Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese

From decadent, chocolate covered bacon strips to sweet and salty bacon brittle, bacon is all the craze right now. Until recently, I didn't know that bacon jam was a real thing, but it is, and it is as delicious as it sounds. So, it should come as no surprise that Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese sandwiches are also delicious (amazingly delicious, actually). And something you should definitely try! Bacon jam adds a little 'pizazz' to an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich and creates a party in your mouth. This recipe will definitely have your taste buds dancing with delight.

While you can purchase bacon jam from a number of suppliers, it is also a relatively simple recipe to make and only takes about 45 minutes of your time. One of my favorite bacon jam recipes calls for bacon, apple juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, garlic, onions and balsamic vinegar. That's it. However, if you want to take your time with it and really allow the flavors to build, you can make it in a slow cooker (which takes anywhere from 2 to 6 hours) before blitzing the mixture in a food processor. But this isn't about the bacon jam. This is about what you can do with the bacon jam (aside from just eat it out of the jar with a spoon!).

Since bacon is paired with just about anything, why not pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich? I always put fried bacon in my grilled cheese sandwiches (with a little mustard), but the simple addition of bacon jam really adds to the flavor profile and gives it a sweet and smoky, maple-y and mind-blowing taste. While cooked bread and cheese is an 'ancient' food, popular around the world, historians believe the modern version of the grilled cheese sandwich we all know and love originated in the 1920's when both sliced bread and American cheeses became easily available. Grilled cheese sandwiches became particularly popular in the United States during the Great Depression. Perhaps this is one of the reasons it is often considered a �comfort food�?

Ashley of the food blog �The Recipe Rebel� loves to cook and bake, and is the mastermind behind this masterful grilled cheese sandwich recipe. Ashley likes to eyeball, improvise and break the rules when necessary, and also enjoys giving twists on some of the 'old favorites'. What a twist this grilled cheese sandwich recipe is (and it certainly breaks the 'rules'... just a little bit)! One of Ashley's main tips, aside from pointing out the necessity of having (and eating) bacon jam, is to use a thin bread (something like light rye) so that the sandwich isn't �all about the bread� (because it shouldn't be... it should be all about the cheese and bacon jam!). She suggests using a sharp cheddar cheese to compliment the sweetness and smokiness of the jam (although any cheese will do � except cheese slices � you want to splurge a little and use quality ingredients for this grilled cheese recipe).

So, if you're feeling ambitious, why not make a batch of bacon jam (recipe included on �The Recipe Rebel) and then make a batch of Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese sandwiches? Ashley claims, �Toasty bread, melty cheese and sweet and smoky maple bacon jam make this the best grilled cheese you'll ever have!� I have to agree with her. This really is the best grilled cheese sandwich recipe I've ever tasted.