Toasted golden in a pan or browned to melty perfection under the broiler, grilled cheese is the ultimate comfort food -- and a meal in itself. And believe it or not, it just got better. Author Marlena Spieler has created 50 mouthwatering new takes on this fromagophile's favorite. Her tantalizing pairings range from hearty Sage Sausage and Jack Cheese with Preserved Lemon to Melted Alpenzell, Emmentaler, Pear, and Cumin. There are also plenty of new twists on the tried and true, such as Smoky Bacon and Cheddar with Chipotle Relish or Fresh Mozzarella, Prosciutto, and Fig Jam. Oozing with cheese suggestions, an array of quick-to-make mustards, and tips on choosing the perfect bread for each sandwich, this cookbook will make anyone stand up and say "cheese!"

ISBN13: 9780811841290
Condition: USED - Very Good
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Ahh, the beauty of bread and cheese and then some... (5.0)

I love cooking, I really do, the character of a domestic goddess really appeals to me but some days when I'm tired and I don't want to wait for delivery not to mention trying to keep it as clean and nutritious as I can, might be daunting so I am grateful for little books such as this one. A hot, grilled sammy can be a great replacement meal, even as dinner, after all it would do good for everyone to eat a small meal her and there, people are used to eating just because the clock strikes a certain hour, never mind that their gut never stops working. This is no diet book by any means, but a great way to make some really spectacular sandwiches, hot or cold with cheese omitted if one wants to leave it out. I tend to keep them small as the hot and tasty flavor is so good that a little bit goes a long way. It's a great book to make snacks and get flavor pairing ideas; those can fit into cooking breakfast to dinner, not just for sandwiches. My boyfriend hasn't complained yet that I have been using him as a testing tool for this book, so far I have gotten thumbs up, phew...haha.

The famous "Harry's Bar Special" sandwich is here, from Venice itself it has been mention to me in many books by authors such as Giada de Laurentiis and Nigella Lawson, and let me tell you the cheese spread and ham combo with a lady finger like sandwich fried in butter is heavenly. They taste so good that I can eat a little bit and be totally satisfied, I usually cook pretty rustic and simple, whatever looks good at the best organic market finds its way onto my plate, but when I get a nice crispy bread this book is the first thing I reach for. From a robust Mediterranean Meltdown ( ripe tomato, mahon cheese and fresh Thyme on Black olive bread - yummm! to Welsh Rarebit, grilled pumpernickel and gouda this has something for everyone and the best thing is that each recipe doesn't ask for a lot of random ingredients ( my biggest cooking pet peeve).

Chapters in this book include interesting picking such as; Five-minute wonders, Party tidbits-canapes, crostini and bruschetta, classics and twists, simple seasonal grilled cheese with something extra, Extravaganzas, Quesadillas, Pidane and Pita Sandwiches, Grilled cheese in salad, Sweets and Accompaniments. It also includes an index, sources for cheese and table of equivalents. I like that the book has many nice photos, its so pleasing to see the food and then be so driven that one has to make it., I am a sucker for picture cookbooks as much as tiny and serious ones, I adore all kinds of art and culinary touches that make each day so much more pleasurable. I have a ton of cookbooks and this is always close by, some days when a slice of tomato with some gray salt on a buttered piece of bread with a coarse sprinkle of Indonesia's best black pepper is as pleasurable as a meal at any extravagant restaurant, this book is filled with tasty and interesting ideas to make meals in no time, ones that are complex and delicious but not so tricky that one has to buy a ton of ingredients to make a sandwich. I adore this little treasure and it's always on hand when I need some ideas to fix something fast and possibly hot.

- Kasia S.

Great book, but relatively expensive ingredients to make sandwichesq (4.0)

The recipes in this book are great, but the ingredients are often expensive and probably not something you would buy and want to eat for a few days straight in a week to make it worth it.

Absolutely delicious, though!

A perfect Birthday Gift (4.0)

This book prooved to be a perfect Birthday Gift for the cook. Delivery was received on time and the book was in mint condition. Very Happy with the purchase.

Grilled Cheese Made Elegant (5.0)

This book is a primer on cheese as well as a source of recipes for grilled
cheese sandwiches. The author provides intriguing combinations of cheese,
condiments and bread.

Boy, is this fun! (4.0)

You think you know grilled cheese sandwiches? I've been eating them for decades. But this slender volume expands one's imagination about what a grilled cheese sandwich can be! I am pleased that one of my Amazon friends brought this book to my attention. . . .

As the author, Marlena Spieler, says at the outset: "Crisply toasted in the pan or broiled open-face to a melty sizzle, there are few things more enticing than a grilled cheese sandwich."

An early part of the book focuses on "A Guide to the Grilled." Such hot topics as the following are addressed: What kind of cheese to use? What kind of bread to use? What extras might work? For instance, with a standard grilled cheese sandwich, I find that a tomato inserted into the sandwich adds a nice touch. And so on. . . .

I'll begin with my favorite--Croque monsieur. The recipe in this book is quite a bit different than the simple version I make. I put some Swiss cheese (I like to use gruyere) and boiled ham inside of bread, slather the outside with butter, and fry it up. This version, instead, broils the sandwich. It really sounds tasty, so I suspect that I'll soon be experimenting.

Another recipe in this book that caught my fancy: Panini Inglese. This tidbit features rare roast beef, blue cheese, and watercress. Using a panini press (I simply must acquire one of these!) or skillet, you heat this up and enjoy the result. The picture of the resulting sandwich is awfully tempting.

And then there is the New Orleans version--Muffaletta. I've enjoyed these over time (although I haven't consumed as many as I'd like!). With this recipe, I think I'll create a few of these treats at home.

And so many more (about 50 in all). At the close, the author adds "accompaniments," salads, side dishes, mustards, and so on.

If you like grilled cheese sandwiches, this is a nice resource. I look forward to expanding my repertoire of recipes!