Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Brie Grilled Cheese

As I get nearer to a due date, whether it's turning in a book or the launch of a book [TO BRIE OR NOT TO BRIE comes out next Tuesday!!!] I like to keep the cooking to a minimum. I don't want to make something with multiple steps (like last week's ganache). And I need comfort food.

I remember when I was a kid, one of my favorite comfort foods was grilled cheese. My mom always used American cheese and she served the sandwich with a cup of tomato soup. This was especially good whenever we visited Lake Tahoe and the days were cold.

Cold days...a blanket...soup and sandwich. Mmm-mmm good.

I've shared many grilled cheese recipes on Mystery Lover's Kitchen over the past two years. A grilled Irish Reuben. A grilled avocado and salmon made with Collier's Cheddar. We have a sizable collection of sandwich recipes in our recipe box (see it on the left)?

Brie happens to be one of the best melting cheeses. I remove the rind because there's something about grilled rind that just doesn't do it for me. If you like it, include it. But the cheese! Ooh, la, la, it's so scrumptious.

One of the tips to a good grilled cheese is using enough butter to coat the bread and enough cheese to make it all about the cheese. As my friend Marcella the Cheesemonger says, it's called a grilled CHEESE sandwich, not a grilled bread sandwich. Thanks to a tip I learned from Marcella, I use a tablespoon of cream cheese on the insides of the bread because it, too, melts well and encourages the other cheese to get cookin'!

So today, keeping it easy, I'd like to share my super-simple Brie grilled cheese. I've made this on homemade gluten-free bread, which was also easy because I used a mix. There's nothing like the aroma of fresh-baked bread, even gluten-free bread!

BY THE WAY, THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR A SUPER BOWL SNACK!!

BRIE GRILLED CHEESE
(for one)

Ingredients:
2 slices of your favorite bread
2-3 ounces of Brie cheese, rinds removed
1-2 tablespoons cream cheese
1-2 tablespoons butter
dash of salt, if desired

Directions:
Heat a skillet on medium-high. Butter the outside of the bread. Now spread the cream cheese on the other sides of the bread. Put both slices on the skillet, butter-side down. Lay the Brie cheese on top of the bread slices. Dash with salt, if desired.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Using a spatula, lift one side of the bread and lay on top of the other. Cook another minute. Flip and cook another minute. Do your best not to burn the bread. Cheese should ooze out the sides.  Remove from the skillet and serve warm.

What is your favorite comfort food?

I'm giving away your choice of the first three 
CHEESE SHOP MYSTERIES
 to one of today's commenters!

Say cheese!

* * * * * * *

The 4th in A Cheese Shop Mystery series: 
TO BRIE OR NOT TO BRIE
coming February 5th!

You can pre-order the book HERE. 
Click this link to watch the TRAILER
Click this link to read an EXCERPT.
Click this link to hear a PODCAST

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 so you can learn about upcoming events, releases, and contests!

Also, you probably know by now about my alter ego,
DARYL WOOD GERBER...and her new series
A COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERY series
debuts July 2013

"Like" Daryl's page on Facebook and "follow" Daryl on Twitter.
"She" doesn't say all the same things "Avery" does. Promise.

Say cheese!

***********







81 comments:

  1. I love cheese, brie especially. Unfortunately, I don't remember the cheese I used for a fantastic grilled cheese sandwich a while back. It was a "fancy" cheese and I used sourdough bread. Whatever the cheese I use I make my grilled cheese sandwiches on my George Foreman. I don't use butter, just bread and cheese (although sometimes I'll cook bacon and shove that inside once the cheese is melted!). Hmmm. I think I need to make this soon.

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    1. My sister has a George Forman. My husband just bought me a Hamilton Beach grill because in the Cookbook Nook series (book 2, yes, I'm already writing book 2) there's a grill fest and I'm going to focus on grilled foods. Fun!

      Avery / Daryl

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  2. is it the norm to have tomato soup with grilled cheese?

    My favorite comfort food is baked macaroni and cheese. Notice the cheese theme.

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    1. Hi, Dru. I adore mac and cheese. I do notice the theme. :) I mentioned a mac and cheese in the first Cheese Shop Mystery and a fan wrote and asked how to make it. I whipped up a batch and posted the recipe (it's on my website) and do you know it actually went viral? Molly Weston found it searching for recipes and was shocked (sweetly) that I had created it. Too funny.

      Avery / Daryl

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  3. When I make grilled cheese, I sprinkle a little parmesean cheese on the outside of the bread (homemade of course) before I grill it. That makes it even crispier. My daughter also adds a little garlic to the outside. I'll use two or three types of cheese depending what I have on hand to. Then it's either a certain kind of bread and butter pickle or bacon and tomato along with the cheese on the inside.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Sue, oooh. I like the idea of Parmesan on the outside. I adore simply grilled Parmesan. I add that to salads. Love these inspirations!

      And as Krista says, what's not to like about adding bacon...? LOL

      Avery / Daryl

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  4. It's the butter that gives the outside that nice crunch--there's no substitute for it. Your tip about the cream cheese is intriguing.

    I've never found a mac & cheese recipe that pleased me, although I keep trying. There's something about the ratio of sauce/cheese to noodles that I never get right. Suggestions?

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    1. Okay, Sheila, throwdown time. :) Go check out the 5-cheese mac and cheese recipe in our recipe catalogue and let me know what you think. Here's the link. This was the fan request I mentioned above.

      http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2010/08/fan-request.html

      Daryl / Avery

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  5. Oh boy, LUNCH!

    I love grilled cheese and mac and cheese more than anything, but I'm with Sheila, never quite get it right...

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    1. Oh, boy, let me know. I swear it's the best I've ever had and I'm trying to be modest. Also, GF people, I made mine with gluten-free macaroni. The sauce is GF. But that shouldn't stop any of the regular pasta eaters!

      Avery / Daryl

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  6. Any cheese is comfort food. Like Cleo's dip from yesterday. I would just eat it and not share. Grilled cheese love them. I also add the cream cheese. It give the sandwich a smoother taste. Now the grated parm on the outside. Have to give that a try. Yes my family will tell you I am a cheeseaholic if it is not in the recipe I would add it anyway.

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    1. Sandra, I'm with you. Cleo's dip looked amazing, didn't it? I've been meaning to make queso fundido. I also add cheese to lots of things, my salads, my soup. Love cheese. I'm not sure I'm an -aholic...but it is a fun word, isn't it? :)

      Daryl / Avery

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  7. I still love grilled cheese with velveta but I do add a slice of Swiss if I have it. A must addition is thin sliced/well drained bread and butter pickles! Even my grandkids add the pickles.

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    1. Karen, isn't that funny what we start with and, therefore, like for the rest of our lives? I remember buttered pickles on hamburgers and loving them. I don't really care for them in a grilled cheese, but I do like them on a burger. LOL

      ~Avery / Daryl

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  8. I'm ashamed to say I haven't eaten grilled cheese in a long time. But how could anyone go wrong with Brie? Oh, yum!

    ~ Krista

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    1. Ashamed? Why are you ashamed? You've got all those other delicious things to eat that you've been preparing for the past two-plus years! Do you realize we've been doing MLK for 2 and 1/2 years???? Wow. I can't believe how much cheese I've eaten in that amount of time. :)

      And still I love it.

      Avery / Daryl

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  9. This sounds like a YUMMY lunchtime meal. I have always LOVED grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. I also love this series. I will definitely be getting To Brie Or Not to Brie!...Now I'm hungry! I need to get some brie so I can try this! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Anonymous. Wish I knew your name. :) I'm thrilled that you love my series. Yay!

      Best,

      Avery

      Delete
  10. That looks very yummy. I wish I can remove it from the computer and eat it now! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Sally, cute, virtual food. I'm sure we'll have that one day in the future. LOL Easy to digest.

      Avery / Daryl

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  11. Grilled cheese is amazing with some soup on a cold day, total comfort.

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    1. Erin, I can even eat this combo on a hot day with air conditioning. :)

      Avery

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  12. Besides mac and cheese, I love my mom's tried and true tuna noodle casserole recipe with lots of cheese on top! Pure comfort for me.

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    1. Suzze, my mother loved making a tuna noodle casserole. I haven't had one in years because I can't find gluten-free noodles. {There are plenty of other pastas, just not those.] I bet I could cut up GF lasagna noodles. What do you think? Lots of cheese on top!

      Avery / Daryl

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  13. Mac and cheese is the go-to comfort food around here! Seriously sharp cheddar by Cabot makes it fabulous. (vplus10@earthlink.net)

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  14. Bring on the grilled cheese! It's a comfort food for me, too, and I've never tried it with Brie, but I will now, thanks to you.

    Wonderful tip on using cream cheese to improve the flavor/texture of any grilled cheese sandwich. Will definitely try that. Exciting countdown for you this week. Fun contest today. Good luck, everyone!

    ~ Cleo

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    1. Thanks, Cleo. I have to admit I was a little leery about the cream cheese. It seemed to "lessen" the idea of fancy cheese, but it really works. Creamy smooth. I suppose if someone wanted to step that up a notch, one could use mascarpone. :)

      Thanks for the support! To Brie or not to Brie, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler...

      Avery / Daryl

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    2. Re: the cream cheese--What about a plain or herbed fresh goat cheese? Similar creaminess with an extra punch.

      Delete
    3. I would think herb cheese would be fabulous!! I adore the garlicky ones .
      Avery

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  15. My favorite comfort food is macaroni and cheese! or just cheese or cheese and peanut butter. so basically anything with cheese!

    robin (dot )nichole79 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Robin, cheese and peanut butter? Okay, I have not tried that. You've got me thinking, however. Sweet and salty. Why not? Hmmm. Experimentation time.

      Avery / Daryl

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    2. YES!!! I survived college with the peanut butter and cheese crackers from the vending machine. Now a favorite breakfast is toasted homemade bread with peanut butter and sharp cheddar.

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    3. You know, Libby, now that I think of it, I have had this combo. Not the crackers but I made a kid-friendly peanut butter and cheese with sliced apples on raisin bread. It was a recipe in THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE. Silly me to forget.

      Avery

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  16. I love Grilled Cheese sandwiches and this has made me very hungry and it's only 8:32 am! It's my husbands birthday today and his favorite food is Mac and Cheese - and grilled cheese sandwiches. Guess what we are having for dinner tonight?

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    1. Karen, happy birthday to your hubby! May he have a great day, a great meal, and may you enjoy every moment with him.

      Avery / Daryl

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  17. Lot of great ideas on here! I will be sure to try the parmesan on the outside, & the cream cheese inside, etc! If I'm making them with American, Velveeta, or sharp cheese, I put a little bit of mustard in on top of the cheese. And almost always, served with tomato soup :) Thanks for all the great ideas!

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    1. Audrey, I enjoy a tad of mustard, as well. Gives it a zing. Glad you enjoyed the post.

      Best,

      Avery / Daryl

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  18. My favorite comfort food is chocolate. It cures anything.
    Sandy Smith

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    Replies
    1. Chocolate. Definitely. Have you tried it with chocolate? Last Valentine's I put together a dark chocolate and cheddar platter. It served as an appetizer and dessert. Delish!

      I've got the "recipe" on my website.

      Avery / Daryl

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  19. Cheese....Food of the goddesses!

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    1. Oooh, Marie, does that make me a goddess? Does it make us all goddesses? I think it must. Thanks for the thrill.

      Avery / Daryl

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  20. You have really hit a nerve here! Look at all the comments.
    My mother-in-law made wonderful grilled cheese sandwiches. She used a Kraft sliced cheese that doesn't exist anymore. It was basically American cheese, but thicker (therefore cheesier) and with more of a cheddar taste, rather than bland American.
    Oh, yes, and tomato soup. The perfect combination.

    ReplyDelete
  21. My favorite comfort food is this recipe for cherry cheesecake that I make. It's very simple and easy. It's delicious and my family loves it. If I was stranded on a deserted island I would want to bring a lifetime supply with me.
    I've always wanted to learn to make cheesecake. Very excited to read your cheese shop mysteries. Would love to win.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. T: I shared a cherry cheesecake recipe during the holidays. I ADORE cheesecake!!!
      Avery

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  22. MMMM cheese. I've got some brie in the fridge---I know what I'm having for lunch today.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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    1. Sue, isn't it fun how long cheese lasts so you can dine on impromptu suggestions? Love it.
      Avery/Daryl

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  23. Pepper Jack cheese on rye bread with mustard, no butter (but I think garlic butter would be tasty) made on the George Forman grill. My version of a pannini. Also prefer Tomato Rice soup over plain. Trying to cut back on sodium, so stretch the can of soup with water as directed, but also add low sodium red pepper and tomato soup.

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    1. Barbara, pepper jack is a super choice!! On rye sounds intriguing.
      Avery

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  24. My venison chili recipe and chewy brownies. Mmmmmmm

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    Replies
    1. Candace, I'm assuming the brownies are separate from the chili. ROFL!!! ;)
      Avery

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  25. I love grilled cheese sandwiches especially with cream of tomato soup!! Followed by a bowl of chocolate mint chip ice cream with chocolate syrup! ;-) Yummy!!!
    Robin in NC
    RW620 AT aol DOT com

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    1. Oh, RW, I love chocolate mint ice cream. I don't believe I've ever added chocolate syrup. Yum.

      Avery

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  26. Oooh lots of ideas thrown out here. Me - my favorite is rye bread with cheese for toasted cheese sandwiches. My tomato soup I add milk to it - pepper- and chopped up hard boiled eggs. Another thing sometime I put a slice of sweet bologna on the cheese sandwiches to. The juices from the meat are so yummy .

    amhengst at verizon dot net

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    1. Ann, you add eggs to your soup? Hmmm. I've never done that. But why not? And you get the extra protein.

      Bologna - just good by itself, isn't it? And salami, and...

      Must be close to dinner time.

      Avery

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  27. My sister-in-law turned me on to grilled mozzerela (sp) sandwiches and they are yummy! Sometime I'll mix cheeses or put in a slice of tomato. Fried egg with cheese grilled sandwiches are awesome also.

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    1. Toni, I like fried egg with cheese grilled sandwiches. Your own home version of fast food and such nice contrast of texture. Now, let's add bacon!

      Avery

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  28. Macaroni and cheese for comfort.

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    Replies
    1. Liz, what do we think it is? The gooey-ness? The flavor? The fact we can eat it with a spoon? Yum!

      Avery / Dayl

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  29. I love and potatoes and cheese soup. So good.

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    1. Kiki, I made a potato and cheese soup recently - posted it in November. It was fabulous. Again, there's something about eating foods with a spoon or our fingers. I think that about sums it up.

      Say cheese!

      Avery / Daryl

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  30. I love grilled cheese and tomato soup! It is so wonderful. Home made tomato soup is best, though.

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    1. Bloggingmom, I agree, homemade is best. I have what I consider a terrific recipe for homemade tomato soup coming up soon on the blog. :)

      Best,

      Avery

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  31. True comfort food..... Yummmm.....

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  32. My favorite comfort food is a toss up between grilled cheese or mac and cheese. Or on certain days my favorite comfort food is a glass of Pinot Grigio and an assortment of cheeses.

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    Replies
    1. Booklady, I like your taste. Wine and cheese, definitely! And so easy.

      Avery / Daryl

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  33. Grilled cheese for me, too. I like sprinkling different herbs on the bread before grilling. Sometimes pepper, other times oregano, basil, garlic powder...whatever sounds good. Always using various cheeses, but the best i is cheese from my friend's farm in Ohio. Grass fed cows and goats make her farm fresh cheese delicious.

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    1. Lizardo, which farm in Ohio? Does she sell her cheeses? You know my series is set in Holmes County, right? Charlotte (the protagonist, cheese shop owner) is dating a cheese farmer.

      I love herbs on cheese. Yummy!

      Avery

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  34. Macaroni and Cheese, Meatloaf with mashed potatoes or Chicken and Dumplings. All favorite comfort foods for me. Thank you Cleo Coyle for introducing me to Avery Aames and the Cheese Shop Mysteries.

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    1. RobinLynn, all great meals. There's a restaurant near me in Los Angeles that offers all those foods. Oh, yum. Meatloaf...one of my silly passions.

      So glad you like my mysteries. Thank you, Cleo, for introducing her. :)

      Avery / Daryl

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  35. I recently found a Cherry Butter that is great with Brie cheese. I think it would be great on a grilled cheese sandwich.

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    1. Oooh, Susie, that sounds great!! Jam and cheese are so good. Cherry butter? Yum. I love apple butter. Who makes the cherry butter? Just wondering.

      Best,

      Avery

      Delete
  36. My favorite comfort food is a glass of cold milk. It goes with everything else!

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  37. My favorite comfort food is home-made baked potato soup with lots of shredded cheese and crumbled bacon! YUM!

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    1. Oh, yeah, Maggi, I love that too. Love that cheese and bacon. Add some chopped green onions for an extra punch. Yum.

      Avery / Daryl

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  38. Grilled goat cheese and tomato slices! Best comfort food I've had in a long time!

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  39. Nice, Beverly. Bet it has a bite to it. Goat cheese melts so well!

    Avery

    ReplyDelete