There is nothing so wonderful as a well-made grilled-cheese sandwich on a cold, dark, rainy day; where the cheese is melted to a puddle on good toasted bread; dry and crisp, not greasy; not white in some spots and dark in others; the way my mother made them: crunchy, bendy, buttery, melty; simple, plain perfection. Here’s how it’s done. ♥
First off, I don’t butter the inside of the bread at all; there’s enough oil in the cheese to take care of the inside of the sandwich; I only butter the outsides. Just lay out two pieces of healthy whole-grain bread (sourdough also makes a wonderful grilled cheese). Cover one piece of bread with slices of good cheddar cheese.
Then cover the cheese with the other slice of bread, and butter the top with soft real butter.
Then melt a pat of butter over medium-high heat in a skillet.
Put the unbuttered side of the sandwich down, and cover the pan; reduce the heat to medium low. In a few minutes, take off the lid, and press down hard on the sandwich with a spatula. This spatula-pressing is the secret to a tight well-made sandwich. Cover again and keep cooking until . . .
. . . it’s evenly toasted; turn it over, press down on it hard with the spatula, and cover the pan again.
Cook until it’s perfect, when the melty goodness begins to leak out of the middle, the edges are crunchy and a buttery-brown toasted color. Scoop it out of the pan and put it on a serving plate and cut it in half. This is a deeeeelicious grilled cheese sandwich.
With a cup of soup, grilled cheese’s make a cozy dinner by the fireplace, or take it to the TV for lunch; turn on a wonderful old movie, like The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven; put your feet up.
Then take a nap. ♥ Happy rainy day girlfriends!
this is just about my most favorite sit down “kosy” in front of the TV dinners!you’re grilled cheese looks “ta-riffick” too! Thank you for sharing! heeheehee
(I have been a fan of yours for a long time….I think you are just delightful Susan and you’re work brings a smile to my heart!!
Thank you Jayne, glad you’re here!
Mmmm….the perfect meal I must remember to make once winter kicks in for real and I find myself, yet again, digging my car out of the snow. My other favorite “quick meal” for a cold winter night is scrambled eggs and baked beans on toast (while watching Judi Dench’s Britcom, “As Time Goes By”….
Oh Phyl D – thanks for your post too. I LOVE scrambled eggs and baked beans on toast! No one else in my family does though – nice to see someone else does. Veddy British as you know. I heard it’s one of Prince Charles’ favorite meals! :>)
I’m salivating looking at that just-finished grilled cheese. And I now know what I’m going to make for supper tonight! Lobster bisque from the freezer to the microwave – and grilled cheese. PS – my mom [only 6 kids, not 8 like your family] also said to butter only the outsides – and it has to be REAL butter. She also said the best toasted cheese was like the best applesauce – you have to use more than one kind of cheese [apple]. Ours were usually cheddar and Muenster. Yummo!
Love grilled cheese,but never thought to use cheddar. I love seeing you have not taken the old counter tops off. I have the same in my home that we bought to re-furbish. I have lost the cuting board(it cracked) and I need to replace it. It is handy to have it there and I have missed it.
I use to be a member of the friends of Gladys Taber. Love the photo of you & Gilly. I can remember when you first started your addition to the fan club. It has been years since I have come on the sight and It is nice to see you are here with so much to offer her fans.
Nice to hear from you Betty!