Grilled cheese – a simple combination of butter, bread, and cheese.  There is something truly magical about the soft butter spreading on bread, hitting a hot pan and browning perfectly while the cheese inside becomes ooey gooey.  A truly sublime experience and one that can be enjoyed at any time of day for any meal or at snack time.

Simple Grilled Cheese – Sometimes Nothing Else will Do

• White Bread (I love King’s Hawaiian it gives it a nice sweet flavor)

• American Cheese Slices (The classic Kraft Singles)

• Salted Butter Room Temperature Butter (This is the one time I use salted butter – it adds just the right flavor to toasty crunchy bread)

Bringing butter to room temperature – this is very important.  Too cold and it won’t spread on the bread without ripping holes in the bread  and too melted it won’t spread evenly on the bread giving you a splotchy grilled cheese.

Using a small offset spatula, spread one side of each piece of bread with butter.  Heat non-stick skillet to medium heat and place one piece of bread butter side down.  Put slice of cheese on bread and tear second piece and put on bread to make even covering of cheese.  Place second piece off bread on top butter side up.  Toast until butter is melted and bread is golden, flip, toast until butter is melted and second side is golden and cheese is ooey gooey.  Remove.  Allow to cool for a minute then enjoy!!

In honor of grilled cheese day, here are some great ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert grilled cheeses.  The measurements aren’t exact as grilled cheese is all about what looks right piled between the slices of bread.  The sky is the limit – anything can go between two pieces of bread and these ideas are only a starting point to let your imagination soar.

All of these ideas have three staple ingredients in common; bread, cheese, and butter with other ingredients added to really elevate these grilled cheese sandwiches.

Breakfast Grilled Cheese – Mexican Grilled Cheese with Chorizo and Guacamole

• Sourdough bread

• Butter

• Pepper Jack Cheese

• Guacamole

• Cooked and crumbled Mexican Chorizo

• Egg

• Pico de Gallo

• Chipotle Crema

• Cilantro

• Cotija Cheese

Spread soft butter on onside of two pieces of sourdough.  On the inside of one of them spread guacamole, top with chorizo and two pieces of pepper jack cheese and top with second piece of buttered bread butter side up.  Heat a non-stick pan to medium heat and place butter side down in the pan.  When bread is toasted and golden flip until second side is golden and cheese is melted and remove from pan.  Crack egg into pan and cook sunny side up.  Top sandwich egg and sprinkle with fresh pico de gallo, chipotle crema, chopped cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese.

Lunch Grilled Cheese – Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

Tomato soup and grilled cheese are a classic combination and the grilled cheese is often dunked into the soup.  Making grilled cheese croutons is a fun way to dress up this traditional dish.  These mini grilled cheeses are delicous and provide the perfect crunchy constrast to the soup.

• Sourdough bread

• Butter

• Fresh Mozzarella

• Goat Cheese

Heat a non-stick pan to medium.  Butter one side of each piece of bread.  On non-buttered side of one piece spread goat cheese then top with chopped fresh mozzarella and top with second piece of bread, butter side up.  Place butter side down in the pan.  When bread is toasted and golden flip until second side is golden and cheese is melted and remove from pan.  Wait a moment for the sandwich to cool slightly then cut into crouton side pieces and place atop your favorite tomato soup.

Goat Cheese and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese Croutons

Dinner Grilled Cheese – Braised Lamb Shank with Cherry Thyme Onions and

Cheese Fondue on Ciabatta 

• Ciabatta Bread

• Butter

• Brie

• Gruyere

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Braised Lamb Shank

• Onions caramelized with Dried Cherries and Thyme

Butter one side of each piece of bread.  In a double boiler gently melt equal parts of brie and gruyere with a splash of sauvignon blanc.  Mix together chunks of braised lamb with caramelized onions.  On non-buttered side of one piece pile on lamb and onion mixture.  Top with cheese spread then top with top with second piece of bread, butter side up.  Place butter side down in the pan.  When bread is toasted and golden flip until second side is golden and cheese is melted and remove from pan.

Dessert Grilled Cheese – Nutella Mascarpone Grilled Cheese with

Candied Bacon and Toasted Hazelnuts

• Challah Bread

• Butter

• Mascarpone Cheese

• Nutella

• Candied Bacon

• Toasted Hazelnuts

Butter one side of each piece of bread.  On non-buttered side of one piece spread Nutella then mascarpone.  Place half pieces of candied bacon on top then top with second piece of bread, butter side up.  Place butter side down in the pan.  When bread is toasted and golden flip until second side is golden and cheese is melted and remove from pan.  Sprinkle with candied bacon bits and toasted hazelnuts.

Tower of Nutella Marscapone Candied Bacon Grilled Cheese

Happy Grilled Cheese Day!

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