Fill it and grill it: quick weeknight dinners

Quick — what’s filling, delicious, and … quick? This time of year, we’re all looking for dinner solutions that are easy to prepare but don’t taste like you cut corners. Even better? A meal plan that you can customize to each family member’s tastes. The simple grilled cheese, elevated with quality ingredients and imaginative combos, fits the bill. Use good breads, cheese, fruit, and an optional meat to build to expand your horizons beyond basic with these flavorful fusions:

I’ll Have a Blue Crispness: Multigrain bread, blueberry preserves, Camembert or Brie, and a slice of prosciutto. The sweet-salty juxtaposition of the fruit and meat are set off by the creamy, rich cheese and the crisp, nutty texture of the bread. (You can lean into the fruitiness by grilling this one in olive oil instead of butter.)

Too Gouda to be True: Sourdough, Gouda, tart apple slices, and turkey bacon. If your Gouda is great, then you can be confident that subbing out regular bacon for the lower-fat turkey version will fly under the radar. Granny Smith apples add a welcome touch of acidic crunch, and the tang of the sourdough’s punctuates the Gouda’s buttery contribution. (Speaking of butter, stick with that for cooking this sandwich; it’s a classic.)

For the Dill of it: A light rye bread, Harvarti, smoked salmon and a sprinkling of fresh, finely chopped dill. This combination will celebrate Havarti cheese’s Scandinavian roots with traditional ingredients that are a natural fit. But for an even more integrated taste sensation (and one fewer ingredient to prep), try Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery’s Island Havarti Dill; our cheesemakers incorporate dill fronds right into the process. (Prep tip: Butter is better for pan-grilling this sandwich.)

Check out all of Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery cheese offerings; you just might discover you have grilled cheese aspirations — and inspirations — of your own!