Grown-Up Nostalgia

Winter is a time for comfort food to keep away the chill of dropping temperatures. We start to crave things that will warm our stomachs and our souls, and what better (and simpler) comfort food than a grilled cheese?

If you're like me, then a grilled cheese sandwich was a childhood staple. It could have processed cheese slices or the nice kind that don't have to be listed as "cheese product." It could have tomato soup for dipping or be served plain. No matter how it was made or what it was served with, there was a warmth to this simple meal.

For these reasons and more, I decided to revamp this childhood favorite and pair it with some wine to create an adult version of a classic for this winter season (and combined with an ongoing pandemic, we could all use a little more comfort and a lot more wine). The best part of this pairing is that you can make the sandwich as simple or as complex as you like. For the sake of a more filling and flavorful meal, I went with complex.

Ingredients:

2 Slices of Bread (I used a large rustic loaf)

3 Slices of White Cheddar (Feel free to use any cheese you like)

3 Slices of Smokehouse Cheddar (Because why not go heavy on the cheese)

2 Slices of Cooked Bacon

3 Apple Slices (I used Gala apples)

Butter or Margarine

1 Cinnamon Stick

A Bottle of Spiced Apple Wine

If you've ever made a grilled cheese before, then you already know how to make this grilled cheese. If you've never made one before, then don't worry! It isn't difficult at all, and I'm going to break it down into small, easy steps.

1. Put a small frying pan on the stove on medium heat.

2. Butter one side of both bread slices, and place the butter side down in the pan.

3. Add your first layer of cheese. For my sandwich, I did 3 slices for each layer and alternated between the white cheddar and smokehouse cheddar.

4. Add your slices of bacon. You can feel free to use more than 2, but if you use too many, your sandwich won't hold as well. Alternatively, you can add extra slices to have on the side.

5. Add your apple slices. If you have a smaller loaf of bread, you might not fit 3 slices. So, adjust this one to your needs and wants.

6. Add your second layer of cheese. I alternated again here with the opposite pattern as the first layer.

7. Place the second slice of bread on the sandwich, butter side facing up.

8. Once the bottom slice is golden brown, flip the sandwich and cook until the top slice is also golden brown.

9. Serve with some spiced apple wine that's been warmed on the stove and decorated with a cinnamon stick.

Overall, this pairing takes less than a half-hour to create. You can heat the wine on the stove while the sandwich is cooking. You can heat it beforehand and drink it while the sandwich is cooking. There's a lot of flexibility here that depends on when you want the wine (and I guess how much wine you want since you could have some during cooking and after. And before).

The flavors are worth the added effort given to a classic grilled cheese. The apples covered in melted, creamy cheese with the salty crunch of bacon, and all of it washed down with some warm apple wine that has that nice cinnamon taste.

This is truly a pairing that will keep you warm in the winter, and appease both your childhood self and adult self.