Kraft single + Wonder bread + Imperial margarine +Campbell’s tomato soup = pure 80s magic.
Who’s kidding who? It’s also pure 2012 magic.
Grilled cheese sandwiches and soup were a quick and simple go-to meal in my childhood home. Still are, in fact. Though they have a bit more of a grown-up flair nowadays.
If you’re looking for something to round out your roasted butternut squash, minestrone or turkey sausage, shrimp and white bean soups, look no further than the humble grilled cheese.
Recently I heard about a group of friends getting together for a make-your-own grilled cheese dinner party. What a fab idea (and excellent inspiration for this post)! A ‘gourmet’ grilled cheese night can be perfect solution for a group of friends or a family with varying food preferences. With prep and cooking time rarely exceeding 15 minutes combined it’s hard to think of a simpler crowd pleaser.
Here are some combo ideas. They’re listed as bread + cheese + extras:
- Light or marble rye + extra old or applewood smoked cheddar + sliced granny smith apple
- Italian bread + fresh mozarrella + fresh or roasted tomatoes + fresh basil
- No-knead bread + swiss + mushrooms sauteed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and thyme
- Whole wheat + haloumi + arugula pesto + roasted red peppers
- Sourdough + cambozola (brie-like blue cheese) + caramelized onions + sliced firm pears
- Any or all of these could also be accompanied by a slice or two of some beautifully smoked cured meat such as prosciutto, or dare I say – bacon!
Another great source for those of you grilled cheese obsessed is a great Toronto-based blog called Closet Cooking. Here are blogger Kevin’s top 10 grilled cheese sandwiches. And here’s what I made…
2 year old Canadian cheddar, sun dried tomato and fresh basil on sourdough.
Cambozola, caramelized onions and bosc pear on sourdough. This was INcredible.
Erin
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep time | 5 minutes |
Cook time | 5 minutes |
Total time | 10 minutes |
Ingredients
- Fresh or day old bread sliced (not too thick so the heat can penetrate the bread and melt the cheese.)
- 2-3 oz cheese (grated if possible for more even cooking)
- butter or margarine (usually a couple of tsp, or enough to thoroughly cover the entire surface of the bread)
- fun ingredients!
Directions
1. | Butter one side of each slice of bread |
2. | Over medium-low heat, place one slice of bread, buttered side down in a pan. |
3. | Pile cheese and other ingredients on top of first slice and top with the second slice buttered side facing out. |
4. | Cook 2-4 minutes per side until cheese melts and outside is toasty brown. |
5. | If the bread browns before the cheese melts, turn down heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. |
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