TIP: "Light" bread, be it whole wheat, white or potato bread, works beautifully for grilled cheese sandwiches -- and saves calories. 
 Grilled cheese sandwiches can be light enough for a snack or lunch, or hearty enough for dinner. Pair any of these with a salad or vegetable and you have a complete, fast and easy meal. 
 GRILLED CHEESE, APPLE AND BACON SANDWICH 
 2 slices center-cut bacon 
 1 1/2 ounces Irish Cheddar cheese, cut into thin slices 
 2 slices whole-wheat bread 
 1/2 apple, cut into 1/4-inch wedges 
 1. Cook bacon in medium skillet; remove and drain on a plate lined with paper towel. 
 2. While bacon cooks, place the cheese on one slice of bread. 
 3. Add the apple slices to the pan with the bacon drippings and cook until lightly browned on each side (a total of about 4 minutes). Place the apples on the cheese and top with the bacon slices. Close the sandwich with the second slice of bread and place in the hot skillet. Cook until browned on the underside, about 2 minutes; flip and cook until browned on the underside again and the cheese is melted. Makes 1 serving. 
 Nutritional analysis for each serving 442 calories, 23 g protein, 46 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 20 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 811 mg sodium&nbsp; 
 ENLIGHTENED GRILLED CHEESEE 
 1 1/2 ounces light Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 
 2 slices light whole-wheat bread 
 2 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato 
 2 teaspoons butter, divided 
 1. Assemble the sandwich: Place the cheese on one slice of the bread, top with the tomato (cutting as necessary to fit) and close the sandwich. 
 2. Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwich and cook until golden brown on the underside, about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and swirl the remaining 1 teaspoon of butter in the pan until melted; add the sandwich uncooked side facing down and cook until the cheese is melted and the underside golden, about 2 minutes longer. Makes 1 serving. 
 Nutritional analysis for each serving 265 calories, 17 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber, 14 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 563 mg sodium 
 BUFFALO-STYLE GRILLED CHEESE AND CHICKEN SANDWICH 
 1/2 cup cooked, coarsely chopped chicken breast 
 1 tablespoon red-hot pepper sauce, divided 
 2 slices light potato bread 
 1 ounce (about 1/4 cup) finely crumbled blue cheese 
 1 tablespoon butter 
 1. Toss the chicken with about half the hot sauce. 
 2. Brush the remaining hot sauce on one side of a slice of bread and top with the cheese. Place the chicken on the cheese and top with remaining slice of bread. 
 3. Melt about half the butter in a small, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwich and cook until the underside is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the sandwich and swirl the remaining butter in the pan until it melts. Add the sandwich back to the pan, uncooked side facing down, and cook until the cheese is melted and the underside is golden, another 2 to 3 minutes. Makes 1 serving. 
 Nutritional analysis for each serving 418 calories, 32 g protein, 21 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 24 g fat, 14 g saturated fat, 1,149 mg sodium

TIP: "Light" bread, be it whole wheat, white or potato bread, works beautifully for grilled cheese sandwiches -- and saves calories. Grilled cheese sandwiches can be light enough for a snack or lunch, or hearty enough for dinner. Pair any of these with a salad or vegetable and you have a complete, fast and easy meal. GRILLED CHEESE, APPLE AND BACON SANDWICH 2 slices center-cut bacon 1 1/2 ounces Irish Cheddar cheese, cut into thin slices 2 slices whole-wheat bread 1/2 apple, cut into 1/4-inch wedges 1. Cook bacon in medium skillet; remove and drain on a plate lined with paper towel. 2. While bacon cooks, place the cheese on one slice of bread. 3. Add the apple slices to the pan with the bacon drippings and cook until lightly browned on each side (a total of about 4 minutes). Place the apples on the cheese and top with the bacon slices. Close the sandwich with the second slice of bread and place in the hot skillet. Cook until browned on the underside, about 2 minutes; flip and cook until browned on the underside again and the cheese is melted. Makes 1 serving. Nutritional analysis for each serving 442 calories, 23 g protein, 46 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 20 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 811 mg sodium ENLIGHTENED GRILLED CHEESEE 1 1/2 ounces light Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 2 slices light whole-wheat bread 2 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato 2 teaspoons butter, divided 1. Assemble the sandwich: Place the cheese on one slice of the bread, top with the tomato (cutting as necessary to fit) and close the sandwich. 2. Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwich and cook until golden brown on the underside, about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and swirl the remaining 1 teaspoon of butter in the pan until melted; add the sandwich uncooked side facing down and cook until the cheese is melted and the underside golden, about 2 minutes longer. Makes 1 serving. Nutritional analysis for each serving 265 calories, 17 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber, 14 g fat, 9 g saturated fat, 563 mg sodium BUFFALO-STYLE GRILLED CHEESE AND CHICKEN SANDWICH 1/2 cup cooked, coarsely chopped chicken breast 1 tablespoon red-hot pepper sauce, divided 2 slices light potato bread 1 ounce (about 1/4 cup) finely crumbled blue cheese 1 tablespoon butter 1. Toss the chicken with about half the hot sauce. 2. Brush the remaining hot sauce on one side of a slice of bread and top with the cheese. Place the chicken on the cheese and top with remaining slice of bread. 3. Melt about half the butter in a small, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwich and cook until the underside is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the sandwich and swirl the remaining butter in the pan until it melts. Add the sandwich back to the pan, uncooked side facing down, and cook until the cheese is melted and the underside is golden, another 2 to 3 minutes. Makes 1 serving. Nutritional analysis for each serving 418 calories, 32 g protein, 21 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 24 g fat, 14 g saturated fat, 1,149 mg sodium

Things to Do

Columnists

Marge Perry

FDMARGE06.WEB

3 Simple grilled cheese sandwiches

Newsday

fdSIMPLE

Lifestyle Trending Articles

Celebrate summer's end at LuminoCity Dino Safari, KoreaFesta, a dance party on Fire Island or at a concert.

Labor Day weekend on LI

From day trips to long weekends, discover family-friendly destinations near Long Island.

End-of-summer getaways

Explore our interactive guide to weekend fun, including family-friendly events, concerts, festivals and more.

Things to do this weekend

Most Popular

Lifestyle Rail Module

Chicken, rice and vegetable salad with Asian kick

It comes together with store-bought pie dough, slow-cooked onions, plus a sprinkling of feta and fresh rosemary.

Make elegant tarts for festive celebrations

The iconic Italian dish need not be intimidating.

One-pot cacio e pepe recipe for pasta dinner

Spiced pecans are giftable--or a festive topper for salads and desserts.

DIY spiced nuts for holiday gifts

A little grated sweet potato to latkes sweetens the holiday celebration.

How to make latkes

This outrageously delicious dinner is perfect for holiday season entertaining — or a glorious Sunday supper on a cold night.

How to make short ribs braised with red wine

Things to Do Article Bottom Module

The market, on Montauk Highway, announced it will sell all items and equipment.

Beloved LI market to close after more than 60 years

You'll find organic, vegan, gluten-free items — all made from scratch.

New market-cafe opens in LI village

The eatery will be replaced by a high tea cafe.

Dessert cafe known for its latte art closes on LI

The two dishes we had on a recent afternoon were both well executed, and tasted true to Vietnamese cooking.

NYC chef opens Vietnamese spot on LI

Flavors of water ice include bubble gum, strawberry margarita, lemon, cherry cola and Caribbean splash.

Ralph's opens another LI outpost

The owners' attention to detail extends to milling the flour for sandwich rolls.

Quirky new LI cafe offers much more than coffee

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits the Jamesport Farm Brewery, which has been recently purchased by the owners of Waterdrinker Farms.

Out East: Jamesport Farm Brewery

The multi-billion project to improve the flow of energy to and from Long Island is facing pushback from some groups who say the health of Hempstead Harbor is at stake. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Underwater cable project to Long Island raises environmental concerns

On Thursday an "accidental electrical fire" damaged several areas of the historic Milleridge Inn's main property.

'Accidental electrical fire' damages Milleridge Inn

Cleaning crews were hard at work after a tornado ripped through the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach Thursday evening. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'It was just a whistling sound that came right through'

Jones Beach Theatre concertgoers were hit by a massive storm Thursday night, causing the show to be delayed. Some attendees thought the concert should have been canceled. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Wild weather raises concert safety concerns at Jones Beach 

Newsday travel reporter Carissa Kellman learns about renting and driving a skiff boat at Ted's Fishing Station in Point Lookout.

Cruise Long Island's shoreline on your own private boat

Since girls flag football became an official sport in New York high schools in the spring of 2023, participation in the sport has increased nearly 70%, NewsdayTV's Jared Valluzzi reports.

Flag football taking over spring sports

Bonsai tree-making classes, trivia nights, mocktails and private events are among the ways local venues are trying to draw customers. Newsday business reporter Tory Parrish has more.

As Americans drink less, Long Island bars and breweries get creative 

Ken Buffa stopped by La Cucina Paisanos in Farmingville to try their "pull apart soul-bowls," which are bread bowls stuffed with pasta.

Trendy Bites: Get stuffed with these Italian 'soul-bowls'

Long-forgotten unpaid traffic infractions in other states are causing a delay in New York State license renewals. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Outstanding out-of-state tickets holding back NYS license renewals 

Things to Do Video Playlist

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano visits Baseball Lifestyle 101 in Roosevelt Field, a popular clothing brand for tween boys.

'Familiar for a baseball player but built for back-to-school'

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed is heading 'Out East' to showcase the ultimate local spots you need to explore.

Out East Show: Westhampton Beach Brew & Grille, Hallockville Museum Farm Bees, North Fork Foodie Tour, Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation

From the Hampton Classic to Lynyrd Skynyrd & Foreigner at Jones Beach, check out all the fun things to do and explore this weekend.

What's up on LI this weekend

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano joins Newsday food writer Marie Elena Martinez at Coach Meeting House in Oyster Bay to talk about happy hour deals on Long Island.

$20 Aperol spritz tower and more happy hour deals

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano visited Swingbelly's in Long Beach to learn about their BBQ takeout options.

BBQ takeout: Save time and savor the flavor

Sample knishes, loaded mashed potatoes, a beer garden and more at the Long Island Potato Festival at Farmingdale State College on Sept. 26-27.

A carb-lover's dream

'Something new and fresh and trendy'

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed tours Splish Splash, which has been entertaining Long Islanders for 35 years.

Out East: Slide into fun at Splish Splash

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed shows us the dedication it takes to keep bees at the Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead.

Out East: All the buzz at the Hallockville Museum Farm

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland and Doug Geed take a look back at the case against Richard Angelo, who injected several patients with a paralyzing drug.

'One of the worst we've ever seen'

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland and Joye Brown take a look back at the summer of 2008 and the "Montauk Monster."

Stay logged in.