One thing cheese lovers can agree upon is that grilled cheese really is the greatest thing since, well, sliced bread. Here, we'll give you a primer on the classic grilled cheese, including our expert tips to make it perfectly melted and toasty every time, as well as three ways to upgrade your grilled cheese — sweet, salty, and spicy! — depending on your mood. Take a look, then share your favorite grilled cheese sandwich combo with us in the comments. On Brandi: Edward Avedis
Making homemade manicotti or mixing up your own molé is noble and all, but with all due respect to from-scratch cooking, sometimes you just want to get dinner done — and in those moments, nothing fits the bill better than an elemental grilled cheese sandwich. April is the perfect time to test your skills, as it is National Grilled Cheese Month!
While a basic grilled cheese is just about the greatest thing since, well, sliced bread, there are a few additions that are guaranteed to take your sandwich to the next level. Click through for our top 10 suggestions.
In our new series Freshedovers, culinary expert Aida Mollenkamp is demonstrating just how easy it is to transform last night's leftovers into a novel new dish. She's already given us two fresh ideas — Filipino tacos and Jamaican jerk chicken salad — and here she tackles a nostalgic American favorite, the barbecue chicken sandwich. Keep watching to find out how to give your roast chicken a Freshedover, then snag the recipe.
Maybe it's just one long sugar rush, but getting creative with Peeps candy is becoming a national pastime. We've seen Peeps dioramas, re-creations of TV shows, and this delicious idea: a Peeps fluffernutter sandwich. Just like the childhood favorite sammie of marshmallow fluff and peanut butter but made with Peeps, this flavor combination helps cut down on the sweetness of the confections for a gooey good time. Here's how to make it.
Sure, sandwiches from the grocery store don't exactly have a reputation for being the tastiest kind. Make that a sandwich from a grocery store that used to be a gas station, and you might want to run the other way. But Nancy shows how one turkey club sandwich from Pensacola, FL, might just change your mind.
Sometimes, sandwiches taste better when they're totally unexpected — for instance, served at a grocery store in an old gas station in Florida. Equally unexpected: finding forgotten, six-month-old photos on my laptop that are making my mouth water all over again.
See the pictures — and more — when you keep reading.
An uncomplicated yet interesting lunch can be a challenge, especially during colder months. But we've got a solution for you with this Winter twist on the classic turkey wrap. In this wholesome version, tart cranberries, whole-grain mustard, and feta cheese pack on the flavor without adding an avalanche of calories, and slices of fresh pear stay nice and crisp until ready to eat. It's a no-brainer lunch for one — we even suggest double or quadrupling it for multiple lunches or occasions. Get the recipe now.
Can I tell you a secret? I simply don't care for baseball. Most of the year this is a nonissue, but I live in San Francisco, where October Means Baseball. While I may not understand the hoopla over the actual sport at hand (sorry), I can get behind one important aspect of the experience: ballpark food.
Pungent garlic fries, snappy hot dogs, and nachos loaded with bright-orange cheese lure me in without fail, and for as long as the indulgent bites keep coming, I feel a part of this quintessential American experience. Now I get that bacon-wrapped hot dogs aren't exactly traditional ballpark fare, but in the spirit of the Giants' recent NLCS pennant win (and their upcoming attempt at a second World Series title), it only seems appropriate to serve up a riff on a hometown favorite: the Mission hot dog. These bacon-wrapped beauts are standard late-night fare hereabouts, and while one could enjoy these sober, come game 1 I'll be sticking to tradition and double-fisting with a beer in one hand and this juicy treat in the other. Just don't tell anyone that my attention will be elsewhere than the game at hand . . .
Some sandwiches are too good to be limited to lunch, so do them a favor and serve them up for dinner! With a sandwich's crunchy bread, gooey cheese, and hearty protein, this meal is loaded with texture and flavor. Made with a twist, these eight recipes are a bit of an upgrade from the average peanut butter and jelly or turkey sandwich found in lunch boxes. So go ahead, help sandwiches lose their lunchtime reputation and serve up these clubs, subs, and paninis for dinner.
Packing sandwiches for the open road can be messy business — by the time lunch rolls around, the sandwich bread can be squishy and saturated with tomato juice. Once you start eating the sandwich, more of it can end up in your lap than in your mouth. Let's toss those subpar roadie sandwiches aside and start making perfect travel sandwiches instead. All you need are a baguette, your favorite condiment, an avocado, deli meat, cheese, and a large lettuce leaf. Learn the magic behind the one-handed, spill-free sandwich that's easy to eat while you're on the open road.
Watermelon and feta, radishes and butter, mangoes with chili and lime: along the way, I've discovered that certain elemental combinations seem to sing perfectly in tune with balmy weather. Here's another one I'd like to add to the list: tomatoes, mayonnaise, and toast.
The TMT follows a simple equation: crunchy toast plus creamy white sauce plus sweet and acidic tomato equals euphoria. I'm not a huge mayonnaise fanatic, but in this open-faced treat, it adds an element of Southern comfort, while also playing to a certain sense of nostalgia.
Any of the components can be played around with; sub in cherry tomatoes or even fried green slices. Or reach for a garlicky aioli — if you're a true mayo hater, olive oil works nicely, too. Rye bread, sourdough bread, and wheat bread all stand up nicely, but avoid choosing a bread that's too crusty. My favorite combo: giant red brandywines, whole wheat bread, and a generous slather of Hellman's mayo. What's yours?
