The Greasy Italian: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

On a recent trip to Jewel Osco, as I scanned the deli counter case, I came across an almost forgotten cheese—mozzarella. That cheese, I decided, would define this sandwich. But I wanted an additional cheese. Moving my eyes to the right I found the answer. This would be my Italian grilled cheese, I decided. A topping and some spice would make it complete. The result:

The greasy Italian grilled cheese sandwich

Ingredients

Bread (2 slices)

Provolone

Mozzarella

Tomato (2 slices)

Olive Oil

Basil

Directions

Butter one side of each slice of bread. Add a slice of provolone and a slice and a half of mozzarella. Place two tomato slices on top of the cheese. Use a knife to spread a small amount of olive oil on one slice of the bread. Sprinkle some basil on top of that slice. Cook in a skillet. Eat.

The Verdict

While the idea for my Italian style grilled cheese sandwich sounded good on paper, it didn't taste as good as it looked. Maybe it was the fact that I accidentally dropped the sandwich on the kitchen floor before eating it that made the taste less than satisfactory (don't worry, it was under five seconds, and I blew it off). Or there are a number of other factors that could explain its lackluster taste. It had a slight sweet taste to it, probably because of the tomato and basil. I don't know about the rest of you, but I like more of a salty taste when it comes to grilled cheese. Maybe adding a sauce could do the trick. Any suggestions?

What do you think?

The Hot Mexican: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

This grilled cheese, although creative, sprung from my being thrifty...or closer to the truth, my being broke and not wanting/having time to go to the grocery store. I still had some left over colby jack and sourdough bread, so those were obvious choices. However, I had to add something new to the sandwich, so I opted for going to the 7-Eleven one block from my apartment. While the cheese options were limited, I walked away with a unique bag of Mexican shredded cheese—thus the name. But I also wanted to add a twist to the sandwich...The result:

The hot Mexican grilled cheese sandwich

Ingredients

Crusty sourdough bread (2 slices)

Colby jack

La Chona quesadilla - Mexican shredded cheese

Smokin' Joe - Louisiana style hot sauce

Directions

Butter one side of each slice of bread. Add a slice and a half of colby jack. Sprinkle on the shredded cheese (enough for one layer). Cook in a skillet, placing a lid on top to better melt the cheeses. Pull the bread apart and add hot sauce. Eat.

The Verdict

This sandwich definitely had a Mexican taste to it—tasting like a quesadilla in sandwich form. The shredded cheese melted well and worked well with the colby jack. I quickly realized the bites without hot sauce weren't as good, so I poured some on my plate for dipping. The hot sauce made this sandwich one that I'll for sure be making again.

What do you think?

The Ricotta Cheddar Bacon: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

I wanted to be more experimental with my second sandwich. Bacon was a must. Ricotta popped into my head next. But I mistakenly assumed ricotta was a crumbly cheese. Those cheese or lasagna experts out there know better. It's less solid, more creamy. No problem. I'd make it work. I naturally chose sharp cheddar again because it's just that good (and I had a lot left over after the first sandwich). The result:

Ricotta, sharp cheddar & bacon grilled cheese sandwich

Ingredients

Ricotta

Sharp cheddar

Bacon (2 pieces)

Bread (2 slices)

Directions

Fry two pieces of bacon until crispy. Set those aside for the fat to drain off. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Spread ricotta on the opposite side of one slice of bread. Add one or two slices of sharp cheddar. Cook in a skillet to your liking. Pull the bread apart and insert bacon. Eat.

 The Verdict

At first taste, I was a little skeptical of this sandwich. It was an interesting combination, but one that I found, as I continued eating, worked well together. It was different. But not bad. Definitely not your typical grilled cheese. The bacon added great flavor (of course!) and crunchiness to the sandwich. The ricotta made for an interesting flavor paired with the cheddar and bacon. The taste reminded me of a breakfast sandwich (without the egg)—a classy breakfast sandwich. I think a better bread might just do the trick.

What do you think?

The Crusty Aged Cheddar Jack: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

I wanted a lot of cheese for the initial sandwich. After several minutes of standing in the cheese aisle at Jewel Osco, contemplating what might taste best together, I just grabbed three cheeses at random. You can't go wrong with cheese, right? Choosing the bread was easy. The result:

Swiss, sharp cheddar & colby jack grilled cheese sandwich

Ingredients

Crusty sourdough bread (2 slices)

Aged Swiss

Sharp cheddar

Colby jack

Butter*

Directions

Butter one side of each slice of bread.* Layer the cheeses between each slice. Put in a skillet. Place a lid over the skillet to ensure the cheese melts evenly. Flip when necessary (to prevent burning). Eat.

*Because I always butter the outside of each slice of bread, I won't always include it in the ingredients/directions.

The Verdict

Overall, very delicious. But, until I or someone else prove otherwise, I'm under the impression grilled cheese cannot be screwed up. The three cheeses melted perfectly together (thanks to the lid), creating a wonderful sandwich. I could have done with a little less cheese. And I felt like something should be added. I'm biased in thinking dill pickle slices make any grilled cheese better, but tomato may just make this sandwich one of my favorites...so far.

What do you think?