The Grilled Cheese Sandwich, America's Favorite Comfort Food

Ooey, gooey, crispy, and delicious, the grilled cheese sandwich still ranks number one with kids and many adults who grew up on the three ingredient cheesy delight. American or cheddar cheese are typically found between two slices of buttered white bread when making this simple meal, and it is quite often paired up with tomato soup.

The grilled cheese sandwich is a variation of the French recipe, the "Croque Monsieur," which is a hot ham and cheese sandwich served in Bistros and has been around since the early1900's. It is made with two slices of bread, buttered on one side only, with ham and cheese in the center, and fried in clarified butter. However the English claim that they in fact invented the sandwich, claiming that long before the word sandwich came into use, it was common for workers in the field to place meat, fish, or cheese between two slices of black bread.

No matter who invented this cheesy comfort food, it is loved by most and will continue to be a staple in households for years to come. The no brainer ease of constructing it is just about as elementary as you can get, but gourmet food lovers have managed to find crafty ways of embellishing the grilled cheese, taking it to another level entirely.

The simplicity of cheese, bread, and butter prepared in a frying pan has been replaced with easy to use kitchen gadgets that include opened and close style sandwich machines like the Panini maker, toastmasters, and grilling appliances designed for the ultimate sandwich.

No matter what method you prefer to use to master your cheesy culinary toasted piece of heaven, the grilled cheese sandwich is a favorite comfort food that is here to stay, and its versatility is the grilled cheese sandwich's greatest feature. It can be dressed up or dressed down, while the main ingredients, melted cheese, butter, and bread, always remain the same."

1920's: The grilled cheese sandwich was made with processed cheese and sliced white bread.

1940: Grilled cheese sandwiches were open-faced and usually made with prepackaged grated "American" cheddar cheese.

1960: The top piece of bread was added to the grilled cheeses and became standard.

2004: The Golden Palace purchases a piece of grilled cheese pop culture for $28,000. The partially eaten sandwich bore the image of the Virgin Mary.

2006: Sonya Thomas, the 100 pound woman who ate 26 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes, winning the World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship and $8,000 for her ability to consume a large amount of food.

April is the National Grilled Cheese Month

November 3 is National Sandwich Day in honor of John Montagu's birthday. It is believed that this 18th-century English noble, better known as the fourth Earl of Sandwich, wanted to eat with one hand during a 24-hour gambling bender. So, he instructed his servants to serve him his meal between two pieces of bread.

In Milan, toasted cheese sandwiches are a popular gourmet snack. The cheese is laid over artisan bread and then topped with olives, roasted peppers and herbs.

Mexican Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

4 slices of thick jalapeno cheese bread
4 slices of habanero jack cheese thinly sliced
1 teaspoon taco seasoning mix
1/2 cup medium salsa
2 Tablespoons butter

Heat a griddle, sandwich maker, or a skillet over medium heat. In small bowl, mix butter and taco seasoning mix. Spread half of mixture on one side of each piece of bread. Put cheese slices onto bread and top with remaining bread slices. Place the sandwiches, buttered sides down, on hot griddle. Spread top sides with remaining butter mixture. Cook until golden brown on both sides and cheese is melted. Serve with salsa as a dip.

Zesty Red Pepper Ham & Cheese Sandwich's

2 teaspoons chipotle mayonnaise
2 slices sourdough or Italian bread
2 slices provolone cheese
2 thin slices honey ham
1/2 roasted red pepper packed in oil, drained and sliced
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Spread the mayonnaise onto both slices of bread. Place one slice of provolone cheese, then ham, red peppers, and the other slice of cheese. Top with the other slice of bread with the mayonnaise facing the filling. Butter the outsides of the sandwich, and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese onto the butter. Heat your sandwich maker or frying pan over medium heat until warm. Fry the sandwich on both sides until golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Grilled Crab & Cheese Sandwich's

2 tablespoons chipotle mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
Salt and pepper
1 can crabmeat, drained
4 slices sourdough or Italian bread
2 tablespoons butter

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, grated cheese, and salt and pepper, to taste. Add crabmeat to mayonnaise mixture and stir to combine. Spread crabmeat mixture on bread. Cover with a second piece of bread. Melt butter in a skillet or sandwich machine over medium heat. Add sandwich to cooking device and cook on both sides until golden brown.

Grilled Cheese & Pepperoni Pizza Sandwich's

2 slices mozzarella cheese
6 slices pepperoni
3 tablespoons pizza sauce
2 slices Italian bread
2 teaspoons parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons butter

Butter one side of each slice of bread. Sprinkle parmesan cheese onto buttered bread. Place one slice in a skillet or sandwich maker, butter side down. Top with the cheese, pepperoni, pizza sauce and second bread slice, butter side up. Sprinkle parmesan onto bread slice. Cook over medium heat until golden brown.

Gourmet Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

3 eggs
11/2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
1 1/4 teaspoons tarragon
1/4 teaspoon cracked ground pepper
8 slices of thick French bread
4 slices pepper jack cheese
4 slices Black Forrest ham
2 Tablespoons butter

In a medium bowl, lightly beat together the eggs, mustard, tarragon and pepper. Dip each bread slice into the egg mixture, making sure that both sides are thoroughly coated. In a large frying pan or griddle melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add the bread to the griddle. Cook until the undersides are golden brown. Turn slices and place 4 slices of cheese and one slice of ham on each of the four cooked slices of bread. Cover with the other four bread slices, placing the cooked side down over the cheese and ham. Continue grilling until the bottom sides of the bread are golden brown.

Mexican grilled cheese: Sprinkle chili powder or any type of taco seasoning lightly on each piece of bread before grilling.

Italian grilled cheese: Sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese lightly on each piece of bread before grilling.