A Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Jam

No matter who you are or where you live, chances are that a warm grilled cheese is a favorite meal of yours for a relaxed evening.

All ages adore grilled cheese. Its gooey, yummy, creamy goodness is the stuff of miracles - a complete comfort meal.

Moms everywhere swear by them. They order grilled cheese sandwiches for their children at restaurants and diners, and create their own versions of this favorite meal at home. 

Did You Know?

During WWII, cooks for the US Navy made countless grilled cheese sandwiches for the officers. They loved them!

The invention of “processed cheese” slices made this dish extremely easy and fast to make. (Thanks, Kraft!) 

A grilled cheese sandwich contains tons of calcium and other nutrients that are beneficial to your health, like: vitamins, minerals, and protein. These help build bone density and muscle mass, as well as strengthening your teeth. 

So your Mom wasn’t lying - they are good for you!

The History of Grilled Cheese

Do you ever wonder who invented grilled cheese? 

According to the popular website How Stuff Works, grilled cheese is as old as time itself. 

“While similar recipes are mentioned in Ancient Roman texts — and, let's face it, the French have been making their famous croque monsieurs since the early 1900s — today's notion of the grilled cheese is commonly traced back to the 1920s, when Otto Frederick Rohwedder, considered "the father of sliced bread," invented a bread slicer that made distributing white bread easy and affordable.”

So clearly, a grilled cheese sandwich is a wonderful addition to your family meal planning. You can keep things classic, or add your own unique twists.

Sprucing Up Your Grilled Cheese

Some of the finest dining establishments have grilled cheese sandwiches on their menus. Sometimes they are served “open faced”, while usually it is served “closed” with a side of fries.

If you are wandering what to add to a grilled cheese, here are some clever ways to embellish your grilled cheese:

• Add bacon (yumm!)
• Add tomatoes or quick tomato jam (double yumm!)
• Mix different gourmet cheeses for a unique and creamy blend
• Add garlic butter
• Add caramelized onions
• Add meats, like sliced turkey or ham
• Add fresh fig spread

The options for grilled cheese additions are really endless, as well as many choices for what goes well with grilled cheese.

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese 

TBJ Gourmet has created this fabulous grilled cheese recipe for you that adds their amazing new Spiced Tomato Jam. They’ve shaken up an old fashioned tomato jam recipe, and it is divine. 

The oozy goodness will knock your socks off, and have your family smiling ear-to-ear. If you are seeking new and exciting tomato jam uses, or wondering what to do with tomato jam, this recipe is for you. 

Grilled Cheese with Spiced Tomato Jam Recipe

Here is how to spice up a grilled cheese with tomato jam:

Ingredients:

• Soft Brioche bread, sliced.
• Cheese of choice, sliced (we suggest a nice, young cheddar)
• Garlic herb butter
• Sweet and Savory Tomato Jam from TBJ
• Mayonnaise

Directions:

Sandwich prep:

1. Spread Savory tomato jam on both inside sides of sliced bread. 
2. Place thick slices of cheese on one side of bread.
3. Close the sandwiches.
4. Lightly spread mayonnaise on the outside slices of bread.

Cooking:

1. Warm the pan.
2. Place herbed butter directly on the pan, not on the bread itself. 
3. Place sandwiches in a pan. Gently press down with a spatula. 
4. Flip sides once or twice to aid in melting cheese and to ensure even toasting.
5. Remove from the pan and slice the sandwiches diagonally.

This recipe is really delicious! 

Serve this gourmet grilled cheese with jam sandwich with seasoned fries (yes, go ahead and use frozen fries! Toss them with a bit of salt, pepper and dill.)

Last Bite 

Everyone loves a convenient and easy dish to make for lunch and dinner. A grilled cheese sandwich is simple to make, and very affordable. 

The comfort of a simple grilled cheese sandwich can not be understated. It's warm-your-soul goodness is perfect in any weather, at any age, on any day of the week.

If you are wondering what to make with grilled cheese, serve the above smoky tomato jam TBJ recipe with: seasoned fries, delicious warm soups, gourmet potato chips, and more. 

Bon Appétit!