5 Levels of Grilled Cheese to Make This Month
We've got a cheesy challenge for you.
Armando Rafael
If you've been feeling an absence of grilled cheese in your life, now's the perfect time to turn that around – it's National Grilled Cheese Month! While we're not sure when this annual homage to the easy, cheesy sandwich first started, we can report that we've found grilled cheese to be perfectly satisfying around the clock, at breakfast, lunch, dinner and as a midnight snack. To help get you started on your celebrations, we've gathered 5 levels of grilled cheese dishes to try this month, from the easiest 10-minute recipe to the ultimate cheesy mash-up.
Armando Rafael
Level 1: The Perfect Grilled Cheese (pictured at top)
Let's start with the basics. Considering how many kinds of bread and melty cheese are out there, the grilled cheese is actually endlessly adaptable. So rather than focus on the parts, our test kitchen's "perfect" recipe breaks down the process of turning plain bread and cheese into foolproof grilled cheese in 10 minutes or less: combine one of three cooking techniques (panini press, skillet, baking sheet) with one of three cooking fats (butter, mayonnaise, oil) and there you have it. Feel free to try all nine to find the one that works for you.
Level 2: Best Grilled Cheese Ever
In this take, Ree Drummond adds a few more ingredients to the mix that elevate and complement her rye, provolone and cheddar combo. Roasted poblano chiles, red onions, tomato and a mayonnaise-Dijon mustard sauce complete the package for a grilled cheese sammie that one reviewer calls "magic in your mouth."
Tara Donne
Level 3: Giant Grilled Cheese for a Crowd
Gather a few cheese-loving friends and think big, like whole loaf of bread big. This recipe only calls for few ingredients, but on a scale that's appropriate for a recipe with "giant" in the name. For this grilled cheese challenge (quest?), a pound of bread is coated with a quarter cup of mayo, filled with a pound of cheese (a mix of sharp cheddar, Monterey jack and mozzarella), and baked until it's gooey on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
Level 4: Croque Monsieur
Think classy and classic with a French ham and cheese sandwich that's Ina-approved. What makes this dish extra special (and a bit more advanced than your basic grilled cheese) is a bechamel cheese sauce that goes over the sandwich, which is then baked and broiled until it's golden brown and beautiful.
Renee Comet, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Yes, that is made-from scratch easy mac and cheese in the middle and yes, it is worth it. This mash up of two ooey gooey, indulgent foods plus bacon is the ultimate cheesy satisfaction and will have you saving any leftover mac and cheese in the future for another taste.
Though we've reached the end of this list, the potential for grilled cheese tributes is really, only limited by your imagination. Make it sweet, make it spicy or stack a double-decker — do whatever you want and keep things cheesy.
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