Cherry & Cheese Panini

Makes 4 servings

1	tablespoon olive oil
1	large red onion, thinly sliced
1/4	teaspoon dried thyme
1/8	teaspoon salt
1/8	teaspoon black pepper
2	teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2	cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted and chopped
4	ounces blue cheese, at room temperature
1	(3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
8	large, thin slices Italian or country-style bread
1	to 2 tablespoons butter

Heat oil in large, heavy-bottomed skillet. Add onion and thyme and saute over medium heat for 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in salt, pepper and vinegar. Scrape up any browned bits. Spoon onion mixture into a bowl and stir in cherries.
Mash blue cheese and cream cheese in a bowl until softened and creamy. Spread over 4 bread slices. Top each slice with 1/4 of the cherry mixture (about 1/3 cup). Top with remaining bread slices.
Wipe out skillet. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet. Add 2 sandwiches. Press down with a spatula. Cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until golden. Remove and repeat with remaining sandwiches, adding more butter if necessary. Cut each panini diagonally in half to serve.

Use a blue cheese with minimal blue veins for a pretty presentation. Heavily-veined cheese may cause a grayish tint when mixed with cherries.

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Cherry Cheese Panini