My sisters and I would always urge our mom to start at the deli when we accompanied her to the supermarket growing up. Actually, we referred to it “The delicatessen!”, another one of those words (like “pocketbook”, “dungarees” and “tunafish”) that my family brought over to California from New York. Whatever you want to call it, we loved the counter for one reason: the samples. My mom would buy the cold cuts for the week (we knew this as “lunch meat”) and inevitably the clerk would run a few extra slices for us to snack on. This would buy my mom a few minutes of calm while she attempted to shop with three kids in tow.
It was during one of these childhood delicatessen sampling sessions that I first tried Jarlsberg cheese. It had holes and a cool name that started with a “j” even though it sounded like it should start with a “y”. It wasn’t bright yellow, square shaped and individually-wrapped and no one in my Girl Scout troop had ever heard of it. This was some fancy cheese. And I declared it as my favorite.
As we get ready to wrap up National Grilled Cheese Month, I wanted to share my recipe for Grilled Jarlsberg with Shaved Asparagus and Lemony Arugula Pesto as well as a Grilled Cheese Kit Giveaway (including a skillet, cheese, grater and cookbook!), courtesy of Jarlsberg USA. Read on for both! [THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED]
Jarlsberg is one of those Alpine-style cheeses that Gina Freize from Venissimo Cheese told me were the best melters out there. It gets nice and stretchy when it melts and the mild, nutty flavor pairs well with so many other foods. I thought I’d give my Jarlsberg grilled cheese sandwich some springtime flair with wispy blades of shaved asparagus and a homemade arugula pesto, with just enough lemony acidity to cut the richness of the cheese. My favorite cheese from childhood parlayed into my grown-up palate – I loved it!
** Win a Grilled Cheese Kit! **
Jarlsberg USA would like to send a fabulous Grilled Cheese Kit (valued at $75) to one lucky Panini Happy reader – it includes:
- Lodge USA mini 6.5-inch skillet
- Boska Holland easy cheese grater and toastabags
- Author Laura Werlin’s Grilled Cheese, Please! cookbook
- Wedge and sliced Jarlsberg (plus cute kitchen magnet)
- Round of Woolwich Dairy triple crème goat brie and stick of goat mozzarella
Here are five ways to enter, you can do any or all of them (please leave separate comments for each entry):
- Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite cheese from childhood.
- “Like” Panini Happy on Facebook
- “Like” Jarlsberg USA on Facebook
- Subscribe to free updates from Panini Happy via e-mail or RSS
- Follow me on Pinterest
The giveaway will close on Sunday, April 29 at noon PDT. [THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED] I will use random.org to select one winner and announce the winner in this post. I will contact the winner via e-mail – if I don’t receive a response within 5 days I will draw another name. My apologies to international readers, the prize can only be shipped to continental U.S. addresses (not Alaska or Hawaii).
**UPDATED 5/1/12: Congratulations to our winner, #110 Ray!
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Grilled Jarlsberg with Shaved Asparagus and Lemony Arugula Pesto
Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 panini
INGREDIENTS:
Arugula Pesto:
- 2 large cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup walnuts
- 2 cups fresh baby arugula
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Coarse salt and black pepper
Panini:
- 8 slices rustic bread
- 8 thick asparagus spears, thinly shaved with a vegetable peeler
- 8 ounces Jarlsberg cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
DIRECTIONS:
- Using a blender or food processor, blend the garlic and walnuts for a few seconds until they’re the texture of a coarse meal. Add the baby arugula. Continue to blend, drizzling in the olive oil until the pesto is completely puréed. Add the cheese, lemon zest and lemon juice and blend until they are fully mixed in.
- Transfer the pesto to a small bowl, taste it and season with salt and pepper as needed. Let the pesto stand at room temperature for an hour to let the flavors combine.
- Heat the panini maker according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- For each sandwich: Spread a few teaspoons of pesto on two slices of bread. On one slice of bread add a few tablespoons of shredded cheese. Top the cheese with a small handful of shaved asparagus (about 2 spears’ worth) and more cheese. Close the sandwich with the other slice of bread, pesto side down. Spread a little butter on top.
- Grill the panini, two at a time, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted, 4 to 5 minutes.
NOTE: This recipe makes more arugula pesto than you’ll need for these panini. You’ll love it on lots of other sandwiches, pastas, pizzas – anywhere you’d enjoy a bright punch of flavor. Store any extra in a tightly covered glass or plastic container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days or freeze it for up to 2 months.
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Today’s post was sponsored by Jarlsberg USA. I was compensated for my time, however my opinions are, as always, my own.
Panini Happy, online since 2008, is more than just a sandwich blog. Here, you'll find hundreds of my original 
Good ol’ sharp yellow cheddar was always a standard in our house. We used it in everything. Favorites were grilled cheese on sourdough and quesadillas. Yum!
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I’m also following you on Pinterest.
Childhood favorite – good old cheddar!
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Cheddar on baked potatoes, and in sausage-cheese biscuits.
Subbed via RSS thru Google Reader
I’m giggling, because Jarlsberg was the first “exotic” cheese we discovered, too. I think I was in college at the time, and it made me feel very grown-up to make my grilled cheese sandwiches with it!
This may be blasphemy, but I have fond memories of “government” cheese eaten at friends’ houses.
velveeta!
fabulous recipe and giveaway!
This is a grilled cheese I would not be able to resist!
My Great Grandma always gave me slices of “government” cheese that I loved so much when I was little. I’ve definitely evolved as I got older 😉
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My favorite cheese growing up was Velveeta. I know it’s a processed cheese, but we always had it at the house. We also always had Colby. I didn’t like Colby for a long time after I grew up and moved away, but I’m happy to report I love Colby again.
Not that this is my favorite cheese today, but the ONLY cheese from my childhood was velveeta! I know, I know. But it was ooey gooey good!
I liked Kraft American Cheese slices when I was a kid 🙂
My favorite was a sharp white cheddar with mustard and sardines..I was an odd kid.
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Roquefort on a baguette! even on pizza, divine!
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My favorite cheese from childhood was colby-jack – I just always thought the two colors were so cool!
when I was little we never had anything other than american cheese in the house. I would occasionally eat a slice of sharp cheddar with my grandfather, but it wasn’t my favorite. now you can’t get me near most american cheeses and & refuse to use velveeta for anything. lol we mostly stick to firmer, stronger cheeses.
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I like you on facebook as michele malone
I like jarlsberg on facebook as michele malone
just followed you on pinterest
I liked Jarlsberg on FB.
I already follow you on Pinterest! 🙂
It almost makes me cringe to admit that wrapped American cheese was my childhood favorite. Although my taste buds have now grown up, I admit to guiltily enjoying a slice of “wrapper cheese” on very rare occasions.
I have always loved Colby Jack!
I just opened a wedge of Jarlsburg this week! I’ve been using it to make tuna melt sandwiches (we always call it tunafish, too) for dinner, but I believe I’ll have to lay hands on some asparagus and try your grilled cheese.
I have to say my favorite cheese growing up was the melted cheddar on top of burritos or seven layer casserole. Simple tastes.
I also have the e-mail subscription to Panini Happy.
American cheese, velvetta or can cheese was my favorites when I was a kid…thankfully variety has entered into the palate…I think Jarlsberg and Brie are my favorites now!
My favorite cheese from childhood was mozzarella as in pizza pie. We didn’t have very refined tastes back then. Now I keep trying new cheeses and like most of them. My latest has been goat cheese. I schlepped to A&P last night to get a small package, since it was on sale. I will definitely try Jarlsberg.
As a kid it was always a special treat when my mom would bring home brick cheese from the deli! I looked forward to it 🙂
Colby-jack was a favorite in my home growing up. Something about mixing two colors made it super cool.
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While I’m a cheese fanatic today, as a kid, I didn’t like ANY cheese. My mom only got the prepackaged American cheese which tasted like paste to me. But I love almost every cheese I’ve ever had as an adult, including Jarlsberg!
I grew up eating Kraft American singles – my mom always made “toasted cheese bread” on Fridays and served it along side creamy tomato soup with Parmesan sprinkled on top. American cheese is comfort food for me so in some ways, it’s my favorite. Cool giveaway!
Good Ol Kraft American slices. It was the staple food item in our house as a kid… Just can’t go wrong with the way it melts.
Cheese Whiz in the can had to be my favorite when I was a child. We hardly ever got to have it and when we did. Oh, so fun! Now it makes me gag.
my fav grilled cheese growing up was swiss and ham 🙂 i follow you on pinterest , i like both pages on fb and im subscribed too the newsletter
Liked both pages, subscribed to the newsletter and followed on pinterest. My fav grilled cheese growing up was swiss and ham.
I liked both pages, follow you on twitter and pinterest as well as subscribed to the newsletter. My fav grilled cheese growing up was swiss and ham.
This came right at my lunch time…. mouth. is. watering!!! I was obsessed with string cheese when I was little! My mom never actually bought it, so when anyone else had it and would share, I was stoked!
So funny – I do believe I just opened a pack of string cheese for your little girl last Friday! Runs in the family. 🙂
Lol! She may look exactly like her dad, but this proves my genes are in there!
Individually wrapped Kraft American cheese singles. I buy them even now, but only when my wife isn’t looking…
FYI, she’s noticed. 🙂
When I was a kid, before I knew better, my favorite cheese was Velvita
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As a kid, colby, because I didn’t know much e3lse, but as an adult, give me Jarlsburg anytime!
My favorite cheese growing up, and even to this day, is swiss cheese. I know it gets a bad rep, but it’s my go-to snacking cheese of all time!
Growing up I liked string cheese (still do). The mozzarella was so fun to pull apart! 🙂
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I also receive your emails.
And I also follow PH on Pinterest.
I like Happy Panini on Facebook.
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I subscribe to your RSS feed.
My favorite cheese was Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam. I used to beg my mother to buy it for dinner parties. I still love it!
You’re so lucky! I’ve still never tried it but I really want to.
I always love muenster. That orange edge and soft creamy texture. Plus I could call it “monster cheese” which always made me giggle.
I remember my mom buying dill havarti for a party when I was little, and I tried it and loved it – I felt very sophisticated!
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What a great give away! I entered the contest in all ways possible haha
I was a very picky eater, I drove my mother crazy. There was a time the only thing she could get me to eat were grilled cheese sandwiches and mac n’ cheese. However, for some reason I loved (and still do) all kinds of cheese-ironically some strange ones. Anyhow, my favorite grilled cheese I remember my mother creating for me was a sweet & savory grilled cheese:
Brie Cheese between perfectly toasted slices of Pound Cake with Raspberries. Ooey gooey brie with the sweet bread and a kick with a raspberry-the perfect bite.
Might sound crazy but its the perfect combo.
That actually sounds pretty great to me!
My favorite growing up was string cheese. I don’t know why I never buy it now!
My favorite cheese from childhood was Kraft Singles. I loved them!!
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So pleased to be following you on pinterest.
As I child I really didn’t have any exposure to good cheese. But living overseas as an adult really made me aware of what I’d been missing. I now love a creamy brie but my favorite is what my Dutch friend would bring to me from home and she simply called it Old Dutch Cheese. Pretty sure she meant “aged”.
I loved jarlsburg when I was little, too. I called it “Mouse cheese” because of the holes 🙂
This is an odd one, but my favorite cheese growing up was salami cheese. My grandmother always seemed to have some on hand for snacking, and if I’m feeling nostalgic, sometimes I’ll pick up a small block.
I’m also now following you on Pinterest!
Mozzarella Pizza Cheese!
Email subscriber too!
Like you on Facebook
Also Like Jarlsberg too 🙂
Following on Pinterest – thanks so much!
I was sort of a picky eater as a kid, so my favorite was always good old cheddar cheese! I still love it now… but I also love pretty much every other cheese out there 🙂
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And I also follow you on Pinterest!
Awesome contest.
I “Liked” Panini Happy on Facebook.
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I’m following you on Pinterest.
My favorite cheese from childhood was Romano Cheese and it still is 🙂
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I follow you on pinterest 🙂
I loved Kraft single as a kid…..it’s my shameful little secret.
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As a child, I loved cream cheese best. As an adult, I discovered that a slice of sharp cheddar, a healthy spreading of cream cheese on buttered slices rustic garlic clove bread, makes one amazing grilled cheese sandwich!
Cheddar was always my favorite!
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My favorite was just traditional cheese slice inside, but now I add some cream cheese and my girls think it is extra fancy.
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Oh man…favorite grilled cheese from my youth…does it count if it’s stilly my favorite grilled cheese today? =)
1 or 2 slice2 hearty, grainy bread (open-face sandwiches do sometimes rule)
1 slice sharp mozzarella
~1-2 tbsp. cream cheese
2-3 thick slices of tomato
Melt the mozzarella, spread the cream cheese on and top with tomatoes. Oh, so tasty.
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And now a fan of Jarlsberg USA on facebook.
Aaaand now I’m subscribed to your email newsletter!
Fingers crossed!
following you on Pinterest…yum
When I was little, my dad was the manager of a grocery store. My brother would always go up to the cheese counter and ask to sample their smelliest cheese. However, I loved (and still do) Parano cheese!
It seems so gross now, but I loved Velveeta as a kid. I don’t touch the stuff now, but it really appealed to my 5 year-old palate!
Kraft singles in my school lunch was always my childhood favorite!
Fan of Jarlsberg USA on FB now
Also a fan of Panini Happy too 🙂
Subscriber to your email too 🙂
My favorite cheese as a kid was cooper.
Mozzarella was my favorite and it still is, most likely has to do with my pizza addiction. We ate a lot of Velveeta growing up, the log style.
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Meunster was my favorite! Still near the top of my list too!
I am a facebook fan.
i didn’t grow up with much cheese in the house, all we had was velveeta to make mac and cheese. so that was my favorite~!
I <3 Gouda!!
This is such a fun giveaway. 🙂
I love this arugula pesto recipe! Growing up we did not eat cheese and if there was any in the house it was the kind that came in the green container. I like freshly grated Parm cheese now 😉
Always have and always will love Swiss cheese.
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Turkey, apple and cheddar. Yummy!
I loved mozzarella cheese as a kid!!!
My favorite cheese from my childhood was VELVEETA! I loved grilled cheese and my mom would always cut it diagonal and called it a girl cheese. My brother got it down the center and it was a boy cheese 🙂
I also already have you in my Reader and follow you there. I’ve liked Jarlsberg on Facebook as well and I now follow you on Pinterest. Thanks for the inspiration and ideas for grilled cheese!
I am a long time follower on Facebook
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I follow Jarlsberg USA on Facebook
I subscribe to your emails.
I used to love making grilled cheese sandwiches with mayo and provologne cheese.
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my favorite cheese as a kid was muenster. i think it had more to do with the name than anything else, but i still love it!
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subscribed to email updates!
following on facebook.
it pains me to admit it, but my choice cheese was american. 🙂
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i loved velveeta- and then i learned about real cheese
Our family favorite when I was a kid was hoop cheese with the red wax around it.
My favorite cheese is Greek feta (I’m Greek)
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follow you on pinterest
following you on facebook
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I have been subscribed to your blog by email for awhile – we love to make sandwiches especially pressed ones with lots of cheese!!!
As a kid I loved loved Harvati cheese I would just eat it like a crazy person!
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This panini is just gorgeous! I could eat it now (it’s 1 am here, and I had a big dinner). Maybe if I want to spoil myself I should try this recipe for brunch tomorrow…
We used to LOVE single slices of American cheese that my Gramma bought. Apparently it was too expensive for my mother’s grocery cart so it was a real treat when we visited our grandmother!
Omg those tostabags are such a clever idea!! I want! My favorite cheese from childhood is Camembert. My grandparents always had some after meals and I loved it.
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I follow on Pinterest.
As a child, it would have been american….now….havarti
My favorite cheese growing up was mozzarella.
I think my favorite “cheese” growing up was Velveeta. Won’t touch the stuff now. But my mom didn’t buy us a lot of variety. I remember processed cheeses, cheddar and mozzarella only.
I loved colby jack growing up and it’s still one of my favorites!
My favorite cheese from childhood was definitely cream cheese!
I loved a three cheese olga growing up, which is Swiss, cheddar and Monterey jack all wrapped with a delicious flatbread.
Looks like I found this just in time! Going to explore this blog more. I was kind of obsessed with Laughing Cow cheese wedges when I was a kid.
when i was a kid i didn’t like cheese unless it was melted, thankfully now i’ve grown into eating anything that remotely seems like cheese. Thanks for the recipe!
One of my favorite cheeses growing up was smoked gouda. I always thought it was neat that the cheese came in the wax wrapper. My mom used to make grilled cheese sandwiches with gouda. I still add gouda to my Loaded Cheese (5 cheese) panini and everyone seems to love it in the sandwich. I love Grilled Cheese!
My favorite cheese from childhood was sliced American.
I follow Panini Happy on facebook (Rust Hawk).
I follow Jarlsberg on facebook (Rust Hawk)
Now that is a nice grilled cheese!