Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

National Grilled Cheese Day! #GrilledCheesePlease

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If there is one meal I am very familiar with, it’s the good ol’ Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

You see, when pregnant with my first, it was the only craving I had for nine. solid. months. I can look back on it now and laugh, but the truth is, I was quite obsessed back then. It went something like this:

I first started craving grilled cheese sandwiches shortly after my morning sickness ended, at about 13 weeks. At first, I’d go the traditional route: adding one slice of processed cheese to two slices of white bread (Dempster’s Stays Fresh White Bread, of course). I’ll grill the sandwich in a buttered pan until the bread was crispy and the cheese was ooey-gooey.

I soon realized that a grilled cheese sandwich was my breakfast of choice, but curiously, on days I opted for fruit or eggs, I felt an irrational need to have a grilled cheese at snack time or before bedtime. I suppose the irrational need could be called a “craving”.

As my pregnancy progressed, I started experimenting; I began trying different cheeses (cheddar, provolone, Monterrey jack and Swiss were among my faves), and introduced complementary ingredients such as sliced apples, crisp bacon and avocado. I was still grilling up the sandwiches, but now I had switched to a fabulous panini grill, reasoning that if I was going to indulge, I might as well do it right.


(Above images courtesy of Dempsters; Smoky Bacon and Apple Grilled Cheese and Pizza Grilled Cheese.)

By the eighth month, I could no longer wait for the panini grill to heat up. I had resorted to nuking cheap, store-brand cheese between 2 slices of white bread for 30 seconds in the microwave. Yes, it got ugly.

Miraculously, after I gave birth to Ryder, my insatiable desire for grilled cheese sandwiches instantly disappeared. To tell the truth, I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had one since – I guess you can say that 276 days straight of eating grilled cheese sandwiches has likely cured me of the habit for good.

However, I always remember to celebrate my most remarkable craving ever, and this year is no different: With National Grilled Cheese Day coming up on April 12th, Dempsters is celebrating with a #GrilledCheesePlease Twitter Party!

As always, there will be fabulous prizes up for grabs, including 8 x 6 month supplies of Dempster’s Bread (26 Dempster’s coupons), and 2 Prize Packs of ‘Grilled Cheese for a year’ (1 x Breville Panini Duo + 52 Dempster’s coupons + $50 grocery gift card). WOWZERS!!!

For your chance to win, RSVP below. Looking forward to partying with you!

*Please be sure to enter your Twitter Handle “@yourTwitterhandle” in the Link/Blog Title field, and your Twitter URL “www.twitter.com/yourtwitterhandle” in the Link Field*

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Soozle

    Haha! I am a little shocked (and a little impressed) that you ate grilled cheese for 8 months straight!

    I have to say that grilled cheese has to be one of my ultimate comfort foods – I RARELY make it, but I always enjoy it when i do!

    • Lena

      It was quite the marathon, Suzie, and I don’t think I’d do it again! Hope to see you at our Twitter Party!

  5. Victoria Ess

    I can’t make the party, but just needed to tell you how impressed I am with your grilled cheese streak — I thought I loved grilled cheese, but I think you had me beat!

  6. Teresa C.

    Grilled Cheese & Tomato Sandwiches plus homemade hot cocoa…Friday Movie Night! Sara loves grilled cheese sandwiches. I have made up to 3 at a time and I have no idea where she puts it because she is tall and slender. My Mum worked at the elementary school that Sara went to for grades K-4…she would pick Sara up at 7am :( and take her to work with her. Waiting for Sara in the car would be a container wrapped in tinfoil with a warm grilled cheese sandwich for breakfast ! My Mum makes wonderful grilled cheese sandwiches. Lately, I have been using Havarti Low Fat for the cheese.

  7. Kat E.

    Mmmmmmmm! I LOVE grilled cheese! Thanks for letting us know about the Dempsters Twitter party!

  9. Debbie Bashford

    I don’t do after hours on the computer but have fun ladies and I think I am going to make tomato soup and grilled cheese sammies for dinner tonight

  13. Julie Valerie @JBValerie

    WOW. I’m so glad I found you – I look forward to the #GrilledCheesePlease Twitter party. We’re also celebrating this classic sandwich all month long on my book blog – Chick Lit Chit Chat. Giving away free books all month from great writers. So happy to connect. I’ve got my calendar marked. Looking forward to it!

  14. ken klingbell

    I have two teen grilled cheese lovers in my house hold and never any left for me when they are done.so I wait till they go to school and pull out the stash. we could use that here for sure. party

    • Lena

      I’ve heard that once my little guys turn into teens they too will eat me out of house and home! Looking forward to partying with you!

  15. the brother

    yes peas!!!! and sign me up? aint no better party than a twitter party avec GRILLED CHEEEEEEEEESE!

  17. Sophia

    I love how there are so many ways to put a fresh spin on the good ol’ grilled cheese sandwich. I too enjoy adding bacon to mine from time to time. And yes, it’s always an adventure experimenting with different cheeses!

  19. Christine

    Haha! Totally thought i RSVP’d for this, but saw that I didn’t. I am number 351!!! Holy smokes! That’s a whole lotta grilled cheese lovers!!