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When I was a kid, I had a very strict and immobile belief on the idea of grilled cheese -- it was always cheddar melted between slices of white bread with a can of Campbell's tomato soup. It had to be Campbell's, the can was not to be diluted with water (blasphemy!), and it would only be consumed with the sandwich. No tomato soup without the sandwich, and no grilled cheese without the soup.
These days, I'm a smidge more open-minded. I kill for grilled cheese with tomato, and sometime I even sass up my old mainstay with something like the tuscan bean soup above. But some of the old sentiment lingers. I can't imagine the thought of tomato soup without the sandwich, unless we're talking tuscan bean, minestrone, or something similar. Likewise, unless I add other ingredients to the cheese and bread, it seems lonely without the soup.
But what about you? Do you have strict grilled cheese beliefs or habits? Share below!
Quick tip: To cut cooking time for grilled cheese without a panini press, heat a large and small cast iron skillet. Put the sandwich in the larger pan, and then pick up the smaller skillet and press it down on top of the sandwich.
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11-07-2008 @10:50AM aarn said... i like using semi soft cheese, cooking it slow, and serving it with a nice fresh tomato soup!
http://lickmybalsamic.blogspot.com/2008/07/fresh-tomato-soup-and-grilled-cheese.html
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11-07-2008 @11:03AM Marco V. Aguilar Soto said... I love to read slash food. even more when a post makes me feel an internal desire to get home and cook, or my mouth waters and I can almost smell the tomato soup soaking up my grilled cheese...
now Im hungry and cant wait for lunch anymore
Cheers,
Marco
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11-07-2008 @11:13AM Anne said... I like my grilled cheese loaded up with tomato, sprouts, and avocado. And maybe a little mayo, if I'm in a mayo mood.
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11-07-2008 @11:22AM Sarah said... Big pieces of bread, unsalted butter and Tillamook Cheddar cheese. Tomatoes are great as well. Maybe some sauteed mushrooms or thin ham....
Dang it! I am out of bread and now I want one!
http://gazingin.wordpress.com/
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11-07-2008 @11:40AM Pauline Kasper said... Sounds yummy! Looking forward to having it for lunch!
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11-07-2008 @11:42AM UK Foodie said... It has to be mature cheddar on toast with Worcestershire sauce.
http://www.ukfoodies.co.uk
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11-07-2008 @12:00PM John C said... The best addition I've found to grilled cheese is basil pesto and tomato. Quite a bit more complex than standard grilled cheese, but if there's no soup it's a good backup.
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11-07-2008 @11:57AM Astin said... bread + cheese + butter + heat.
That about covers my requirements.
I first liked grilled cheese when it had that horrible processed cheese between two pieces of regular old pre-sliced mass-produced whole wheat. I didn't like it with real cheese at all.
Then I grew up. It had to be with real cheddar.
Then a friend started holding annual grilled cheese festivals, where we all gather with various breads, cheeses, and other accoutrements and spend the entire day making and eating grilled cheese. It's disgustingly good. I once added some orange chocolate to my sandwich (I think with a jalapeno jack) and it was delicious.
So now? I like medium slices of whole wheat (and still don't mind the mass-produced variety), both sides covered in BUTTER, and whatever cheeses I have handy. This usually involves a really old cheddar, an applewood smoked cheddar, garlic havarti, and some other variety (feta, brie, parmesan, colby, jack, etc...). Grilled up in a cast-iron pan and devoured. Usually with nothing else on it, but occasionally with some sort of bacon.
As for tomato soup? I love it on its own with crackers, or even more with rice. I still like the canned stuff, but have to add about half a dozen other ingredients to it (and milk, not water). No grilled cheese required (but it's always welcome).
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11-07-2008 @12:53PM rckymtnski said... Gotta add some Frank's Red Hot or tabasco to the soup, like the cheddar with sourdough myself....yummm
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11-07-2008 @12:28PM Gobo said... I grew up never having grilled cheese + tomato soup served as a combo at home. It wasn't until after college that I learned about its holy synergy.
Now, IN college, that was another story. My dorm cafeteria had a grilled cheese bar -- they'd make you a custom sandwich on the spot with your choice of three cheeses (american, swiss, or pepper jack), bacon, tomato, onions, mushrooms, ham, mayo, and I'm sure some other things, too. I got a buttery-hot american cheese with tomato & bacon several times a week.
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11-07-2008 @12:41PM nobodycares said... with peanut butter, of course!
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11-07-2008 @12:56PM Jamba said... Like Gobo, I never grew up with the grilled cheese + tomato soup combo and only learned of it in college. For me, grilled cheese = bread + american cheese + sugar. Grilled or toasted. Yes, sugar. Try it! Deliciousness.
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11-07-2008 @2:20PM Kari Rippetoe said... I thought grilled cheese + tomato soup was something I only liked! Glad to see I'm not the only one (and yes, it was Campbell's for me too - made with milk)!
Now I like a little ham, or tomato, or red onion. A good sharp cheddar is always good, or a good semi-soft French or Spanish cheese. Here's a good one to try: Cuban-style with ham, pork, pickle, and swiss - pressed to perfection!
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11-09-2008 @9:09PM cyberquog said... Gruyère makes a really really good grilled cheese sandwich. Don't forget to liberally butter the outside of the bread before grilling. Tomato and bacon are optional.
Oh yea, and George Forman grills are awesome for making grilled cheese.
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11-07-2008 @3:52PM Amanda said... i grew up with my dad making grilled cheese for me and my sisters: always cheddar cheese between whole wheat accompanied by progresso pea soup. now a-days a golden brown grilled cheese + pea soup is my ultimate comfort food. but always on whole wheat, never white bread, it just adds so much more to the sandwich.
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11-07-2008 @4:04PM Chewy said... Thinly sliced onions are a must. In college I ate an average of one grilled cheese per day and one of my favorites was the combination of American and Swiss cheese together.
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11-07-2008 @6:13PM Cathi said... Homemade bread is best...always REAL butter...my favorite is a combination of Cheddar and Swiss. Another non-negotiable: it must be accompanied by orange juice. Real orange juice, not some abomination like Sunny Delight.
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11-07-2008 @6:58PM Beti said... I also grew up with grilled cheese and tomato soup, but usually away from home!
Now, I'll take it with a variety of breads, in the toaster oven, with or without soup...
But my daughter, somehow she started eating american on white with... Spaghettios! How did that happen?
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11-09-2008 @8:25AM Alli411 said... Grilled cheese is still one of my favorite treats. Cheddar and real wheat bread or sourdough are my faves. To get them real gooey, put a cover on the pan. Cooking them at home is usually tastier than at restaurants. I was presently surprised to see that the Meltdown in Culver City makes great ones. See http://alli411.blogspot.com/2007/10/have-meldown-in-culver-city.html for more info.
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11-09-2008 @9:20AM Aaron said... Rules? yeah, no Panini pressing allowed. It's a terrible sandwich trend, and I say grilled cheese doesn't not have ridges.
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