The Best Cheese On The Best Vessel (a sandwich!!)

Over the past few months, my mom and I have been enamored with halloumi cheese. The taste is pretty salty, with an almost rubbery or squeaky texture. I know that doesn't sound amazing, but it's deceivingly delicious. Seriously, we're obsessed with the stuff. We always eat it the same way too: we fry slices on our Le Creuset, without oil or anything, and I know what you're thinking, but halloumi DOES NOT MELT. Instead, this Cyprian cheese gets brown and crispy on the outside, and a bit softer on the inside.

Usually, we pair our fried slices of halloumi with a grain bowl, or a lemony kale salad, but the other day I decided to do something a bit different with it, partly because I was bored, and partly because I wanted to trick my dad. Did I mention that my dad hates halloumi? Yeah, he's crazy. Basically, I tried to hide it in a sandwich, and (spoiler alert) it worked!! I grabbed some whole grain bread from the freezer, a few handfuls of arugula, slices of tomato, and my very own homemade mayo and the perfect sandwich was made. It was a perfect meal for me to devour during the hour of free time I have on Saturdays, and it kept me full for the rest of the day. I really recommend making this for yourself  or your friends for a lunch at home, a picnic, or even to bring to school. #elkinthekitchen

Halloumi, Tomato, Arugula Sandwich with Homemade Garlic Cayenne Mayonnaise

Ingredients
2 slices whole grain bread (possibly from Crossroads Bakeshop???)
3 slices of heirloom tomato
3 slices of halloumi cheese
Handful of arugula
1 Tbsp homemade mayo

Directions
1. Fry halloumi in a cast iron pan without oil or anything. I usually do it on medium heat, and it takes about a minute to 90 seconds on each side. You'll know it's ready when it is a nice golden brown on each side.
2. Toast bread. Spread mayo on insides of both pieces of bread.
3. Layer on one slice of bread the cheese on bottom, then tomato, arugula on top, and the second slice of bread on top.

For the Mayonnaise

Garlic Cayenne Mayonnaise

Ingredients
1 egg yolk
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pinch of salt
1 tsp cayenne
pepper to taste
3/4 cup olive oil

Directions
1. Whisk the egg yolk cider vinegar, salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic together in a medium sized mixing bowl until combined well.
2. Slowly whisk in the olive oil about a teaspoon at a time. You have to be careful to add slowly but whisk vigorously, because it will break and separate if you don't.
3. That's basically it. My arm got tired, so you can use your kitchen aid but I think it comes out more nicely if you whisk by hand. You can use vegetable oil if you want it to taste less olive oily too! And you can add whatever spices you'd like, but I wanted something with a little bite.