How to jazz up a grilled cheese

Well, spring break is here and kids are home looking for something to munch on all day long. One of my favorite snack foods is grilled cheese. There are so many ways to change it and jazz it up. Try some of these along with a cup of tomato soup or a bowl of chili. Take care and I’ll be seeing you around…Agnes

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

(For each sandwich: 2 slices of bread, 1/2 tablespoon soft butter and 1 slice Cheddar cheese.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Butter one side of 1 slice of bread for each sandwich and place butter side down on baking sheet. Arrange cheese on each slice of bread. Spread butter on one side of the second slice of bread and place buttered side up on top of the cheese. Bake in hot oven for a few minutes. Turn sandwich over and bake until golden brown.

Grilled Cheese Pizza Sandwich

(For each sandwich)

1 tablespoon butter, 2 slices of bread, 3 tablespoons pizza sauce, 1 slice good Mozzarella and 6 slices of pepperoni.

Butter each slice of bread on one side. Top with the pizza sauce, cheese slice and pepperoni. Add some more pizza sauce and the remaining slice of bread, buttered side up. Cook, turning only once. Serve with additional sauce for dipping.

BTC (bacon, tomato and cheese)

(For each sandwich)

3 slices cooked bacon, tomato slices, 1 slice white cheddar, ½ tablespoon butter and 2 slices bread. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Put one slice buttered side down, top with cheese and place the remaining slice of bread, buttered side up. Cook until toasted and cheese is melted. Immediately separate slices and place on the bacon slices and tomato slices on the melted cheese on one slice and top with the remaining slice, plain side up. Serve immediately.

Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Egg

(For each sandwich)

Butter 2 slices of bread on one side. Place one slice buttered side down and top with Canadian bacon and 1 egg cooked until yellow is no longer runny. Top with a slice of cheese and the remaining slice of bread, buttered side up. Cook until golden, turn and cook until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

And different…but a favorite of everyone…

Taco Salad

In a large rectangular dish, layer the following:

1 can (15 ounce) black beans, drained and washed

4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (or mix)

¼ cup sliced pitted black olives

¼ cup sliced green onions

Mix the following and spread over the top of salad:

1 (6 ounce) carton avocado dip

½ cup sour cream

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chili peppers

1 tablespoon milk

½ tsp chili powder

Sprinkle 2 large tomatoes that has been seeded and chopped, over all. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Meat sauce:

1 pound hamburger, browned and drained. Add:

1 package taco mix and prepare according to package directions

To serve: Toss salad mixture with 2 cups crushed Tortilla chips. Divide meat mixture into 6 deep soup plates. Divide the salad mixture and put on top of meat mixture. Top with a little salsa and a spoon of sour cream. Serve with more chips.

Recipe for Laughter:

Sad News from Minnesota:

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch.

The gravesite was piled high with flours. Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.

Born and bred in Minnesota, Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes.

Despite being a little flaky at times, he was a crusty old man who was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, and three children, John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

If you smiled while reading this, please rise to the occasion and pass it on to someone having a crumby day and kneading a lift. You may have a degree of suspicion this could have been done by a cereal killer but that rumor turned out to be half baked. A little levity for the day!

HHJ News