In honor of Nation Grilled Cheese Month – a classic grilled cheese sandwich

Who doesn’t like a grilled cheese sandwich? The grilled cheese sandwich is the American classic. In the United States, grilled cheese sandwiches were introduced during the 1920′s as a simple open-faced sandwich with white bread and American cheese.  To day over 2 billion grill cheese sandwiches are eaten in the U.S..  That’s a lot of cheese!

2 slices Cheddar, American, or Swiss cheese
2 slices white bread
2 tablespoons butter

Put the cheese between the slices of bread. Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a skillet or grill and when melted add the sandwich. Gently press down with a spatula once or twice during the grilling. When one side is golden, add the remaining tablespoon of butter, turn the sandwich over, and brown.

2 1/2 pounds ground beef (80 percent lean)
1/4 cup cold water
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
6 small to medium sweet white onions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons puréed chipotle in adobo
4 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons flat-leaf fresh parsley leaves
6 slices Monterey Jack cheese
6 hamburger buns

1. In a large bowl, mix together the beef and water. Shape into 6 patties, about 1 inch thick.

2. In a small bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Use the blend to season the burgers, pressing it into the meat.

3. Heat a grill to medium-high.

4. Set a griddle pan on the grill and add half of the butter or oil. When the pan is hot, add the onions, season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper and saute until the onions soften and start to brown. Add the puréed chipotle, scallions and cilantro.

5. Push the onions to one side of the griddle. Heat the remaining butter or oil on the empty side and place the hamburgers on it. Cook for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.

6. Move the burgers to the grill and cook to desired

7. Stir the parsley into the onions and spoon the onions onto the hamburgers. Lay a slice of cheese on top of each and continue cooking until it melts.

Enjoy!

These are very good!

1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
1 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Combine cheeses in a small bowl.  Mix beef, Worcestershire, paprika and pepper in a large bowl.  Shape into 8 thin patties.  Mound 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture on each of 4 patties, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Cover each with one of the remaining patties. Crimp and seal the edges closed.

To grill, lightly oil the grill rack.  Grill the stuffed patties over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes per side for medium-well.   Be careful not to press the burgers as they cook or they’ll split open and the cheese will ooze out.   To broil, cover a broiler pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.  Broil the stuffed patties for about 4 minutes per side for medium-well.

Ingredients:
1 1/2  lbs. ground beef
2  cups French’s Cheddar French Fried Onions
3  tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
3/4  tsp. garlic powder
6  slices American cheese
6   Kaiser rolls, split
Garnish: lettuce and tomatoes

Directions
1.  MIX ground beef, 1 cup French Fried Onions, Worcestershire and garlic powder; shape into 6 burgers.
2.  GRILL burgers over medium-high heat for 10 min. until no longer pink in center.
3.  PLACE 1 slice cheese on each burger. Cook 1 min. until cheese melts.
4. ARRANGE burgers on rolls with lettuce and tomatoes. Top each burger with remaining French Fried Onions.
Tip: For extra crispiness, microwave French Fried Onions for 1 min.

Yummy!

Cheesy Barbecue Chicken Sandwich

A quick Cheesy Barbecue Chicken Sandwich recipe that’s simple and quick to make!

1 thinly sliced onion
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast
1/4 to 2/4 cup of your favorite Barbecue Sauce
3/4 to 1 cup Cheddar Cheese
4 split whole wheat or white sandwich rolls

In a non-stick frying pan add onions and cook for about 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Once onions are cooked, add chicken, cooking for about 4 minutes.  Then turn the chicken over, top with your BBQ sauce and allow to cook for about 6 minutes or until the chicken is done.  Stir onions so they will not burn.

Add cheese on top of your chicken and cook for about a minute or until the cheese has melted.

Fill your rolls with chicken and onions and serve!

Looking for something that’s easy to make for lunch or dinner?  This cheesy meatball sub will keep them coming back for more!

1 cup spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese
3/4 lb. cooked meatballs – 1-1/2 inch in size
4 crusty sandwich rolls, split
3/4 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Mix first 4 ingredients into a large skillet. Bring these to a boil on medium-high heat, stirring as needed.

Simmer on medium heat for 8 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Spoon ingredients into rolls then top with mozzarella.

Grilled Cheese with Spinach and Tomato Sauce

Ingredients
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 pound spinach, stems removed, leaves washed well and shredded
8 thick slices round country bread
1/2 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/4 pound mild goat cheese, crumbled

In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the spinach and simmer until the spinach wilts and the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes longer. Cover to keep warm.
Top 4 slices of the bread with mozzarella. Spoon some of the spinach mixture over each, spreading the spinach to the edges of the bread. Sprinkle the goat cheese over the spinach and top with the remaining bread slices.

In a large nonstick frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat. Cook two of the sandwiches, turning once, until the cheese melts and the bread is golden, about 4 minutes in all. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and the other two sandwiches, keeping the first batch of sandwiches warm on a baking sheet in a 200 degrees F oven.

Enjoy!