Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Though it seems like it should be the other way around, grilled cheese sandwiches are actually predated a few years by a more complicated sandwich known as the "cheese dream"—a composition of sliced bread, cheese, bacon, tomato, and a few other optional ingredients.

The cheese dream has its origins smack in the middle of the Roaring '20s. Sliced bread and heavily preserved cheeses were just finding their way into the food industry in 1928, and, as the US sunk into depression during the '30s, the cheap ingredients proved to compliment each other nicely.

Prep: 5 min | Cooking: 5 min | Total: 10 min

Makes 1 sandwich

INGREDIENTS

• Butter (1 1/2 tbsp, divided)

• Mayonnaise (1/2 tbsp)

• Batard or ciabatta bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick (2 slices)

• Provolone cheese, shredded (1/2 cup)

• Muenster cheese, shredded (1/2 cup)

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a skillet using medium heat.

2. Soften 1/2 tbsp butter in a microwave. Spread butter on one side of one slice of bread, and spread mayonnaise on one side of the other slice.

3. Lay provolone and muenster cheeses on one slice of bread and press the other down on top (so that the butter sides are both facing inward).

4. Place the sandwich on the skillet and grill until bottom is golden brown. Flip and fry the other side until golden brown as well (it will take less time on the second side). Remove sandwich from heat and serve immediately.