If you are anything like me, you are thinking “What? 150 different ways to make a grilled cheese sandwich?" I thought there was only one and that was the classic way - two slices of bread, buttered on the outside, with a slice of cheese 
in between and then grill. Well, in 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches by Alison Lewis I certainly learned differently.
For the purpose of the review, we are asked to test three recipes and the first one I chose was “Grilled Goat Cheese and Figs.” Using raisin bread, fig jam, and goat cheese, grilled the usual way, made this a delightful dish. The raisin bread grilled very nicely and the goat cheese melted while blending into the jam. Very, very good!
The second recipe I tested was “Southern-Style Gilled Cheese.” Using sourdough slices with a filling of mayonnaise, cooked bacon, cooked collard greens, sliced tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and provolone slices made the sandwich to live for! I served these sandwiches with a green side salad and the meal ended up being a hit. (Be sure the greens are well drained though!)
The third recipe I tested was “Strawberry and Mascarpone Sandwich.” Using fresh sliced strawberries and mascarpone cheese sweetened with honey for the filling, it made the Italian bread sing after grilling. The sandwiches were sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar before serving which made this a very tasty and different desert. My guests loved the simple, yet fun desert.
There are so many more recipes I’m going to make, i.e., “Eggplant and Pesto Grilled Cheese,” “Roast Beef with Asiago and Watercress,” and “Grilled Salmon and Gorgonzola.” Yes, these are all a form of grilled cheese sandwiches.
Alison Lewis, in 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches gives us a new perspective on the traditional grilled cheese sandwich. Each can be grilled in a skillet (I use a cast iron one) or a Panini grill. If you are wanting to experience eating beyond the college-type grilled cheese sandwich, then I urge you to invest in this cookbook. You will not only have a lot of fun, you will experience yummy sandwiches beyond the classics.
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