Recipe Rescue: Panini Patty Melt Made Easy![VIDEO]

Call me old fashioned, but there is something about a greasy diner and a patty melt that makes me smile. I remember being a kid and hanging out with my grandpa on 'dump' day, that's when he would load up the pick up and say, "come on Dede, we're going to the dump". These days were very special to me, I loved spending time with him. After all, my grandpa was, to quote a Reba song, The Greatest Man I Never Knew.
I say that because he died way too young and I would sure have loved more time with him. Anyway, on 'dump' day, he would take me to lunch. And guess what we ordered at the diner. We almost always ordered a patty melt. As I have gotten older they are still a favorite, but usually a pain in the bottom to make. So, I came up with an easier edition of this classic. I haven't taken away any of its charm, just made it easier to make at home. Convenient and cheaper than eating out, now that's a win-win! Ready, Set, Go!

What You'll Need:

1 lb 80/20 ground beef
(stop it, it's not like
you make this every night
and if you are really
worried use a leaner mix)
1 medium onion
1 tbs unsalted butter
1/2 tbs olive oil
4 slices of Swiss cheese
(8 if you want to double
down on the cheese)
8 slices of marble rye bread
s/p to taste

Putting It All Together:

Here comes the beauty of it all...
in a saute pan heat half the
butter and the olive oil and
add the sliced onion (yellow)
cook on medium low until the
onion slices begin to carmelize

once onions are cooked down set aside
to cool.

butter all sides of the bread and set
aside.

mix your hamburger meat with the cooled
carmelized onions and s/p to taste, well
don't taste the raw hamburger, just add about
a tsp of each.
(yes, we are putting the carmelized onions in the
hamburger)

saute the burgers in a medium hot pan
for about five minutes on each side

meanwhile: pre heat your panini press
or a grill pan
(if you are using a grill pan, you
will need a clean skillet and a
15oz can of something to set on top
of the skillet-you'll need the weight
to create the perfect sandwich)

divide cheese slice in two if using 4
slices, if using 8 slices place 1/2 or 1
whole piece on the inside of each patty
put the burgers on top of the cheese
and form a 'sandwich'.

Place the 'sandwich' on the panini press
or grill pan and cook till the bread is golden

I consider this an easier way to make the patty melt because I used to lose the onions on the flip and it was completely messy, now the onions are in the meat and I don't have to flip it. You know what I say to that... that's right, its a win-win! Serve with a salad and maybe you won't feel guilty about the 80/20 hamburger blend.