Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup

The grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup are classic comfort foods from America. Nothing beats dipping melted cheese between golden, crispy sliced bread into a creamy tomato soup bowl!

My childhood favorite with this classic pairing of comfort food was when I was a little immigrant girl going to school and giving the lunch lady my 10¢ for lunch. I was in an assistant program because we were poor. My mother would remind me not to lose it before she went to work, and I would walk to school.

Both my parents worked, but we had only been in America a short time, and things were tough. I remember wishing that one day I would have a lunch box or a brown bag lunch of my own! My goals were high back then.

What I remember the most in school lunches was the bowl of tomato soup and grilled cheese of goodness. It was homemade back then, and if the lunch lady liked you, she would give you extra.

How I loved Wednesdays because it was always spaghetti or grilled cheese. I loved dipping my sandwich into that bowl of goodness during winter soup season. It was only years later that I came to appreciate that 10¢ lunch when so many have little to eat in life.

So, in honor of my school lunch ladies at Agnes E Little, here is my combo recipe that I make with my sourdough sandwich bread, which is inexpensive.

History of the Sandwich Combo

The sandwich gained significant popularity during World War II, when it was a simple, inexpensive meal that could be easily prepared in large quantities. 

The U.S. government even issued processed cheese as part of military rations, which helped solidify its place in American cuisine. The creamy tomato soup we often associate with the grilled cheese sandwich in the U.S. is largely credited to Campbell's Soup Company. 

In 1897, Campbell’s Tomato Soup introduced canned tomato soup, which was an instant hit due to its convenience and affordability. This canned soup became particularly popular in American households in the mid-20th century. The pairing of this soup with a golden brown grilled cheese sandwich, especially during the 1940s, is still as popular and affordable as it was at the time of rations for the United States.

What You Need

To make this Carrot Tomato Soup Recipe, a few things are needed:

• Fresh Tomatoes or Roma Tomatoes
• Jumbo Carrots: They are naturally so; no sugar needed
• Sweet Onions: I prefer them because of the sweetness they give out
• Olive Oil: or tablespoon butter to saute the onion and carrots
• Whole Garlic Cloves: or minced garlic from a jar
• Chicken Bouillon: with spring water or 4 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock is vegan.
• Salt and Pepper for your taste buds

Prepare

• Sauté the vegetables: In a large pot, heat the olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and chopped carrots and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.

• Add the carrots and tomatoes: Stir in the chopped carrots and diced tomatoes (with juice, if using canned). Cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to break down a bit.

• Add the broth and seasonings: Pour in chicken broth. Stir in the pinch of salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.

• Blend the soup: Once the carrots are soft, use an immersion blender to blend the soup in the pot or a blender by spooning the tomato mixture batches at a time. Leave the hole of the blender open at the top so steam escapes from the top. Do not fill to the top, then pour into another pot until all has been mixed.

• Serve and garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Enjoy!

What You Need

This is super easy to Making Grilled Cheese Sandwich

• 2 thick slices of sourdough bread (white bread, whole wheat, or any bread you prefer)
• Butter (enough to spread on the pan)
• Cheese 2 slices
• Shredded Cheese about ¼ cup for each sandwich.
• (Mix together or just us what ever cheese you prefer like American, cheddar cheese)

Prepare

• Preheat your pan: Heat a large skillet on medium heat with melted butter.

• Grill the sandwich: Place the slice of bread on to the pan the preheated skillet. Grill for about 2 each side or until the bread is golden brown and crispy. Add the a slice of cheese and shredded cheese on top then add the second slice of bread on top.

• Flip carefully: Use a spatula to flip the sandwich over. Press down slightly to ensure even grilling.

• Oven: Heat the oven at 325 º degrees. Place parchment paper on top of a pan and place the grill cheese sandwiches on top. Put the pan in the oven to keep warm for about 10 minutes before serving.

• Serve and enjoy: Once both sides are golden and the cheese is melted, remove from the skillet on a cutting board and slice it in half if desired, and enjoy!

Can You Say Cheese

Theres are many kinds of cheese to pick from when make a grill cheese sandwich with different types of cheeses such as parmesan cheese or slice of american cheese, gouda, or my favorite a little truffle cheese.

What I Made First

Here are the Recipes that I Used for the Tomato Soup and Sourdough Bread

More American Recipes

It's not every day we go down memory lane but when I dip my grill cheese into the tomato soup, the memories of my school lunches and the friends I made, come flooding to put a smile on my face. What a special time to be a kid again! Hope you enjoyed our journey in the American heartland  today. Until next time my beautiful friends as my quest for the perfect bite continues. As they say in America, "Soup is comfort, nourishment, and warmth for the soul."