. And once I challenged it will grilled cheese, it didn’t let me down. It also received the following review from a ketchup-covered lunch buddy of Scarlett’s,  “This is the best grilled cheese.”

If you haven’t broken with tradition and used your waffle iron for French toast or grilled cheese you need to. Like now. A waffled anything means fast, gooey and ideal results every single time since most models time the cooking process. My latest grilled cheese routine (it changes regularly) is this avocado and cilantro mash with Monterey jack cheese. It’s creamy, stretchy and perfectly waffled making me the neighbourhood’s new Grilled Cheese Queen. Don’t worry, this town is big enough for the two of us.

Photo by Leila Ashtari