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One night a few months ago, my meal plan didn’t go the way I, well, planned it. I checked the fridge and cupboards and concocted this amazing sandwich from bacon, onions, mushrooms, and Brie cheese. Amazing.
As I was munching, I realized how Hobbit-like this meal was: good bread, a few rashes of bacon, onions, mushrooms from Farmer Maggot’s farm, and of course, some rich cheese. I dubbed them Samwiches, in honor of Samwise Gamgee.
We’ve enjoyed it again and again since. This is not your standard grilled cheese sandwich. It is so delectable. You’ll want to curl up in a nice corner with this sandwich and a copy of The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings and just pretend you’re a hobbit.
(Yes, I realize that Brie is French and hobbits are clearly English. Use cheddar if you prefer, but the Brie melts so lovely in here, I’m happy to make exceptions.)
The leftover bacon and onion mixture, if there is any, is fantastic with eggs or to top a steak.
Host a Hobbit Dinner next week for the release of the film! And I don’t mean going to Denny’s. Blech. I don’t think any Hobbit worth his salt would visit that establishment.
We are going to make a family affair out of it and take all the kids to the cinema, something we only do a few times each year. Before and after we’re going to be enjoying some hobbity food, including Samwiches, of course.
My plan is to post a full Hobbit menu throughout the month of December, featuring a Hobbit’s favorite food and drink: cake, bread, potatoes, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, cheese, pickles, eggs, coffee, tea, and ale, of course. Feel free to offer your suggestions in the comments.
In the meantime, go make up a round of Samwiches!
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Samwich: Bacon and Brie Panini with Mushrooms and Onions
Ingredients
- 8 oz bacon chopped
- 1 onion sliced from stem to root end
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs of your choice: dill, tarragon, rosemary, thyme, oregano
- salt
- black pepper
- 8 slices sourdough bread
- butter optional
- ¼ lb Brie cheese sliced thinly
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the bacon, onion, and mushrooms. Cook on medium high for about 15 minutes until the bacon starts to brown, the onions are clear, and the mushrooms are tender. Stir in the fresh herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Heat a panini press or griddle.
- If using a griddle, butter one side of each slice of bread.
- Assemble sandwiches, butter side out, by layering cheese and bacon mixture between two slices of bread.
- Cook in press or on griddle until toasted on both sides and cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately.
Nikki
Hi Jessica!
This looks amazing! I absolutely love Lord of the Rings and would be so excited to make these for my future family! 🙂
Do you leave the rind on when you slice your Brie for these sandwiches?
Thanks!
Nikki
Jessica Fisher
You can if you like. The French rarely cut off the rind. It’s nothing to hurt you, but is a different texture.
Elese
How cute and fun! Yes, I think Sam, Frodo, Merri and Pippin would all approve of some “nice crispy bacon”, and the brie could be a nod to the tavern in Bree! Oh my, Hobbit food would be a big hit in my household. Thanks for the fun ideas. 🙂
Emily
I am making these tonight! I don’t like mushrooms, but my husband does so I’ll leave them in. Hopefully all the other goodness hides them enough. Pairing them with white bean soup, using the ham hock from Christmas, I have in the crock pot. Perfect meal for a cold night!
Jenny
Love the idea of Hobbit food. Looking forward to the posts. We are making these tonight with the sliced Gouda already on hand.
NIA
I saw on another site the filling for these samwiches were rolled into Artisan Bread in 5 dough. Your sandwiches look and sound really good.
MissMOE
This sounds amazing! I have a pound of wild mushrooms just waiting to become the filling for this sandwich! Can’t wait!
Carla
Forget next week. I happened to make extra bacon this morning and bought onions and mushrooms last night for something else. With the bacon already cooked I used a little olive oil to saute the onion & mushrooms. We just had a hearty lunch! And I’m pleased to announce they taste scrumptious even on plain wheat bread with cheddar jack cheese (all we had on hand). Maybe next week we’ll try it with some stronger cheese and sour dough. Since I do onions and mushrooms pretty regularly with breakfast fair, I think the boys will proclaim Samwiches to be on the lunch menu rotation from now on. 🙂 Oh, and the boys want to know what kind of Hobbit desserts you are going to come up with! LOL
KS
I love the Hobbit menu idea. Redeemedreader.com has been doing a Hobbit read-along with hot chocolate recipes.
Carla
How fun is that?! Looking forward to the posts. Hmm, will have to trade out the brie, but otherwise sounds great.