A Patriotic Family Picnic was the theme last Saturday for the cooking class at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms in Manhattan Beach. Grace-Marie said she wanted to choose recipes from the four corners of our country, so we had the pleasure of Wisconsin Farmhouse Gooey Cheddar Bread, California Coast Grilled Vege Picnic Salad, Alabama Back Roads BBQ Chicken and Maine Countryside Blueberries and Lemon Cream Bars. These are all homey recipes that are perfect for a picnic or BBQ and, in fact, the salad and chicken have grilled ingredients, so you get those smoky, charred flavors. This bread can be reheated on the grill and the Blueberry Lemon Cream Bars are totally portable. Let’s take our picnic to the park or the beach right now, shall we?
The truly spectacular thing about this bread is that under the crisp, browned, toasted top layer of cheddar cheese is a soft gooey cheesy layer full of garlicky ham and onions. The mayonnaise, mustard and hot sauce give the cheese mixture an interesting complex flavor that just makes you go Mmmmm. And to make it more wonderful, the original soft bottom crust of the bread becomes crispy, with the soft bread inside. You have to make this bread!
Here’s what the topping looks like before it goes in the oven.
And here is what it look likes when it comes out of the oven.
I am just doing the Gooey Cheddar Bread today, and I will be doing another post about the other recipes in the near future. Stay tuned.
For additional recipes from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen, look under Categories in the right-hand column.
For more information about the cooking classes visit Grace-Marie online at Bristol Farms or email her at gmj@bristolfarms.com.
Wisconsin Farmhouse Gooey Cheddar Bread
Topping
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups red onions – diced small
1 cup ham – diced small (or cooked bacon, or pancetta)
2 tablespoons garlic – minced
To season – Kosher or sea salt & ground black pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon dry mustard
2 teaspoons hot sauce (any favorite)
½ pound (8 ounces) cheddar cheese – shredded
1 cup green onions – very thinly sliced (or chives)
Warm the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, ham and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the onions are very soft. Cool in the skillet until slightly warm.
Combine the mayonnaise, dry mustard and hot sauce with the slightly cooled skillet mixture.
Fold in the cheese and green onions.
Bread
1 loaf French or Italian Bread – sliced in half lengthwise.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place the bread, cut side up, onto the baking sheet. Spread a thick layer of the topping mixture over the bread.
Bake until the bread has toasted and the topping has melted, about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.
Serve
Cut into slices and serve warm or room temperature.
Note: Can be made ahead and reheated on the grill (nestled in foil) or in an oven (on a baking sheet).
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Could this sound any more amazing? I love melted cheese on bread, but this recipe takes my adoration to a whole new level. Thanks for sharing the recipe and all your tempting pics!
I can see why you prepared the gooey cheddar bread, it looks delish! Must smell & taste amazing with that ham & cheese 🙂
Oooh, that plate of food looks really colorful and appetizing. Must be time for my breakfast! (Yes, I could eat BBQ right now at 7:13 am.)
Yummy.. no wonder Wisconsin is the cheese capital of the US… This takes cheese bread to another level.. yummy
You had me at gooey! GREG
ARGH!!!! That looks FREAKING good! I’m a sucker for anything cheesy, chewy, gooey, and carby. This is such a fantastic combination!
This sounds like a fun theme for a dinner! The cheesy bread looks delicious. then again, I’m a cheese fanatic so you could cover anything with it and I’d be quite happy.
Looks better than pizza!
You take bread (one of my favorite things) and mix it with cheddar (another one of my favorite things) and you get perfection. Thanks! So wonderful!
I lived in Wisconsin for three years so when I saw the name of this post, I knew it had to be good – was pleasantly surprised further when I learned about the other ingredients therein!
Oh goodness!! this bread looks amazing!! I want some right now. The next time I make bread, I’m making this. Your photos are awesome.
Lynne, I found this site using “Stumble Upon” and I am sure glad that it brought me here. This recipe looks amazing and the photos complement the recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Judi
Oh, It’s very yummy… I love your cakes. They look really great and amazing that makes me want to enjoy immediately. Thanks Lynne for sharing your great recipes with us.
I love this idea! My kids love grilled chesee, especially with the cheap white bread and American chesee. Not the most nutritional meal, but I treat them every now and then. Most of the time I make it with real cheddar on whole wheat bread and then I feel like a better mom. My kids don’t enjoy it as much that way, though. 😉