Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Pear

I found this recipe on another blog (simplyrecipes.com.)  It sounded so delicious, I had to try it.  To some, it may sound really strange to put pears on a grilled cheese, but they were such a good counter to the bacon. Don't hate it until you try it. Note: I have found that buying thick cut bacon from the actual meat counter (yes you have to ask the butcher guy to get it out and how much and everything), is cheaper than buying the pre-packed thick cut bacon. I take it home and put a sheet of parchment paper between each slice so I can pull out one or two pieces at a time.  Who realistically uses a whole pound of bacon everything time. Don't answer.

Ingredients

French or Italian loaf bread, sliced
Bacon, cooked, use the good stuff, the thick cut delicious stuff
Bartlett pear
Sharp white cheddar cheese (high quality)
Butter, softened and spreadable

1. Heat a cast iron skillet to medium high heat. Layer your sandwich - bread slice, cheese, pear slices, bacon, bread slice. Spread butter over the top of the sandwich. Place the sandwich top side down (butter side down) on the hot pan. Butter the exposed side of the sandwich. Let cook for a minute and then use a metal spatula to turn the sandwich over to its other side.

2 While you are toasting the sandwich on the remaining side, press down on the sandwich with a spatula. Alternatively, you can mimic a panini press (albeit without the ridges) by heating a smaller cast iron pan on a separate burner. Use the weight of this pan to press down on the sandwich from above.

The sandwich is done when the sides are toasted and the cheese is melted. Cut in half and serve.