Grilled Cheese Sandwich (from How to Cook Everything Kids)
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Makes 1 sandwich 1x
Time 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 2 slices any bread (about 1/2 inch thick)
- 1/3 cup grated (or 1 or 2 slices) melting cheese (like cheddar, Jack, or Swiss; about 1 ounce)
Instructions
- Put an 8-inch skillet over medium heat and add the butter or oil. Make a sandwich with the bread and cheese; try to keep the cheese in an even layer not too close to the crusts of the bread.
- When the butter melts or the oil is hot, put the sandwich in the skillet. Set a small plate on top of the bread and weigh it down with the cans or heavy pot. Adjust the heat so the butter or oil sizzles without burning.
- Cook until the bottom of the bread smells like toast and is lightly browned and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Take all the stuff off the sandwich, slip a spatula underneath, lift it off the pan, and turn it over.
- Swoosh the sandwich around in the pan to sop up all the butter or oil. If you want the sandwich even flatter, pile the plate and cans back on. The other side will also take 2 to 3 minutes to brown. Use the spatula to transfer the sandwich to a plate. Wait a minute for the cheese to cool and set, then dig in.
Recipe variations
Grilled Chocolate Sandwich.
Like dessert. Instead of the cheese, use 1 small chocolate bar between the bread. Your choice what kind, but I like mine pretty dark.
Inside-Out Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
That’s right. Crisp cheese on the outside, bread on the inside. You’ll need a nonstick skillet for this. Use one piece of bread and twice as much cheese. Don’t put butter or oil in the pan or use the plate and weights. Scatter half the cheese in the bottom of the pan, top with the bread slice, and scatter the rest of the cheese on top. Put the pan over medium heat and cook without touching anything until the cheese bubbles and melts and turns brown, 3 to 5 minutes. It should be crisp enough to slip a spatula underneath and turn it over. Cook the second side the same way. When the sandwich is ready, tip the pan so the extra fat pours away from the bread before lifting it out with the spatula.
Cheese Toast.
This time the sandwich is open. You can use any of the cheeses listed in the recipe or try grated Parmesan. Turn on the broiler to the highest setting (or use a toaster oven) and put the rack about 4 inches from the heat source. Keep the bread dry at first and put both slices on a baking sheet (or the pan for the toaster oven) and move the pan under the heat. Watch it until the top is toasted as dark as you like it. Remove the pan, use tongs to turn the bread, then put a pat of butter on each uncooked side or drizzle with half the oil. Top the slices with the cheese and put the pan back under the heat until the cheese is as melted and bubbly or brown as you want it.