Sandwich making appliance and method of making a sandwich with the same

An appliance for cooking a food item, the appliance comprising:

• a bottom housing having a top surface;
• a top housing having a bottom surface, the top housing being movably attached to the bottom housing, the top housing selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position;
• and
• a cooking assembly positionable between the top surface of the bottom housing and the bottom surface of the top housing when the top housing is in the closed position, the cooking assembly comprising a top heated plate, a bottom heated plate, and a center ring therebetween;
• the cooking assembly's top heated plate is selectively movable between (i) an open position and (ii) a closed position in which a top cooking cavity is selectively formed by the cooking assembly's top heated plate and the bottom surface of the top housing when the top housing is in its closed position;
• the cooking assembly's bottom heated plate is selectively movable between (i) an open position and (ii) a closed position in which a bottom cooking cavity is selectively formed by the top surface of the bottom housing and the bottom heated plate;
• the cooking assembly further comprising a center cooking cavity selectively formed by the top heated plate, the center ring, and the bottom heated plate when the top and bottom heated plates are in their respective closed positions.