The Perfect Grilled Cheese (and a surprise as well)

I just love comfort food. Food that takes me back to our childhood, that gives us a good feeling while we eat it. For me grilled cheese would be one of my favorite comfort foods. The old fashioned kind with ooeyy gooey melted cheese in the middle and bread on the outside. Here are some tips to help you make up that same awesome grilled sandwich that many of us still crave today

Start with great bread. I prefer plain white sandwich bread from the local grocery store. Some may be able to find their favorite at a local bakery or bread store. The crust is not a chewy crust, and fluffy interior. Finding the perfect bread is an important step to making the perfect grilled cheese.

Nothing but real butter will do for the perfect grilled cheese. Any thing else just does not taste the same. Room temperature butter is easier to work with and makes spreading so much easier. Using cold butter to spread on the bread may just tear rips in the bread and this will not be good.

What cheese will you use?? We grew up with Velveeta, when I was first married I used American cheese slices, and now prefer either pepper jack or a cheddar cheese. My taste has changed and well mild does not give it enough ummmppphhh and sharp is not right for a comfort good old grilled cheese.

In the end you end up with a delicious grilled cheese sandwich. 

Start by buttering the bread. Two pieces per sandwich. Only one buttered side per piece of bread.

you will want the entire piece of bread on the unbuttered side covered with cheese. With American cheese one slice will cover the entire slice of bread if you want more of a cheese sandwich use two slices.

Now it is time to create that sandwich look. To do this you top the cheese with the second slice of bread this time the butter on the outside. Yep that's right you have an uncooked sandwich with both pieces of bread with butter smeared on the outside and cheese in the middle

Now, its time to cook up this just right. I prefer to use an electric griddle. I normally cook more than one as we have a large family that loves their grilled cheese. The temperature on the griddle should be at 275 degrees. If you prefer you can use a skillet over medium low heat. Place the sandwich on the preheated cooking surface and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Continue to check to make sure it is not burning One quick tip do not press down on the sandwich unless you like grilled cheese extra flat. We all have our own preferences to the perfect grilled cheese sandwich

.Hide those veggies:

I know many of us try to hide the veggies in foods where our kids will eat what they like as well as their veggies. Here is a great tip I found here to put carrots into grilled cheese

• 2 medium carrots, peeled
• 8 slices whole grain bread
• 8 slices cheddar cheese
• Olive or canola spray oil

With a vegetable peeler, cut lengthwise carrot ribbons from carrots.
Lay 4 bread slices onto a work surface. Top each with 1 slice cheese. Arrange carrot ribbons evenly in a double layer on top of cheese. Top carrots with an additional slice of cheese and bread. Spray both sides of each sandwich with oil. 
Heat a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add 2 sandwiches and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side or until bread is golden brown and cheese has melted, pressing flat with a spatula occasionally. Serve immediately.