Saturday, August 11, 2012

Back when I was a chef at Crown Center here in Kansas City, I worked with the finest foods. Each and every day was exciting, yes, but also exhausting. Long hard hours standing on concrete floors,  the air heavy with heat, steam, and a overwhelming noise of orders being shouted out by the sous chef, pots and pans, plates and bowls clanking together, and calls to the utility men to bring more ingredients. At the end of the evening, when all the food was marked and stored, when the  floors  were scrubbed, and the ovens and broilers were cooled, I went home, took a relaxing hot shower and crawled in bed with a mug of Campbell's Cream of Tomato Soup and a warm, gooey, golden grilled cheese sandwich.
I was extremely proud of the food that I sent out to our customers, but the thought of eating any of it after preparing it all day, was simply not appealing. I wanted to be coddled and babied, but alas, Arch and I had not fallen in love yet....so, I had to rely on my comfy bed, tomato soup and grilled cheese. It worked!

You know I try to pass on what I feel are great food ideas and recipes. You also know I read hundreds of food blogs each week. Sharing some of my fellow food bloggers recipes  is an honor, and today I am sharing a recipe for a magnificent grilled cheese sandwich.
I have to tell you that the photograph of that sandwich grabbed me immediately! I could taste that sandwich, I could smell the aroma, I could hear the buttery crunch as I took my first bite....all that from just looking at the photograph! I was in love!
Now, let me give credit where credit is due......

www.closetcooking.com is written by a young man, Kevin Lynch, who lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Thank you, Kevin!
So, dear friends, check out this blog and search for grilled cheese. It will change your life! I swear it will! His list of his Top 10 Grilled Cheese Sandwiches offers you such things as Jalapeno Cornbread Grilled Cheese with Chipotle Caramelized Onions, Refried Black Beans and Guacamole How could that be anything but Wonderful!

Now, here is Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich
from Closet Cooking


What better way is there to enjoy perfectly ripe tomatoes other than smothered in melted cheese along with some fresh homemade basil pesto in a sandwich that is grilled to perfection?

Servings: makes 2 sandwiches

4 slices bread
1 large ripe tomato, room temperature, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 ball fresh mozzarella, room temperature, sliced 1/4 inch thick
4 tablespoons basil pesto
pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
Assemble sandwich and grill until golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 2-3 minutes per side.

PERFECT!


Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy
oil painting by Kay Tucker

Somerset Autumn on Wea Creek

Somerset Autumn on Wea Creek
Oil Painting by Kay Tucker, Private Collection

Floral

Floral
oil painting by Kay Tucker

Kansas Storm

Kansas Storm
oil painting by Kay Tucker, Private Collection

Watercolor Collage

Watercolor Collage

Tempo al Tempo....All in Good Time

Tempo al Tempo....All in Good Time
48"x36" sculptural painting by Kay Tucker