The Best Grilled Cheese. Ever.

I've eaten a lot of grilled cheeses in my lifetime.  And this one takes the cake (or shall we say cheese?)  Seriously... it's the best.  Let's get started!

As the Pioneer Woman says... "Here's the cast of characters:"

1. Good hearty bread.  I used Eli Zabar's Sourdough.
2. Sliced cheddar cheese
3. Granny Smith Apples, thinly sliced
4. Roasted red onion mayo.  This really makes the grilled cheese stand apart.
5. Bacon.  Now you all know that I'm obsessed with bacon (here, here and here) and I have a specific way of cooking my bacon:  You must lay it out on a cooling rack over a baking sheet.  Then you must sprinkle with brown sugar.  And then you bake it at 375-400 degrees for 20 minutes.  You must treat the bacon with love and it will reward you.  Trust me.

Slather on the roasted red onion mayo.

Then add a layer of cheddar and then the bacon.

Add another layer of cheddar and the apples.

Then add one last slice of cheddar. 

Grill with lots of butter till it turns golden brown.  Not too dark.

Voila.  It's heaven on a plate.

Another gratuitous close up.  Are you drooling by now?

Thank you, Paula Deen for bringing this grilled cheese into my life.  (I'll even forgive you for your english peas recipe.) It is absolutely necessary to make this for someone you love this weekend.