A Really Nice Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Lucy Burdette

 

LUCY BURDETTE: when I go to lunch with a friend or family member, my eyes are not drawn to fancy things on the menu. If there is a tuna melt, or a turkey Reuben, or a grilled cheese, I find these impossible to resist. While I was imagining a recipe for the blog today, I realized that I had the ingredients for a really good grilled cheese sandwich. You’ll see from the photograph, that I’m lucky to have a tomato from John’s garden, arugula and whole grain bread from the farmers market, and cheese from our local cheese shop. And butter, you must have butter!

Forthwith are the ingredients for one delicious grilled cheese. Of course you can multiply the quantities to serve more but I am deep into edits on a manuscript so I didn’t have time to spare to host or go to lunch.

Two slices good whole grain bread

One small ripe tomato

One handful fresh arugula

Some slices of sharp cheddar (my favorite is Prairie Breeze from the local cheese shop, which I buy by the pound. Made in Iowa.)

Wash and dry the arugula. Wash and slice the tomato. Slice the cheddar cheese.

In a small frying pan, melt a pat of butter. Lay one of the slices of bread in the melted butter, and layer this with tomato, cheese, and arugula, in that order. Add the second slice of bread on top.

Cook at medium heat until you can see the cheese beginning to ooze out of the sides of the sandwich. Carefully flip, adding a little more butter if it looks necessary. The top slice of bread should be nicely brown. Cook a few more minutes until everything is melted together. Remove to a plate and cut in half.

Enjoy!

Here’s my recipe for a turkey reuben 

And here’s my tuna melt 

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A Delicious Deception has a slightly different tone than some of the earlier books, with more emphasis on family, but I loved it just as much as the rest of the series. Ms. Burdette has created characters who have grown in such natural, believable ways. She delivers an excellent mystery while also weaving in a major, emotional turning point in their lives. There is drama, murder, secrets, late-pregnancy feelings and hormones, a sick father-in-law, home renovations, a fun baby shower, and friends and family ready to tackle whatever comes their way. And in the end, a beautiful baby! Escape with Dollycas

This cozy mystery expertly balances personal stakes with a fast-paced plot in a consistent Burdette fashion. It’s a suspenseful, heart-filled addition to the series that proves Hayley is just as effective at solving crimes as she is at critiquing menus. Netgalley reviewer

Book 15 in the Key West series, paperback edition of THE MANGO MURDERS, is in bookstores now!

USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette writes the Key West food critic mystery series including A POISONOUS PALATE and A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS. Join her mailing list right here.