April is National Grilled Cheese Month! With so many breads and cheeses to choose from, grilled cheese should be gourmet! Plenty of people like are adding meats and veggies to grilled cheeses, but so much more can be done.

Last week, in preparation for this post, I polled a large group of 14-16 year-olds and asked them a very simple question, “What would be in your ultimate grilled cheese sandwich?”  Most of them stared at me quite puzzled, so I explained, “If you could make a grilled cheese sandwich with ANYTHING your heart desired, describe that sandwich. Tell me about the bread; what kind of cheese(s); does it have meat and veggies on it?”  At that point, feverishly writing, they included a variety and complexity of ingredients that would make any chef proud. But it made me wonder, “Have these kids ever had a grilled cheese beyond plain white bread and plastic wrapped singles?”

So What Do Teens Like Their Grilled Cheese Sandwiches???
Aside from everyone wanting bacon, the list was quite extensive…Swiss Cheese, Fried Pickles, Spaghetti, Crushed Potato Chips, Scalloped Potatoes, French Toast, Poached Eggs, Camembert, Chili Beans, Sourdough Bread, Hashbrowns, Ramen Noodle “Bread”, Nacho Cheese, Ranch Dressing, Spinach, Carne Arrachera, Banana Peppers, and of course…more bacon!

As entertaining as I’m sure it would be to have a grilled cheese with fried pickles, potato chips, and ranch dressing, I don’t think my stomach could handle such…decadence.  No, this ultimate grilled cheese is for my husband, full of pulled pork, smoked Gouda, and a thick cherry-bourbon jam.

Ingredients:
Cherry-Bourbon  Jam
1 lb frozen black sweet cherries
1/3 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. bourbon
1 TBSP cornstarch

Pork
Slow Roasted Pulled Pork (2 oz. per sandwich)

Cheese
Sliced Smoked Gouda (3 oz. per sandwich)

Condiment

Slawsa (cabbage/slaw relish similar to southern chow-chow) (2 TBSP per sandwich)

Bread
Quality Italian Bread (2 slices/sandwich)

Directions:

In a sauce pan, combine cherries, brown sugar, bourbon, and cornstarch.  Cook on medium heat until thick and bubbly, stirring frequently to break down cherries.  Remove from heat and cool.

to Assemble
Place 3 slices of smoked gouda onto each slice of bread.  Top the bottom layer with 2 TBSP cherry jam, pulled pork, and 2 TBSP Slawsa.  Place on sandwich top.  Brush sandwich with melted butter.  Grill at 325-350 degrees for 3-5 minutes.  Flip and repeat.  If bread is browning too quickly, reduce heat.  Grill until cheese melts.

Sunday Supper Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipes

Not You Average ‘Wiches

• Inside Out BBQ Ribs Grilled Cheese by The Freshman Cook
• Mozzarella Stick Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Life Tastes Good
• Potato Patty Grilled Cheese Bites by Sunday Supper Movement
• Ramen Grilled Cheese by Palatable Pastime

Protein Filled ‘Wiches

• Avocado Bacon Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Crazed Mom
• Bacon Cheddar Grilled Chip Butty by Tramplingrose
• Grilled Dill Havarti and Salmon by My World Simplified
• Grilled Liz Lemon Sandwich by Cricket’s Confections
• How to Make Reuben Paninis by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Shrimp and Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Sprinkles and Sprouts

Sweet and Savory ‘Wiches

• Applewood Gouda and Pear Grilled Cheese by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Bacon, Apple, Brie Panini by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Monte Cristo with Fresh Blackberry Sauce by A Mind “Full” Mom

Veggie Loaded ‘Wiches

• Apricot Poblano Grilled Cheese Sandwich by My Life Cookbook
• Arugula Basil Pesto Grilled Cheese by Helpful Homemade
• Caprese Grilled Eggplant Roll Ups by Caroline’s Cooking
• Grilled Brie With Smoky Portobellos and Caramelized Onions by Simple and Savory

Dessert ‘Wiches

• Banana FluffaNutella Grilled Cheese by Soulfully Made
• Strawberry French Toast Grilled Cheese by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• The Ultimate Doughnut Grilled Cheese by Pies and Plots

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