Jamie’s Grilled Cheese from The Scottish Prisoner
Breakfast was even more cursory than supper had been, though Jamie toasted two pieces of bread with cheese between, so that the cheese melted, something Grey hadn’t seen before but thought very tasty. Quinn mounted up without comment afterward and headed back to the road.
Grey sat on a moss-covered rock, watching until the Irishman had got well away, then swiveled back to face Fraser, who was tidily rolling up a pair of stocking into a ball.
“I woke up last night,” he said without preamble.
Fraser stuffed the stocking into his portmanteau and reached for the heel of bread, which followed the stockings.
“Did you,” he said, not looking up.
“Yes. One question – does Mr. Quinn know the nature of our business with Siverly?”
Fraswer hesitated a moment before answering.
“Probably not.” He looked up, eyes a startlingly deep blue. “If he does, he didna hear it from me.”
Diana Gabaldon, The Scottish Prisoner (Chapter 16 – Tower House)
It’s hard to imagine a time before toasted/grilled cheese sandwiches, and yet, there was.
Fast forward 200+ years and here we are, near the end of National Grilled Cheese Month — at least in the States. But as I’m in Canada, and I know there’s more than a few of you in other places, I propose we make it an international celebration of cheese in toast…because, really…is there anyone, anywhere (excepting those with a dairy allergy) who doesn’t love melted cheese between 2 crunchy, buttery pieces of bread?
I thought not.
My grilled cheese breakfast sandwich is a little more elaborate than the one Jamie made LJ — but then again, I’m not an 18th C prisoner, forced to travel against his will, on limited rations. My spoiled, 21st C self can afford to be a little more creative.
I used day-old foccacia bread and filled it with grated aged cheddar, bacon, tomato jam and a light spreading of mayonnaise and then toasted it on a grill pan with a small cast iron frying pan on top as a panini weight. (That helps the cheese to melt evenly and it also gives the bread good grill marks.)
On the weekend, I might add a fried egg in there too.
What’s your favourite grilled cheese?
Yum yum. I like to put an egg on mine!
that sounds like my type of breakfast sandwich, Deniz!
My taste in grilled cheese is fairly basic, but I do like to use homemade herb wheat bread when I can. My favorite way to do them is to spread a bit of mustard on one side of the inner surface before putting the cheese (preferably a cheddar) on and then sprinkling a bit of parsley and garlic powder over the cheese before forming and toasting the sandwich. I agree that weighing it down with a heavy pot is almost a must-do, though. I am going to have to try the bacon with one in the future; that sounds excellent.
I ran across an excellent recipe a few months back for a four-cheese grilled cheese and when I tried it I was very pleased with the flavor (it called for cheddar, parmesan, swiss and mozzarella). Frankly it was a bit much for a day-to-day sandwich but made a pleasant change of pace for a more-special-than-usual sort of day. It used a sliced sourdough bread that gave a very nice flavor to the sandwich.
I had mine for dinner with chicken, pepper-jack, chard, and peppercinis with a side of your cold-oil fries and a Dana Stabenow short-story—an author whose well-read character has also fallen in love with Jamie Fraser.
Ooh, I’m intrigued, Laura! Would you recommend it?
Intrigued by the food or the book? :) The sandwich was awesome and I would absolutely recommend Stabenow’s books. So has Herself http://www.dianagabaldon.com/resources/the-methadone-list/methadone-list-dana-stabenow/
I found 2 of her books for free on kindle…thanks for the tip, Laura!
Ha I have a dairy allergy (mind you not as severe as some people) but I love my cheese lol I think the fanciest I’ve gotten with mine though is just bacon, cheddar and onions lol
Here in America, we’re so obsessed with grilled cheeses, people publish new recipes in magazines. My absolute favorite is equal parts Fontina, fresh Mozzarella and Asiago. So yummy!
When I worked at Friendly’s, back in High School, the smell of melting cheese and grilled bread used to inspire me to come home and make grilled cheddar with salami…SO DAMN GOOD. In fact, now I want one. I might forgo my brown-bagged lunch and go downstairs for a panini instead ;) Tomorrow is payday after all!
sounds like a plan to me, Lee Ann!
Good strong cheddar and Branston Pickle… Mouth watering just at the thought.
now mine is too…that would do verra nicely for lunch. :)
That looks yummy! Where do you get your bacon? It looks really good too!
Shannon, this is Red Barn bacon, from Saanich on Vancouver Island. Ethically raised, double smoked and super delicious.
Has to be REAL cheese, first of all… then lots of homemade chutney or onion relish on the side.
there seem to be a few of us chutney/relish/pickle lovers around here! Yum.
YUM!!! I have to try this recipe!!!! looks easy enough even for me to try!!! THANK YOU again for this! you are doing such a wonderful job!
You’ve got me blushing, Gisela! Thank you!
I LOVE the tip about using a cast iron pan to weigh down the bread for even grilling- This is one of my favorites for sure!
Like I said…it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese!
I like bacon and avacado in mine. Thanks for the reminder of LJ and Jamie, I like it when they are together.
That sounds super tasty, Aaron! Yes…they make good buds. I think so too.
I tend to do meunster cheese, feta and homemade pesto in between two thick slices of rye with parmesean butter. Is there a recipe for the tomato jam? Sounds amazing, but the link leads to Jocasta’s Munchies!
Chelsea..that is some great sounding grilled cheese! And yes, there is a recipe for the tomato jam…the link is now fixed! :)