Finals time is filled with anxiety over work, which creates a horrible anxiety about food. When am I going to eat, where will I go to eat, how long do I have to eat? Since most people will try to eat in as little time as they can, why not make something that will be delicious for every bite through the 3 minutes of eating it: the final grilled cheese.

Ingredients

2 slices bread

2-3 slices American cheese

1 thin slice of beefsteak tomato

2 teaspoons salted butter, separated

Instructions

1. Place frying pan over medium heat.
2. Assemble grilled cheese sandwich: bread, cheese, tomato, cheese, bread.
3. Once pan is hot, add 1 teaspoon butter. Swirl to coat bottom of pan.
4. Place grilled cheese in pan. Place lid for the pan (or a heat-proof plate) over pan. This will help melt the cheese quicker so that you don’t need to burn the bottom of the sandwich.
5. After 1 ½ minutes, check bottom of sandwich for color. Once golden brown, remove with a spatula. (I usually keep the sandwich dangling on the spatula for the next quick move.)
6. Add remaining teaspoon of butter, allowing to melt. Place sandwich back in pan, uncooked side down. Allow to cook until bottom is golden brown and cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.
7. Slice diagonally, and enjoy!

For a quick, balanced lunch, heat 1 cup of Trader Joe’s tomato soup in microwave. You can wrap the grilled cheese in foil or parchment paper, and drink the soup in a to-go coffee cup. Quick and delicious!

If you want an alternative sandwich, try using this method with slices of goat cheese and thinly sliced pear; shredded mozzarella and cheddar with salsa; or a simple toasted cream cheese and jelly.

How do you make your grilled cheese?