Crave Wednesday: Grilled Tomato and Brie Sandwiches

 

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!  Only a week late really, and I had the best of intentions on sharing this last week, but, well, keep reading and you'll find out why that didn't happen.

My balloon plan worked out perfectly!  Each guy in my life awoke to 10 balloons with 10 things I loved about them.  Some of them woke a little earlier than others.

Thatbaby dug right into his book - Corduroy's Valentine.

When both boys and Thatboy were awake, they presented me with a gift the three of them had made for me - a new cork board to hang up all my favorite art the boys make or bring home.

And then it was breakfast time!  Because it was a school day, I had made heart shaped pancakes the night before, so I just needed to reheat them in the morning.

 

And then it was time to get dressed and head to school.

 

Thatkid has gotten too old for homemade Valentine treats.  He just wanted to pick out a box of cards from the store.  He did bring in strawberries cut like hearts for his school party though.   Thatbaby isn't too cool for school yet, so his classmates got playdoh - a BIG favorite.  Those kids are playing with playdoh about half the time when I pick him up.

It's hard to work out romance with 2 small kids at home, so Thatboy and I came up with a plan - we both skipped out of work early and headed to the fancy movie theater to see a movie.   He met me outside the movie theater with a rose.  "I picked you up a whole dozen roses on my way here!"  "Where are the other 11?"  "In the car."

 

After the movie, we headed home to pick up the boys.  Years ago, we tried to figure out how to celebrate Valentine's Day with a 4 month old and decided to take him to dinner at a place where a baby wouldn't be totally out of place - Old Spaghetti Factory!  We decided for a reprise this year.  Italian (if you can call it that) seems fitting for Valentine's Day, and this is about as family friendly as it gets. 

Then we came home and put the boys to bed.  Despite the fact he usually sleeps in much less, Thatkid was anxious to put on his new Valentine's Day pajamas.  And read his new Valentine's Day book.

The kids asleep, Thatboy and I curled up on the couch....and fell right asleep.  And so failed my plan of posting this recap. I know, we're terribly romantic.  But romance isn't always about wine and roses.  Romance is easily expressed through food, which is probably why Paris is considered so romantic.  The bread, the chocolate, THE CHEESE!  There's something about cheese, isn't there?  Wine and cheese, fondue, there's just a natural association between cheese and love. This simple grilled cheese sandwich couldn't be any more Parisian, any more romantic.  It's so simple, brie and tomatoes, grilled until the cheese melts, and melds it all together.  The toasty bread doesn't hurt either.  And what's most important is how quickly it comes together.  Because the real secret to romance, is the time you spend together, so the less time cooking, the better.

Grilled Tomato and Brie Sandwiches (From Cooking Light)

8 slices whole grain bread

1 tsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, halves

2 tsp country-style Dijon mustard

4 oz Brie cheese, thinly sliced

1 1/3 cup packaged baby arugula and spinach mix

8 slices beefsteak tomato

cooking spray

1.  Preheat grill to high heat.  Brush 1 side of each bread slice with oil.
2. Rub cut garlic over oil.
3. Spread 1/2 tsp mustard on each of 4 bread slices, oil side down.
4. Top each bread slice with 1 oz cheese, 1/3 cup greens, and 2 tomato slices.
5. Top with 4 bread slices, oil side up.  Place sandwiches on a grill rack coated with cooking spray.  Grill 2 minutes on each side.