Cheddar, Ham and Apple By Marlena Spieler Author of Grilled Cheese: 50 Recipes to Make You Melt (Chronicle Books) Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

8 slices sourdough bread

¼ pound smoky ham, such as Virginia country ham, cut into four slices

1 small green apple (about 5 ounces), such as Granny Smith,
cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices

6 slices of medium or sharp Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place four slices on your work surface, buttered side down. Place a slice of ham on each bread slice, folding it to fit if necessary. Top with four to five apple slices per sandwich, followed by the cheese. Place the remaining four bread slices on top, buttered side up. (If the sandwich seems quite thick, press it down to compress the ingredients slightly.)
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Put the sandwiches in the skillet (in batches if necessary), cover, and cook for 2 minutes, or until the undersides are golden brown and the cheese has begun to melt. Uncover and turn the sandwiches with a spatula, pressing firmly to flatten them slightly. Cook for 1 minute, or until the undersides are golden brown. Turn the sandwiches again, press with the spatula, and cook for 30 seconds, or until the cheese has melted completely. Serve immediately.