A Rite of Passage: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
There is a rite of passage in our family of foodies that perhaps goes back generations. The culinary journey begins when the little one is old enough to kneel on a kitchen stool, reach the counter, and be able to help pour ingredients into the bowl. From this comes practice not only in cooking, but also counting, measuring, fine motor control, and of course good communication and manners. But when that same child grows a little taller and has a longer reach, when s/he can stand up tall on the step stool, when an awareness of danger-caution (especially when it comes to hot appliances) is realized, then the next step is the making of Grilled Cheese.
Today, the second member of the Junior MHC members made Grilled Cheese on her own (fully supervised, of course, with plenty reminders of safety). She made 3 sandwiches and served them as lunch to Mom, Gregory her brother, and herself (Dad was advising a Graduate student over lunch this afternoon and thus wasn't able to be home for lunch today).
Jr. MHC Madeleine's directions for making Old Fashion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches follow:
Old Fashioned Grilled Cheese
serves 3
6 slices of white bread
3 slices of cheese
butter
Butter 1 side of each slice of bread with slightly melted butter.
SMILE as you cook.
When 2 slices of bread are buttered, put them butter sides toward each other to avoid getting butter on anything else.
Next, open the cheese. Use "real" cheese for the best flavor (not American processed cheese food). Here the MHC Jr. uses pre-sliced co-jack, her personal favorite.
Place one piece of cheese on the unbuttered side of the bread.
Place both slices of bread (the one with the cheese and the one without) butter side down on a 325 degree griddle or frying pan.
Wait patiently (yes, cooking teaches patience...)
After a minute or two, gently life the corners of each slice of bread to check the progress. Look for any signs of burning.
When each slice is golden, flip the without-cheese slice of (now toasted) bread onto the cheesed slice. Let it sit on the grill for another 1-2 minutes to make sure that the cheese has completely melted.
Place on a plate.
Cut, garnish and serve.
"And there you have it!" she says.
