Let me introduce to you how to make the Best Grilled Cheese of Your Life! Fresh challah bread, ultra stretchy cheese in the middle, and a crispity crunchy cheese skirt on the outside of the sandwich. Did I mention the bacon? BOOM.
Slice the challah bread into 1/2 or 3/4 inch slices. You will need 8 slices of bread (for 4 sandwiches).
In a wide nonstick skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons of butter over medium low heat until melted. Add 2 slices of bread to the butter in the pan. Make sure you get butter on the bottom of each slice of bread.
Add 2 thick slices of cheese to one piece of bread. Or add more, I'm no judge.
Place the other slice of bread, butter side up, on top of the cheese.
Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese on top of the bacon.
Melt another 1/2 tablespoon butter in the pan, off to the side. Carefully flip the sandwich over onto the melted butter, so that the cheese and bacon are on the bottom of the pan. Cook on medium low for 3-4 minutes until crispy and grilled.
Add another 2 tablespoons of cheese to the top of the sandwich. Flip so that the cheese is on the bottom, and cook until crispy, another 3-4 minutes.
Repeat with remaining bread, cheese, bacon, and butter until all 4 sandwiches are done. When each sandwich is finished, put it on a cooling rack in the oven, so that the bottom stays crispy! (see note)
Notes
*You can use any kind of cheese you like. The restaurant dish that I recreated this from says they use 3 kinds of cheese. I used sliced cheddar and Velveeta in the center. (I love the flavor of cheddar best, but Velveeta melts so beautifully. So I did both. Not necessary unless you're posting your cheese stretch on the Internet.) I used sharp white cheddar cheese and Monterey jack for the shredded cheese.If you are making these sandwiches for a crowd, put the finished sandwiches in the oven to keep warm. Preheat your oven to the "keep warm" setting (170 degrees F.) Set a cooling rack over a baking sheet and place it in the oven. This will help keep the bottoms crispy. (I use this same method for pancakes and waffles. Nobody like a soggy bottom.)