pesto, my new part time lover.

Ever since I saw Tyler Florence make these on food network, I've had a mini obsession.

Pesto and mozzarella grilled cheese sandwiches. Who thought that grilled cheese could get any better! Making homemade pesto is easier than you think! (Now, I do it at least once a week!)

I made these baguette size for a party I threw last week and they were a hit. Be careful though, they are highly addictive!

What's not to love? Stringy mozzarella sandwiched between two pieces of crisp-tender bread and a dollop of fragrant pesto!

Mozzarella pesto grilled cheese

4 slices of thick cut sourdough bread

1 ball of fresh mozzarella

1 cup of fresh basil pesto (recipe follows)

salt and pepper

extra virgin olive oil

(basil pesto)

1/2 C pine nuts

2 C fresh basil leaves

1 C fresh Italian parsley leaves

1/2 fresh Parmesan cheese

2 garlic cloves

1/4 t salt

1/2 C extra virgin olive oil

Combine pesto ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well combined, but still rough textured. Set a large skillet over medium heat. Assemble sandwiches by smearing insides of bread slices with pesto. Arrange a layer of sliced mozzarella and then place another piece of bread with the pesto side down on top. Drizzle olive oil over the skillets surface and place the sandwiches on the hot skillet. Place another heavy skillet on top of the bread slices to squish them down and form a "press". Turn after 2 or 3 minutes. The sandwich is ready with it is golden brown and the mozzarella has melted around the edges.