"grilled cheese" news and stories

KFC's Double Down sandwich couldn't hold the spotlight forever...we knew it was only a matter of time before someone pushed the envelope even further. And here it is: the Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt from Friendly's.

The name "Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt" hardly does justice to this psycho-brilliant monstrosity, which amounts to three sandwiches morphed into one: First, there's a Friendly's Big Beef burger, but instead of a bun, there are two (count 'em, two!) grilled cheese sandwiches. Open wide.

More after the jump...

Happy National Grilled Cheese Day!

Bread-and-cheese combinations date back to ancient Roman times, but there's nothing like the classic cheddar cheese on white bread combo embraced at dinner tables across the United States. The soft crunch of buttered bread chased by a gooey cheese filling is one of the simplest comfort foods available.

That being said, we love the innovations being made to the cheap classic these days, from Los Angeles' Grilled Cheese Truck to dozens of gourmet versions of the sandwich being created, like the Tomato Soup Grilled Cheese pictured here, which combines the duo into one sandwich using a mix of sundried tomato paste with cream cheese to substitute the soup.

Whether they switch up the type of bread or cheese or add a tasty new addition, check out some of these suggested recipes for other interesting twists on the cheesy sandwich.

• Cheddar and Apple Grilled Cheese with Raspberry Coulis
• Spanish Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Manchego and Jamón Serrano
• Cornbread Grilled Cheese with Poblano and Avocado
• Grilled Cheese Bruschetta
• Cinnamon-Raisin Breakfast Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich
• Sage and Fontina Grilled Cheese
• Ham-Taleggio Grilled Cheese

Become a member of the Slashfood Flickr pool to get a shot at having your photos featured on the site.

How dedicated are some people to grilled-cheese sandwiches?

In the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio, customers of Melt Bar and Grilled love the restaurant's 31 varieties of grilled cheese enough to permanently mark their bodies with tattoos of the gooey comfort food.

In return Melt reward you with a 25 percent discount for life.

Since he kicked off the promotion on Sept. 1, more than 50 loyal customers have come in with tattoos of variations of the Melt grilled cheese logo, owner Matt Fish tells Slashfood.

"I'm assuming we'll be well past 50 by the end of the year, and next year I can see us having 100 or more," he says.

Few of us want to make a complicated lasagna for solo dining -- by day six, you'll never want to see lasagna again! In this series, AOL Food staffer Sarah LeTrent taste-tests simple recipes suitable for a "table for one."

Oh, beloved pimento cheese; the Southeast's answer to cheese dip and queso.

The bright-orange spread is nothing more than extra-sharp cheddar, mayonnaise, diced pimiento peppers and cracked black pepper. Homemade pimento cheese is a snap to make and leftovers are a cracker's best friend. You could spruce up the spread with serrano peppers, garlic, cayenne, different types of cheese or even bacon. But to most, nothing is better than the classic four-ingredient mix between two pieces of bread.

Grilled cheese. Photo: adactio, Flickr

• Move over, pizza! Grilled cheese sandwiches are sent to the outdoor grill.
• Rather than spending a fortune on premade custom spreads, take a few hours and make condiments that will last a month.
• Since they're all over the farmer's market, skip ho-hum green beans in favor of haricots verts.
  
• Those super-huge summer zucchinis make great relish.
• Wine picks: The Westrey "Willamette Valley" 2008 Pinot Gris is a notable find, and as is the 2007 Chinon Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault.
  
• In this week's On Our Desk, the Oregonian likes the "Adaptable Feast" for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, and loves the secrets of "Mother's Best."
• Recipes: Pork Chops with Blueberry-Ginger Relish and Stuffed Baby Eggplant with Bulgur, Feta, and Pine Nuts.