Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 8 slices of bread
- 8 slices of your favorite cheese
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Bread and butter pickles, thinly sliced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil to the skillet.
- Once the butter has melted, add the sliced onions to the skillet. Cook the onions for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become caramelized and golden brown. Remove from heat.
- Heat another skillet over medium heat. Place a slice of cheese on each slice of bread.
- Divide the caramelized onions and bread and butter pickles among four slices of bread. Top with the remaining slices of cheese and bread.
- Place each sandwich onto the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese has melted.
- Remove the sandwiches from the skillet and serve hot.
Homemade Tomato Soup Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes (28-ounces each)
- 1 cup of vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic to the pot and sauté for 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is translucent.
- Add the canned tomatoes, broth, sugar, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the tomatoes have broken down and the soup has thickened.
- Remove the pot from heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Use an immersion blender or transfer the soup to a blender in batches and blend until smooth.
- Return the soup to the pot and heat over low heat. Stir in the heavy cream, if desired. Serve hot.
Taking Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup to the next Level:
Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a classic pairing that I love, but I’ve always felt it could be more than just a simple meal. Once I had a similar recipe at a local sandwich shop, which featured caramelized onions and bread and butter pickles in the sandwich, and it completely changed the game for me. Now, I make this gourmet version of grilled cheese and tomato soup regularly, and it’s always a hit.
To make this gourmet grilled cheese, I start by caramelizing some onions in a pan until they are golden brown and sweet. Then, I roll up some sliced bread and butter pickles in the cheese and sandwich them between two slices of buttered bread. I grill the sandwich until the cheese is melted and gooey, and the bread is golden brown and crispy. The result is a decadent, savory sandwich with a tangy, crunchy twist.
For the tomato soup, I like to make it from scratch using fresh, ripe tomatoes, onion, garlic, and a few simple herbs and spices. I start by sautéing the onions and garlic until they’re soft and fragrant, then I add the tomatoes and let them simmer until they’re tender and juicy. I use an immersion blender to puree the soup until it’s smooth and creamy, then I season it with salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. Served alongside the grilled cheese, this soup is the perfect complement to the rich, cheesy sandwich.
~Denny
Some More Grilled Cheese Ideas:
https://www.erinliveswhole.com/easy-creamy-tomato-soup-with-grilled-cheese/
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