Italian Grilled Cheese, please!

On those (soon to be here) cold nights, this super easy and VERY delicious Italian grilled cheese (Mozzarella en Carozza) is the perfect quick dinner and would pair especially nice with tomato bisque soup.  

8 slices brioche bread
8 slices fresh mozzarella
5 eggs
1/2 C milk
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 C extra virgin olive oil

Top each of 4 slices of bread with two pieces of mozzarella.  Cover with remaining 4 slices of bread, to form sandwiches.  Trim the crusts from the bread. 

In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, and salt.  Dip the sandwiches into the egg mixture, to coat.

Heat the olive oil in a non-stick saute pan.  Add sandwiches; cook 2 minutes, until golden brown.  Flip; cook another 2 minutes on other side, until it's also golden brown.

Mangia!

Cranberry/White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Looking for a little something different than just your standard, run of the mill chocolate chip cookie?  How does dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and macadamia nuts sound?  Yeah, I thought so...

Cranberry/White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes (at least) 4 dozen cookies

2 1/4 C unsifted flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
3/4 C brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 C white chocolate chips
2 C dried cranberries
1 C chopped macadamia nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Stir flour with baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter with sugar and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated.

Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, cranberries, and nuts (if using.) Drop by tablespoon onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

**Note: You can also add 2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips to make them extra special!