Cheddar Crusted Grilled Cheese

I'm fairly certain that it's common knowledge that melting cheese between two slices of bread makes a grilled cheese. 🧀🍞 What's not common knowledge is that you can melt cheese between the bread AND toast even more cheese on the outside of the sandwich to make and EPIC grilled cheese!  

Quite honestly, this Cheddar Crusted Grilled Cheese threw my family for a loop.   My youngest asked if I accidentally made an inside out sandwich.🤣 The fact that she thought I could "accidentally" put the cheese on the outside of the bread instead of the inside makes me question her faith in my culinary skills.  😅 I mean, I can't say that it would NEVER happen but I haven't made that mistake - yet.  

When it comes to kitchens and food - I really do enjoy the challenge of getting creative and pushing the limits of conventional food preparation.  Why make ordinary food when you can make tortilla stacks in mini springform pans, bake pasta in a stainless steel mixing bowl, serve shrimp and grits as a mini tartlet or make jar-cuterie with homemade cheese straws and cantaloupe leaves?  Out of the box cooking is way more fun than making a box of macaroni and cheese.  

Cheddar Crusted Grilled Cheese
2 teaspoons mayonnaise
4 slices hearty sandwich bread
2 slices deli American cheese
4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 Tablespoons butter, melted

Spread mayonnaise on 1 side of each slice of bread.

Layer 1 slice of American cheese and 1/4 cup cheddar on mayonnaise side of 2 slices of bread.

Top with 2 slices of bread, mayonnaise side down.  

Melt 1 T. butter in skillet.  Place sandwiches in skillet.  

Cover and cook 4-7 minutes until deep golden brown on bottom. 

Flip and add 1 T. butter.  Cover and cook second side is browned.  

Transfer sandwiches to a wire rack.  Wipe skillet clean with paper towel.

Sprinkle 2 - 1/4 cup portions of cheddar into squares, just larger than bread.

Place sandwiches directly on top of cheddar.  

Cook until edges of cheddar beneath sandwiches are well browned and crisp.

Slide spatula under cheddar crust and transfer sandwiches to rack.  Let sit 5 minutes to allow cheese to set. 

Slice in half and serve. 

Grilled cheese lovers - I know you're out there, and I want to hear from you.  Is this double cheese sandwich something that you would sink your teeth into or is it too over the top?  I have to admit that I was a little surprised that the "grilled cheese purists" that live in my house, embraced these out of the box sandwiches. I'm  anxious to hear your opinions about these sandwiches too.  

Ciao!

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