With her burnt orange Tupperware container tucked under my short, six year old arm, I make my way to the back of my Granny’s property where the thick woods backed up against the yard. I immediately get to work plucking the sweet, juicy blackberries that grew in thick brambles at the edge of the tree line. My grubby hands gradually fade to a deep shade of purple as I take turns adding blackberries to the container and popping them in my mouth.
I make my way through the tangles of thorny shrubs and return to old farmhouse with my bounty. It takes about a day before the container needs a refill because fresh blackberries are just so good and deserve to be eaten fresh off the vine.
Fast forward to last week and I’m an adult making decisions at the grocery store based on how much something costs and whether I can get everything I need before lunch is over and I need to get back to work. The blackberries looked too good to pass up and in a resurgence of youthful spontaneity I threw a half pint in my cart.
I immediately know what I want to do with them. I’ve been experimenting with grilled cheese sandwiches and I have a new favorite method to enjoy this beloved dish. If you’ve never dipped your sandwich in a whisked egg before grilling it, it’s time you start. It elevates your sandwich to such a fantastic level.
Another method for cooking grilled cheese that will change your life is to cook it open faced then pop it under the broiler to melt the cheese. And goat cheese under the broiler is a beautiful thing.
The bubbly, tangy goat cheese with the sweet blackberries and slightly licorice-y basil is an incredible taste combination. Try it and I promise it will be your new favorite sandwich be sure to tell me about it in the comments below!
Blackberry Goat Cheese French Toast Sandwich with Basil
Makes 2 Sandwiches
- 1 Egg
- 1 Tbsp Milk
- 4 Slices Whole Grain Bread
- 2 Oz. Goat Cheese
- 12-14 Blackberries
- 3-4 Basil Leaves, torn
- 1 Tbsp Butter
Heat a large pan over medium heat. Preheat the broiler. In a shallow dish, whisk the egg and milk together. Spread an ounce of goat cheese on two slices of bread. Mash 6-7 berries on each of the remaining pieces of bread and sprinkle the basil on all 4 slices. Melt the tablespoon of butter in the pan. While the butter is melting, place each piece of bread, toppings side up, in the egg mixture for a couple seconds then place in the pan. Allow to cook for 1-2 minutes the place the pan under the broiler to melt the goat cheese. Remove after 2-3 minutes. Combine the sandwiches slices together and enjoy!
