apple bacon gouda grilled cheese sliders

I wasn’t sure how to start this post, so I thought I’d Google “sliders” to see if maybe there was something about the origin of the name with legs.

And oh, there was.

Jerry O’Connell. And his legs. In high-waisted, high-water white pants…

I’m not sure where I was hiding between 1995 and 2000 when I missed the show Sliders completely. According to the show concept, these inedible “Sliders” travelled via wormhole between different parallel universe Earths carrying a portable timer. Failure to reach their wormhole in time stranded them for 29.7 years (seriously?) on the alternate Earth.

My first question is this. How did this show last for five seasons and Arrested Development was cancelled after just three?

Second question. Who else thinks Jerry O’Connell is saucy? Even sporting white socks and loafers. Yes, he’s come a long way from chubby Vern Tessio in Stand By Me. Favorite Vern line from that movie, btw, “Jeez, Gordie, why couldn’t you have gotten breakfast stuff like Twinkies, Pez and root beer?”

And just like that, I’ve managed to write a few paragraphs of rambling gibberish insightful commentary to segway into this deliciously mini version of a standard grilled cheese…

Apple Bacon Gouda Grilled Cheese Sliders
(makes 6 sliders)
1 loaf French baguette
6 slices thick slab bacon
1 crisp apple (I used Gala, but a tart Granny Smith would be really good too.)
12 slices of smoked Gouda
4 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)

In a medium sauté pan, cook the bacon to desired doneness. Transfer to a wire rack set over a paper towel to drain any extra grease. Cut the cooked bacon into 12 pieces and set aside.

Slice the baguette into 12, 1″ thick slices, arrange them in a single layer on a sheet pan then set aside. Cut the apple into 6, 1/4″ slices. (I didn’t core the apple, just sliced down the sides so they would be close to the same shape as the baguette slices.)

Brush a light layer of Dijon on the slices of bread. Lay down a slice of Gouda, top six of them with an apple slice and the other six with two pieces of bacon each.

Sandwich the two halves together and brush both sides of the sliders with a light coating of melted butter…

Cook over medium heat to desired golden brown-ness…

I may have eaten four of these all by myself, then when Jonny came home I may have told him I only made four but I saved two for him because I love him so much.

This is a test to see if he’s really reading my blog.

Now I’m going to see if I can find Sliders on Netflix streaming. I wonder if Jerry’s wearing those white pants in every episode?

OMFG. SO GOOD.