Grilled Cheese on rye....

Some days are easier than others. Grief can hit like a brick, for no particular reason, and usually when you least expect it. I have learned that providing self-care, and not forcing myself to do more when I'm already emotionally exhausted is key. Last weekend I roasted a chicken, and used the leftover chicken to make chicken pot pie noodles earlier this week, and chicken & rice soup yesterday. Comfort food. When I tell my doctor I cook and eat, I don't think she believes me bc my weight has gone down about 20 pounds from a year ago (not in the places I'd like, of course). So tonight I struggled with what to have for dinner, which might seem strange when you open my fridge to leftovers or my freezer which is packed with meat. So grilled cheese and chicken & rice soup won out, for ease, and well, comfort food.

I post things like this for two reasons.
1) Social media can be fake with all of these happy family pictures and achievements, without offering the lows of life. While I understand there are things people don't want to share, this is very real to me and I want people to know they are not alone.
2) There are not five stages of grief. There is no timeline - everyone has their own story, and experiences the cycle of grief at their own pace.



So here is how I make my favorite, comforting grilled cheese sandwich:

1) Spread mayonnaise (of your choosing) on one side of two slices of rye bread. For those of you who know I don't like mayo, this is the best way to get a crispy sandwich on the outside. Even the lite mayo I use makes it crispy. I still butter the pan and let it heat up. Once your pan is ready, put a slice of bread, mayo side down, in the pan.



2) At any given time, I always have a deli package of white American cheese in the fridge. Rye bread is a little wider than sandwich bread, but it is easier to break up the cheese to cover the bread. You will need one complete slice of cheese and one half. Place the cheese on the slice that is facing up in the pan. Then I like to sprinkle some Everything Bagel seasoning for some additional flavor. I add it to the inside so it melts into the cheese. I have tried sprinkling it on the outside of the bread, but it just burns.


3) Add your second layer of cheese on top of the seasoning. Then add the second slice of bread, mayo side facing up. Flip over and fry to your preferred crispiness.





Yum!


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