The Trick to Grilled Cheese Sanny's & some recipes ------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's an art to preparing a perfect grilled cheese sandwich that is golden brown on the outside, soft on the inside and with cheese that is evenly melted.
EQUIPMENT: The best tool for this job is a well-seasoned cast iron skillet because of the way it heats evenly to create a lacy-crisp exterior on the sandwich.
INGREDIENTS: For one sandwich: Two slices good white bread, 1 to 2 ounces of cheddar, Monterey jack or American cheese and about 1 tablespoon butter.
TECHNIQUE: Preheat the skillet over medium heat for a few minutes. While it is heating, grate the cheese and sprinkle evenly between the two slices of bread. Grating the cheese insures that it will melt evenly. Put the slices together and press gently to set. Melt the butter and brush generously on one side of the bread, making sure no spot is left unbuttered. Gently place the sandwich in the heated skillet, buttered side down. Turn heat to low. The longer you can leave the sandwich without turning it over or letting it burn, the better the result. This allows the butter to brown slowly and evenly. Once crisp and deep, golden brown, brush melted butter on the top side, gently turn and grill other side (approximately 5 to 8 minutes per side). Remove, cut as desired with a sharp serrated knife and serve.
If you're getting bored with your basic cheddar-and-white-bread sandwich, here are a few variations you might want to consider.
GRILLED CHEESE WITH BACON: Fry three slices of bacon until cooked but not crisp; pat dry on a paper towel to remove excess fat. When assembling your sandwich, add on top of the cheese and grill as directed.
GRILLED CHEESE WITH HAM: When assembling your sandwich, put two thin slices of ham between the cheese and grill as directed.
ONION-CHEESE SANDWICH: Follow the basic recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich, but lightly coat the inside of one slice of bread with Dijon mustard. Saute three to four onion slices in butter and put on top of the cheese. Cover with the remaining slice of bread and grill.
TOMATO-CHEESE SANDWICH: Follow the recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich, but add two thin slices of tomato to the sandwich before grilling.
GRILLED MOZZARELLA SANDWICH: This variation requires several distinctive ingredients -- two slices of European-style country bread; 1 ounce mozzarella cheese, sliced or grated; tomato slices or several strips of roasted red peppers; and olive oil. Following the basic directions for a grilled cheese sandwich, place the tomato slices (or pepper strips) between the cheese. Brush the bread with olive oil in place of the butter.
GREEK GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH: This version calls for crusty bread (like sheepherder); 1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled; sliced tomato; basil or oregano leaves; ground black pepper; and olive oil. Follow instructions for mozzarella sandwich.
