I went to Slate Bar and Grille in Leominster, MA, last week with my son Adam. They have a great menu! We ordered charcuterie, shrimp cocktail, Adam had a surf and turf caprese, and I had beef short ribs over mushroom risotto. I was torn between that and the short rib grilled cheese, but opted for the risotto. That grilled cheese is haunting me, though. So I'm making one for lunch today.

I don't have short ribs on hand, so I opt for a slice of tomato that I salt and pepper, drain on a paper towel, and add some thinly sliced Cabot cheddar. I also hand-slice some multi-grain bread with sunflower seeds and butter it evenly for the best browning. But is there a secret to grilled cheese? A quick Google search tells me "yes"! I came up with this site, Closet Cooking, that gives perfect grilled cheese technique, plus 30 amazing grilled cheese recipes, including a dessert grilled cheese with balsamic roasted cherries, dark chocolate and brie. What??? I am totally making that at my next dinner party!! You should check it out before you make another sandwich. Good stuff! A grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect vehicle for any leftovers you may have. Tuck a small amount of burrito filling or anything else on hand with a healthy amount of cheese and some great toasting bread . Perfect for a chilly day.

P.S. - what is a quesadilla besides a grilled cheese using torillas? Today's lunch was a quesadilla using the leftover pork filling from my burrito recipe chopped up finely between two flour tortillas plus some grated cheddar, topped with salsa, sour cream and jalapenos. Delicious!