Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese

If you haven't heard already, April is National Grilled Cheese Month.  I like grilled cheese just as much as the next person (how can you go wrong with fried bread and melty cheese?), so I couldn't wait to partake.  TasteSpotting has been sharing a grilled cheese sandwich for every day this month, and one of them happened to be a spinach and artichoke grilled cheese.  Um, hello?!  How amazing does that sound?!  I immediately had to make it.. but we didn't have any bread, and we used our last artichokes on some pizza awhile back.

This weekend, we finally picked up some bread and refreshed our stash of artichoke hearts.  I let Alex choose the bread, so he picked out a ciabatta.  I personally think it would be extra good on a hearty whole grain bread, but the ciabatta was fantastic, as well.

If you like spinach and artichoke dip, you will love this sandwich.  Melty cheese, chunky artichokes, and spinach, seasoned with some garlic & salt, and you've got yourself one killer sandwich.  We used Kerrygold's Blarney Castle cheese for this sandwich, and I thought it was wonderful - it's a gouda style cheese.  Gouda is one of my absolute favorite cheeses.  It'd also be really great with mozzarella.

Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese

adapted from TasteSpotting

makes 2 sandwiches


4 slices bread (choose your favorite)
2 slices gouda style cheese (or mozzarella)
1 1/2 cups spinach, sautéed in olive oil and a dash of garlic powder & sea salt
marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
2 T butter
parmesan cheese, sea salt, to taste

Spread the butter on one side of each of the four slices of bread.  Place the bread butter side down on a skillet over medium heat.  Place one slice of cheese on two of the slices of bread.  Cook until the cheese is melty, and the bread is golden.  Remove from pan to two plates.  Place the sautéed spinach on top of the melted cheese slices, sprinkle with parmesan, and place the artichokes on top.  Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt, and top it with the other slice of bread.  Enjoy.