Thursday 13: Experimenting with grilled cheese recipes

here are lots of great grilled cheese ideas out there... but at our house it is usually pretty all-American, meaning American cheese between two slices of wheat bread. But in looking around at a few grilled cheese collections, (there are even cookbooks dedicated to this noble concept) I couldn't help but think we need to branch out a bit. 

Here are a few ways to diversify your grilled cheese cravings. A few of them I've tried, a few are still on the list to try, soon!

1. Grilled Cheese with Tomato Slices
If you need to start out slow, just add a few fresh tomato slices to your grilled cheese. It's really quite yummy.

 

2. Many-Cheese Grilled Cheese
Mix it up in the cheese department. Try a little swiss, provolone, havarti, pepperjack and gruyere... any OR a little of each!

3. Pears and Brie Grilled Cheese
This is a lovely flavor combination. I've made it many times, and always enjoyed it.

4. Hazelnut-Crusted Grilled Cheese
This sweet variation includes figs and cheese between two slices of hazelnut-crusted bread. Make it at home for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. I had heard of Nutella between slices of bread and grilled, but this sounds a bit more interesting (and a bit less like dessert...).

5. Butternut Squash and Swiss Grilled Cheese
For this sandwich, I put roasted butternut squash and swiss cheese between bread slices and drizzled a balsamic reduction on the whole thing before grilling. It was superb.

6. Asparagus and Jack Cheese
Pre-cook the asparagus (steam in the microwave, easy peasy) and put between slices of cheese before grilling. Really yummy. I had an asparagus panini at a local lunch joint just this week, and they added a bechemal sauce in the sandwich. Very yummy.

7. Sweet Grilled Cheese
This one involves 2 tsp. of brown sugar with the cheese, between the bread slices. Might be worth a shot--I have fond memories of jam and cheese sandwiches from childhood (I found a grown up version with mango jam... completely try-able!). Here's another variation, with honey as the sweetener. Nice.

But that might not be quite sweet enough for you? Give this one a whirl:
8. Sweet Grilled Cheese with Mascarpone and Orange
The bread is actually pound cake! Wow. And another variation on that, with cheesecake in the middle. How amazing is that?

9. Cranberry 'n Cheese Grill
Mmmm. Turkey, cranberry and cheese together, like Thanksgiving dinner, but all melty-like.

10. Grilled Cheese with Artichokes, Black Olives and Tomatoes
Some of my very favorite ingredients! Yum.

 11. Mozzarella and Fresh Apricot Grilled Cheese
This one I am definitely pulling out when the tree is laden over the summer.

12. Tarragon Vegetable Grilled Cheese on Sourdough
 Fresh and summery flavors... I'm ready for some of that!

13. Grilled Cheese with Bacon, Spinach, Tomatoes and Fried Eggs

Now there's one to end on--anything with a fried egg is high on my list!

I hope these  inspired some love for the humble grilled cheese. There can't ever be too much love for cheese, in my humble opinion. I know, you've never heard me say that before... shocking!

For more Thursday 13s, go here.