Grilled Cheese Sandwich 101

Name: Grilled Cheese Sandwich 101
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 serving(s)
Ingredients: 4 slices white bread; 3 tablespoons butter, divided; 2 slices cheddar cheese

Submitted by CHEF GRPA

"Bread, butter and Cheddar cheese - here's a way to make this classic sandwich in a nonstick pan."

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Ready In:: 20mins
Ingredients:: 3
Serves:: 2

ingredients

4 slices white bread
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 slices cheddar cheese

directions

1. Preheat skillet over medium heat. Generously butter one side of a slice of bread. Place bread butter-side-down onto skillet bottom and add 1 slice of cheese. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place butter-side-up on top of sandwich. Grill until lightly browned and flip over; continue grilling until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining 2 slices of bread, butter and slice of cheese.
My Note: There is an art to making a grilled cheese sandwich. It has to be cooked on low heat in order to evenly toast the bread as well as melt the cheese inside. My son, bless his heart, cooks EVERYTHING on high heat so that he can finish faster. His sandwiches tend to be burned on the outside while the cheese inside is not completely melted. With that said, I make mine with whole wheat bread and sharp cheddar cheese, served with tomato soup and a sweet pickle. This is one of my favorite lunch or dinner meals.
I do agree this recipe is a classic, one that goes hand-n-hand with "How to boil water" as seen on another site. But for those looking for a truly different addition to an old favorite, try this. Make the grill cheese sandwich as usual, but without buttering the bread. When the cheese is melted to your likeing, remove the entire sandwich from the pan. Since both sides of the bread will be lightly toasted, you can now dip both sides of the sandwich in an egg batter and return it to the pan. If desired, one may be creative with the egg batter using a spice of your choice, such as garlic, even finely minced fresh onions. Anything really. If you butter the bread prior to placing the sandwich in the pan, the bread will get soggy and will not cook the eggs properly. Try it and be pleased with your invention.
Back in the 50's, when I was in high school, my friends aunt was doing A Weight Control School Test. Some one told her to, instead of using butter on the outside of the bread, apply a thin layer of mayo. It grills up great, adds a little extra flavor, and is less fattening than the butter. It spreads thinner so you hardly use any but still have something to give you a crispy crunch. I also add mustard to the inside. Yum! All 3 of my kids love it this way.
Definitely a classic that goes great with tomato soup! I use multi-grain bread and add a slice or two of tomato to make it a little more healthy. This is one of my favorite, especially with the addition of a little ham or bacon.