We love Grilled Cheese... one of the first foods your adorable little self remembers is probably grilled cheese... unless you are of Italian heritage, then it's probably crusty Italian bread dipped in sauce and then grated parmesean cheese ...but I digress... Grilled Cheese was American food in family home... we had Italian food, English food (not an oxymoron) and American food. Along with the luscious Grilled Cheese was also Wonder Bread ( or any white American bread), BLT's, American cheese, (wonders if American cheese also includes Canada..people from the Unites States always forget Canada and Mexico... how rude!), boxed breakfast cereal (My Nona called every boxed cereal "Cheerie Oats"), tuna salad with mayonnaise, NE Style...like there is any other..Clam Chowder...these were all American food. You maybe saying, "June, grilled cheese sandwiches are simple..2 slices of American bread, couple slices of American cheese, slather the bread with butter and make a cheese sandwich butter side out..fry that baby up in a pan..VOILA...Grilled Cheese.... so WTF is up... grilled cheese recipes???" and my reply is..No matter how you slice, assemble and cook it, grilled cheese is basically FRIED BREAD. But my little foodies, grilled cheese is no longer just a lump of greasy fried white bread with cheese in between...although in some perverse food porn way that does sound delicious... mmmm ... melty cheese delight... soft greasy white bread ... mmmm... sorry... digression again... My train of thought is not the Acella express today.
Food and Sex (yes, we are getting to Grilled Cheese!! Hold your horses!!)
Research (and not just mine) has shown there is a very strong correlation between food and sex. That is kind of a given .. starts with food and love.. takes the fast track to food and sex. Men love to eat.. and face it, no matter how liberated, sexy and new age we all try to be... the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.. feed him well ..he will follow you home and you'll never get rid of him. And women also know men look so damn HOT and SEXY when they are cooking (in the kitchen..I am meaning here)... it doesn't matter what it is!! And we all know..It's hard to feel romantic if you're starving... (remember the previous conversation by the ever present-in-spirit, Doug and myself... Doug, which do you like better..me or bacon? His reply being..Depends how hungry I am.. I rest my case).
The human need for food and sex are basic, part of the foundation of our nature, which makes it sensible and handy that they are so closely knit together. Another way to look at it is that when you eat, you're using many of your senses. Obviously, you are using taste, but also sight, smell and touch. These sensations are the same ones used during sex. And, if you feed your lover, sensually, these sensations might be heightened. We can eat our food like it is having sex, and have sex like we are eating our favorite food. It is an interesting exercise...sooooo... see back to grilled cheese. What I will try to do open you up new and wonderful food porn experiences with cheese and bread..and various and sundry stuff.. My first recipe is for a grilled cheese recipe..that is absolutely orgasmic.
Men, make this for her. If it takes you more then 10 minutes, you’re being too much of a perfectionist and may need to seek out therapy. And women, get your man to make this for you...and eat it decadantly..sensuously..and together..
Raspberry, Mascarpone Cheese & Chocolate Grilled Cheese Dessert Sandwich
- 2 slices of cinnamon raisin Bread
- Soft butter
- 1 small container of good quality mascarpone cheese
- The darkest chocolate you can find
- Raspberry preserves
FILLINGS
• The French Evolution
Chef Thomas Keller, The French Laundry, Yountville, California, and Per Se, N.Y.C.
1 Tbsp. butter
2 slices brioche
2 oz. Gruyère, thinly sliced
• Southern Comfort
Chef Harrison Keevil, Brookville Restaurant, Charlottesville, Virginia
1 Tbsp. butter
2 slices rustic bread
3 thick slices high-quality pre-cooked bacon
3 thin slices Granny Smith apple
2 Tbsp. Duke's mayonnaise (optional)
2 oz. Swiss cheese or Gouda, thinly sliced
• The Crispy Caprese
Chef Terrance Brennan, Artisanal, N.Y.C.
1 Tbsp. butter
2 slices pagnotta (Italian country bread)
1 ripe tomato, sliced
Several sprigs fresh basil
3 oz. fresh burrata or mozzarella
Directions
1. "Take your cheese out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time," says Keller. "It will melt more evenly that way. And use butter at room temperature."
2. Preheat the oven to 350.
3. Preheat an iron skillet over medium heat.
4. Assemble the sandwich on a plate. Butter the outside of the bread and place the non-cheese ingredients—bacon, basil, whatever—between 2 slices of cheese to keep the bread from sliding off.
5. Add 1/3 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and cook to brown.
6. Lay the sandwich in the pan. "Pay attention," says Keller. "You're looking for a really crusty dark brown on this first side." This usually takes 1 1/2 minutes.
7. Flip, then cook for an additional 30 to 45 seconds.
8. Spread the remaining butter on the just-browned side, transfer the sandwich to a baking sheet, and place in the oven for a few minutes—how long you keep it in depends on how melty you like your cheese.
9. Pull out your masterpiece and let it sit for a minute before devouring.
Grilled cheese sandwich making tipsBread – Hearty, fresh sourdough bread adds flavor and texture to grilled cheese sandwiches. French bread is also a great choice. Generally, heavy breads are best for grilled cheese, but any sliced bread type will be perfectly fine, as long as it’s not too flimsy for the frying pan!
Cheese – It is often best to not slice the cheese, especially when using gourmet fromage. Grated cheese melts faster, making it less likely that the bread gets overdone. Using 2-4 cheeses rather than one really maximizes the flavor of a grilled cheese sandwich. A small amount of each is best. Any cheese that melts goes well in a grilled cheese recipe – Ile de France recommends cheeses from the pressed and pressed cooked styles like Fol Epi, Emmental and Comté.
Butter – Applying a thin layer of butter (or olive or vegetable oil) to the outside of the bread before the sandwich hits the grill is crucial for creating the crunchy exterior texture grilled cheese sandwiches are known and loved for. Salted butter adds more robust flavor to the outside of the bread.
Grilled Cheese Pan - Always use a nonstick skillet fry pan – the sandwiches won't stick, especially after the butter or oil is applied. Be sure to use a frying pan that’s the correct size for the number of sandwiches you plan to make at the same time.
Additional ingredients – Grilled cheese sandwiches are versatile and can include as many or as few ingredients as you want. Ham, tomatoes, eggs, onions, peppers and more can easily be added into the grilled cheese. Try heating up the ham and tomatoes on a skillet before putting them into the sandwich and grilling everything together to create warm and gooey goodness!
Other Grilled cheese sandwich making tips
· Put pan on stove over medium heat until hot. During heating, begin slicing cheese and getting bread.
· It is best to cover the sandwich when cooking on the first side, in order to melt the cheese sufficiently.
· Know that the second side should brown faster so be prepared to check
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