My Ultimate Grilled Cheese.

I was in an experimental mood a few days ago and trying to clean out some leftovers, so I decided to see what I could use Stonyfield Farms plain yogurt and a large quantity of cheese for. I came up with what could be one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever eaten! It's a bit gooey, but that shouldn't be a problem for real aficionados. I don't have pictures - I devoured it before I thought to photograph! - but next time I make this, I'll take some shots.

First, I buttered two slices of bread. In my opinion this is a crucial step in making grilled cheese that can't be skipped, because it makes the bread deliciously crispy. I've seen Alton Brown use olive oil, and I've experimented with that, but in my opinion the butter just contributes so much both taste- and texture-wise that it's worth the fat. I used some sturdy sourdough I had left over, and I really liked the tartness of that.

Next (this is my "ultimate" step), I spread plain yogurt on the insides of both slices of bread. Don't go overboard with this step or you'll end up with a soggy sandwich, but this is, in my opinion, what made this sandwich so very good. The yogurt gives a wonderful tangy flavor and gooeyness to the sandwich that a regular grilled cheese doesn't have. A caution: use a thick, rich yogurt like Stonyfield Farms or Fage, because they have the body to stand up to this treatment. A plain Dannon-ish yogurt is too runny and will ruin your sandwich.

Next, I layered on some feather-shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese and a few slices of brie. I love brie in sandwiches because it melts like a dream, but combined with the sharp cheddar it is a very strong taste which some may not prefer. I guess you could use a shredded gruyere in place of the brie. Anyway, once the cheese was on, I put the sandwich, butter-side down, in a hot pan and pressed it using a plate and a can of pineapple, because I've lost my cast-iron grill press. (Sadness!) I flipped it once during cooking to brown both sides. The gooey, rich center was amazing, and I really think the yogurt added a special touch to this sandwich. I'll be making it again soon!