BLTs are quite delicious, but they don't hold a candle to bacon and cheese sandwiches. Of course, bacon and cheese aren't as healthy either, but we are talking southern cooking here.
First, you've got to fry up your bacon. Most folks turn the heat up too hot and have bacon cooked in some areas and not so cooked in other areas. Use low heat. Yeah. It takes longer, but this is the key to perfect crispy and evenly cooked bacon.
Drain the bacon on paper towels. This keeps the bacon from being too greasy and drippy. I usually get things to this stage before dealing with the bread and cheese. Letting the bacon sit a little while makes it crispier.
Next get out the bread and put slices on a baking sheet. Sure. You could toast the bread, but this does not work out as well. The bread is not soft on the inside. The cheese does not melt well. So, turn the oven to broil and brown the tops of the bread.
Take out half the slices of bread. Flip over the remaining slices. Stick a piece of American cheese (real cheese and most surely not diet cheese whatever) on each piece of bread. You can have double cheese, but it overpowers the bacon. If you are a real cheese fiend, then go ahead. We prefer only one slice of cheese though. That way the bacon gets to shine too.
Broil the cheese on the slices of bread just until melty. I don't know of anyone who likes burned cheese, so that kind of speaks for itself there.
Assemble the sandwiches now. Place about 3 slices of bacon on top of the cheese for each sandwich and top with the browned bread (browned side up).
Yes. These are simple. But, they sure are good. We enjoy them for breakfast, lunch, or supper.
If you want a super yummy dessert to serve after the sandwiches, try Easy Strawberry Pudding.
