They say if you can’t handle the heat to get out of the kitchen. I would argue that the heat rising is the best time of year to get in the kitchen. Spring and summer produce cucumbers, okra, corn, summer squash, and a plethora of others. Embrace the heat, and stay in the kitchen.

The king crop of spring and summer is the tomato. The hotter they grow, the better they taste. Stop by a farmers market and look for a heirloom variety soon, and check out the Tomato and Cheese sandwich recipe. Upgrade your meal time experience with a salad and some chocolate flavor for the Little League Grilled Cheese combo, and remember the times when you could stay outside all day without sunscreen.

Enjoy the a trip down memory lane. Let’s get supper on the table.

Grocery List	Recipe Quantity (4 people)
One wide loaf of bread	2 slices per sandwhich
2 CRISP Tomatoes	2 quarter inch slices per sandwhich
1 Pack of Sliced Cheddar Cheese	2 slices per sandwhich
Salt and Pepper	Salt and Pepper
1 Box of Girl Scout Cookies	A few per plate
1-2 Beers (or drink of choice)	1-2 Beers

COMMANDMENTS

CAST IRON COMMANDMENTS  https://castironsoul.com/cast-iron-cooking-ethos/

Commandment #13 -Cast iron can take normal foods and vastly improve them. Try making a sandwich and putting everything on the skillet at least once.

Commandment #20 – Cast iron is the ultimate “if you know you know”.

Cookware: 10.5 Cast Iron Skillet 

Y’all, I trust this skillet more than I trust my car. If the house were burning down, I would grab all my loved ones, then the wedding photos, and then come back and find this skillet and then my class ring. I can’t exaggerate how often I use this, how many different types of dishes I make with it, how it’s seen me through the lows and the highs of adulthood. I’ve been cooking with this skillet since before my kid was born and she’s got a miniature version of her own. I trust people more when I know they have a cast iron skillet.

This skillet won’t cook everything for you (soups, chilis, etc), but it will open the door to all of your cooking possibilities. Just get one and embrace the cast iron way of life.

HOLD MY BEER – PREPARATION

Cut the tomato into quarter inch slices. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Crack open that first beer.

LIGHT THIS CANDLE- START COOKIN’

Grab a skillet and turn the heat up to 5. Put 1 TBS of olive oil in and let it coat the bottom. Then toast the bread in for 3-4 minutes while the skillet is heating. Flip the bread over and let toast for another 3-4 minutes.

Remove one slice and set to the side. Put two slices of cheese on top of the remaining bread to melt.

Place two tomato slices in the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes and then flip the tomatoes while the cheese melts.

Place the tomatoes on top of the cheese and then place your remaining bread slice on top. Press down with your spatula and flip the sand which over. The softer bread should be on the bottom and the cheese should melt over the tomatoes.

Turn the stovetop off and let the bottom slice of bread crisp.

Remove from the skillet and slice the sandwhich on a diagonal. This doesn’t add any flavor, but it does look cool and leave you satisfied with an impressive meal. Serve with a side salad to make it healthy, then add some Thin Mints to the plate.

SKILLET GRILLED TOMATO AND CHEESE

Serves 4 Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes

1. Cut the tomatoes into quarter inch slices and season with salt and pepper.
2. Put the stovetop heat on 5 and put in 1TBS of olive oil. Place the bread slices in and let toast for 3-4 minutes. Flip the bread over and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
3. Remove one slice of bread from the skillet and set aside. Place two (2) slices of cheese on the bread slice remaining in the skillet. Allow the cheese to begin to melt.
4. Place two (2) tomato slices in the skillet. Let cook for 2-3 minutes and then flip the tomatoes.
5. Place the the tomatoes on top of the melted cheese slices.
6. Place the remaining slice of bread on top of the tomatoes and compress with your spatula.
7. Flip the entire sand which over and compress again. The cheese should melt over the tomatoes. Turn off the stove and let the bottom slice toast for another 1-2 minutes.
8. Enjoy the Little League Victory Meal complete with salad and Girl Scout cookies.