Perfect Grilled Cheese

Just right for any meal and any family member. Here's how to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. This toasty, melty sandwich and a bowl of soup may become your favorite comfort food!

Sliced bread. I prefer a whole-grain.

Sliced or shredded cheese. Whatever you like. Anything from plain old American to a nice sharp cheddar is good.

Butter or butter substitute. I prefer salted butter. Slightly softened.

Griddle or flat pan

Butter knife

Spatula

Optional extras include tomato, mustard, pickles, etc.

Set your griddle on 350°. If you're using a flat pan set the heat on medium. Don't use any oil or butter in the pan or on the griddle.

Take two slices of bread facing each other. Keep the two slices together. Lightly butter one side of the bed on the outside of your sandwich. Keeping the slices together, turn over and butter the other outside piece. Make sure you spread the butter all the way to the edges.

Make as many sets of butter-on-the-outside sandwiches as you will need. I make one sandwich per person.

Open each sandwich up and put the cheese inside. Put the top slice back on. (The cheese touches only the unbuttered insides of the bread.)

Note: If you are adding anything additional like sliced tomatoes or pickles, add them now.

Turn the griddle heat down to 325 degrees or your burner to med-low.

Place the uncooked sandwiches on the hot dry griddle. You'll hear them start to sizzle right away, because of the butter. Yum! Cook until the side on the griddle is nice and toasty and the cheese inside is just starting to melt.

Wait until the two slices of bread are just barely sticking together (about 4 - 6 minutes). Then turn the sandwich over with a spatula.

Continue cooking the other side until it's toasty and golden brown and the cheese is completely melted. This could take about six minutes or more. Be patient. It's extra tasty if you wait.

Crispy and slightly buttery outside. Melty, cheesy inside.

Add a bowl of tomato soup or a salad and enjoy!