BLOG #23
It’s lunchtime. That’s right, it’s the best time of the day. The sandwich is the staple of any lunchtime meal. You don’t want to mess that up. Are you sick of the standard ham and cheese sandwich or the ordinary grilled cheese? It’s time to spice things up.
I will break down how to make a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. Here are all the ingredients you will need to wow your taste buds:
Two slices of your bread of choice, (pumpernickel, rye, sourdough, wheat, or white)
1. Cheese, the more the cheesier (provolone, swiss, cheddar)
2. Thinly sliced tomatoes
3. Diced red onion
4. Brown sugar
5. Raspberry preservatives
6. Apple cider vinegar
7. Cold-cut of choice (chicken breast, turkey, ham, bacon)
8. Olive oil
9. Butter
10. Frying pan, pan lid
First, we are going to make an onion jam. The first you want to do is dice up half a red onion. Prep the frying pan with some olive oil and set your heat to medium-high. Once the pan is hot, pour in the diced onions. Cook them for 5-10 minutes on medium-high and then lower the heat low medium-low. Add a little bit of brown sugar and a spoonful of that raspberry preserve. Then add a few spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar to balance the sweetest levels. You can also use a vinaigrette dressing as a substitute. Mix the pan and let the flavors break down and caramelize. Taste the jam and add sugar or vinegar ingredients until you have a nice balance. Let the jam cook on low heat for another 5-10 minutes and put it aside in a bowl for later.
While the jam is cooking you can also prep the rest of your ingredients. Slice your tomatoes, put aside your desired amount of cheese, bread, and meat. Clean your pan and reset the heat to medium-high. Once the pan is hot, melt butter on the pan and toast one side of the bread. Once one side of the bread is golden brown, flip the bread over so the toasted side is facing up.
Now it’s time for the best part. Building the sandwich! Layer your sandwich with cheese and meat. Take the second piece of toast off the pan and spread on the onion jam. Once all your ingredients on layered on the bottom piece of toast cover the pan with a lid and lower the heat to medium-low. This will help to speed up the melting process. After 2-3 minutes, remove the lid and place the sandwich on your plate. Add your tomato slice and cover the sandwich with your onion jam toast. Cut the sandwich corner to corner, restaurant style for the best aesthetic. Grab a handful of your favorite chips and a cold beer. The perfect lunch is ready and will need about 10 minutes of your mouth-watering attention. Be prepared to take a half-hour nap upon completion. This quality of sandwich is capable of putting anyone into a food-coma! Enjoy!
Feel free to revise the ingredients list and have fun experimenting. When making a gourmet sandwich, there are endless possibilities. Happy eating!
– Jake Beman