[1] Fusion food†: Greek avocado toast (Abacus Photo).

[2] Haas avocados are smaller than other varieties, but have much creamier flesh. That’s why they’re used for guacamole (photo © Haas Avocado Board).

[3] Walnuts add flavor, protein, and crunch (photo © Bake Your Day).

National toast day is the last Thursday in February, and we’ve put a spin on avocado toast. The popular breakfast fare, which is believed to have originated in Australia, now has a Grecian touch with feta, Kalamata olives, and

Below:

> The recipe.

> The year’s 20+ bread holidays. (June is National Avocado Month.)

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The year’s 7 avocado holidays.

> More avocado toast recipes.

> The history of bread.

> The different types of bread: a photo glossary.

> The history of avocado toast.

> The history of avocado.

> More avocado toast recipes.
 
 
RECIPE: GREEK-INSPIRED AVOCADO TOAST

We marinated the cherry tomatoes in extra-virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, with some dried oregano. You can use the tomatoes plain, if you wish.

Can you place all the ingredients into a toasted pita pocket or a pocketless pita? Sure!
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation

If you prefer, slice the avocado rather than mash it. For an hour or more in advance, marinate the cherry tomatoes.

1. MASH the avocado flesh with a fork. Mix in the lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.

2. TOAST the bread and spread the mashed avocado generously over each slice.

3. TOP with the cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle with the feta cheese, olives, walnuts, and basil. Finish with a few grinds of black pepper and a sprinkle of crunchy sea salt or a drizzle of EVOO as desired.

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*All three nuts—almonds, pistachios, and walnuts—are popular in Greek cuisine. Walnuts are most often used in traditional cooking. Pistachios (fistikia) are a significant garnish, while almonds are a nutritious snack. You can substitute other nuts as you prefer, or even use mixed nuts.

†Fusion food is a culinary style that blends ingredients, techniques, and flavors from different cultures, regions, or countries to create dishes that represent multiple cuisines

‡An annual, international celebration of additive-free bread.

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[1] With chocolate chunks, you get bigger bites of chocolate (photos #1, #2, #3, and #8 Abacus).

[2] Otherwise, chocolate chips work perfectly well. .

[3] You can use white bread, but rich brioche makes any dessert grilled cheese sandwich better.

[4] Brie is perfect for dessert grilled cheese, but we have plenty of alternatives below (photo © Isigny Sainte-Mère).

[5] Top with cherry pie filling (photo © Chukar Cherries).

[6] Add as many as you like (photo © Bella Baker).

[7] The recipe calls for chopped almonds, but you can substitute another favorite nut. We made a version with one of our faves, pistachios, and liked it equally well. If you’re chopping your own almonds, you an use cinnamon-, honey-glazed, or spiced nuts for an extra layer of flavor (photo © Amazon).

While George Washington never chopped down a cherry tree, the myth created in his first biography by Parson Weems will never die*. Acknowledging this, we elect to celebrate his birthday each year, February 22, with a new cherry recipe.

We adapted the following recipe from one we found on Taste Of Home, called Cherry-Chocolate Pudgy Pie, created by Josh Carter of Birmingham, Alabama.

Although it had no cheese (see photo #10 at the bottom), we thought: Let’s turn this into a grilled cheese sandwich with Brie!

 
While Josh makes his Pudgy Pie for campfires and cookouts, we turned the concept into a great indoor snack and dessert.

Below:

> The chocolate-cherry grilled cheese recipe.

> Beyond Brie: different cheeses you can use.

> More chocolate-cherry recipes.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> More dessert grilled cheese recipes.

> The history of the grilled cheese sandwich.

> The history of the sandwich.

> The different types of sandwiches: a photo glossary.

> The history of Brie.

> The history of cherries.

> Homemade cherry pie filling recipe.

> 20 more ways to use cherry pie filling.

> The year’s 25+ sandwich holidays.

> The year’s 30 cheese holidays.

> The year’s 15+ cherry holidays.
 
 
RECIPE: CHERRY-CHOCOLATE DESSERT GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH

We made the sandwich both on good-quality white bread and on brioche. Brioche wins!

You can also make a simpler recipe on toast with cream cheese or mascarpone, no grilling needed.
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PLACE 1 slice of bread in a greased sandwich iron, panini press, or grill pan. Spread with pie filling; top with almonds, chocolate chips and remaining bread slice.

2. COOK until golden brown and heated through, 3-6 minutes, turning occasionally.
 
 
BRIE CHEESE ALTERNATIVES

 
 
MORE CHOCOLATE-CHERRY RECIPES

 
 

[8] Mascarpone and dulce de leche make this grilled cheese sandwich a sweet treat. Here’s the recipe. You can add a layer of raspberry preserves or fresh raspberries (photo © Dairy Farmers Of Wisconsin).
 
 

[9] Challah is a more affordable alternative to brioche. Both are rich, yeasted, egg-based breads; as enriched doughs, they share a similar, slightly sweet, and buttery taste, making them ideal substitutes for each other in recipes like grilled cheese and French toast (note that challah is dairy-free, substituting olive/vegetable oil for butter).

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*More George Washington myths: He never had wooden teeth. His dentures were made of materials like ivory, gold, lead, and even human teeth from enslaved people, which were wired together. Nor did he wear a wig. Even though it was the fashion of the time, Washington kept his own hair long, tied back, and powdered white. The list goes on.

†Dessert wine wine pairings with dark chocolate: Banyuls, late harvest Zinfandel, Maury, Port, shiraz, and Vin Santo. The Nibble capitalizes words that are a proper nouns, e.g., New York cheesecake.
 

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February 20th is National Cherry Pie Day. If you like to bake but have a discerning palate, you may want a better option than the canned pie filling on the grocer’s shelf.

Julie Laing of the Taste of Home Test Kitchen developed this recipe using fresh summer cherries. However, she gave those of us who don’t want to wait until summer, or don’t want to pit the cherries, the option to use frozen tart pitted cherries to make cherry pie filling.

We were sold!

The frozen cherries don’t even need to be thawed beforehand. However, since frozen cherries have more moisture than fresh cherries, you may need to adjust the amount of cornstarch to compensate for the extra liquid.

Either way, we generally use sour or tart cherry varieties when making pie filling because they provide cherry sweetness with a touch of tartness. However, any type of cherry can be used.

Below:

> The recipe for cherry pie filling.

> Recipe variations for a more complex cherry pie filling.

> 20 more ways to use cherry pie filling.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The history of pie.

> The history of cherries.

> The history of pie à la mode.

> The different types of pie: a photo glossary.

> The year’s 30+ pie and cobbler holidays.

> The year’s 15+ cherry holidays.

> The difference between a pie and a tart.

> Cherry cobbler recipe.
 
 
RECIPE: HOMEMADE CHERRY PIE FILLING

Make your cherry filling bright red with some red food coloring. Please note that this recipe was not created for canning.

Be sure to take a look at the variations below.
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation
 
1. COMBINE the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan. Add the cherries, water and lemon juice.

2. BRING to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; if desired, stir in food coloring.

3. COOL completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for three to five days.
 

[6] How about cherry cobbler? Here’s the recipe. National Cherry Cobbler Day is May 17th (photo © Choose Cherries).
 
 
20+ MORE USES FOR CHERRY PIE FILLING

Beyond making cherry pie, cobbler, cookies (especially thumbprints), and pastry filling, and tarts, cherry pie filling is a versatile ingredient for quick desserts and garnishes.

[2] Instead of a conventional top crust, cut out shapes of dough. Even better, cut out shapes of sugar cookie dough. Here’s the recipe for this gluten-free cherry pie (photos #2 and #3 © Bonjon Gourmet).

[3] Ready for my ice cream, Mr. DeMille.

[4] These pitted frozen Michigan tart cherries are available directly from the grower, King Orchards.

[5] A pie stencil will give you a cutout effect (photo © Chefs Catalog [alas, now closed]).

Use cherry topping over a brick of cream cheese and serve with cookies: chocolate, shortbread, or plain butter cookies and sugar cookies).

For a quick, no-bake option, mix the filling with softened cream cheese and whipped topping to make a “cherry yum yum” dessert
 
 

[8] An easy cherry cheesecake. Here’s the recipe (photo © Stemilt).
 
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*Cherry sauce recipe per cup of cherry filling: In a small pot add the cherries, 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons brandy, orange liqueur, or rum. Taste and adjust the seasonings as you like. For a thinner sauce, dilute with water, 1 tablespoon at a time. For a thicker sauce, add cornstarch, using 1/2 tablespoon each of cornstarch and cold water. First whisk them into a slurry until smooth. Bring the sauce to a simmer and whisk in the slurry. Cook for 1-2 minutes until it thickens and becomes glossy. You can serve it warm or cool.
 

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