A grilled cheese seems pretty simple to make. That being said I’ve sampled a lot of them and have had some pretty bad ones. To make a perfect one isn’t hard, you just need some good quality ingredients. Last week I was headed Up North for the Fourth of July Holiday and I knew I would be passing through Wisconsin aka America’s Dairyland and that had to stop at my favorite cheese shop to get the most important ingredient of all, the cheese. There are several kinds of cheeses that work well in Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, American, Mozzarella, but I was on a mission to get some Wisconsin made Muenster for the sandwich I had in mind. My favorite cheese shop is called Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet and it is located just off the highway in DeForest, Wisconsin.I happened upon this place on one of my many trips up to the Northwoods. There is a huge cow out front and is really a spot you have to see!

Ehlenbach’s sells cheese by the pound, they do not slice any cheese. You have to get a minimum of a 1/4 pound. They also sell lots of fun cheese themed gifts, gourmet candy, wine and beer and a huge variety of sausages. Their cheese is aged on site and all is locally produced. Their cheese case runs the entire length of the store, it is really something to see! I came on a mission for Muenster and they had many varieties to choose from. I decided to go with the Bacon Muenster.

Since I had cheese checked off my list the second ingredient that is important is the bread. This required a second stop on my journey. I knew just the place. Golden Harvest Market in Rhinelander is our “Whole Foods” of the Northwoods. They have an outstanding bakery, incredible art, an awes inspiring sculpture garden and many items you can’t find anywhere Up North.

I decided to go with a Buttery Brioche for my Grilled Cheese. I love brioche for this sandwich because it toasts up so nicely and doesn’t get the same rough exterior that hurts your mouth when it toasts.

There is only one other ingredient that is needed to make the perfect grilled cheese. It is my secret ingredient, others may know about it, but I discovered this trick years ago when I was working in a restaurant. The ingredient is…Mayonnaise! I also will only use Hellmann’s Mayonnaise for this recipe. The mayo allows the bread to toast up to  golden brown and gives the bread a great flavor.

So there you have it, my three ingredient Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

• Good Quality Cheese, I used Bacon Muenster
• Good Quality Bread, I used Brioche
• Good Quality Mayo, I used Hellmann’s

I highly recommend using a cast iron skillet for this recipe. I love Lodge Cast Iron Skillets, they are affordable, easy to clean and cook your food perfectly. The steps are simple:

1. Get your skillet hot, but make sure it is not smoking. You do not want to sear your sandwich. I usually heat my skillet on Medium Heat. It takes longer but makes for better cooking.
2. “Butter” the outside of your bread slices with the mayonnaise, covering them completely.
3. I didn’t get my cheese sliced so I needed to grate it. Place on piece of bread, mayo side down, top with cheese, and place your second slice of bread, mayo side out , on top.
4. Grill each side until they are toasty brown and the cheese is melted inside.

Remove from the pan and you must cut a grilled cheese on a diagonal. I am pretty sure this is a law. Serve with your favorite side. I love to eat pickles with my grilled cheese. But chips and potato salad are also good choices!

If you haven’t tried using mayo on your grilled cheese before, I encourage you to try it and it will be The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ever!

Enjoy!

For another great sandwich recipe, CLICK HERE for the best BLT ever!