Randy Chandler
Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup are a classic pairing. Although both dishes were created separately, they were brought together during World War II when they were served to military personnel. The combination was an inexpensive way to provide a nourishing meal to large numbers of people. The vitamin C in tomatoes and carbs in the cheese sandwiches kept energy levels high.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When was it made? | During WWII |
| Who was it made for? | Military personnel |
| Why was it made? | To provide a cheap, nourishing meal |
| Where was it served? | Military mess halls, school lunch rooms, government institutions |
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What You'll Learn
- The combination of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup was originally made to feed people inexpensively
- During WWII, the combination was served in government institutions, military mess halls, and school lunch rooms
- Tomato soup was created a century before grilled cheese
- The combination was made to balance vitamins and nutrients
- Grilled cheese sandwiches were known as toasted cheese sandwiches or cheese dreams
The combination of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup was originally made to feed people inexpensively
Tomato soup had been around since the mid-1800s, but it was during the war that it was paired with grilled cheese sandwiches. The sandwiches, known then as toasted cheese sandwiches or cheese dreams, were a staple meal in family homes. They were filling and provided much-needed vitamins and nutrients.
Flour was inexpensive, so homemade bread was an easy way to bulk up a meal. Canned foods, such as spam and vegetables, as well as margarine and other processed foods, also allowed people to provide a substantial, nourishing meal for their families without the higher cost of fresh, whole ingredients.
The combination of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup has remained a constant comfort food from one generation to the next.
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During WWII, the combination was served in government institutions, military mess halls, and school lunch rooms
Although the combination of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup is rooted in a desperate need to feed people as inexpensively as possible, it has remained a constant comfort food. During WWII, the combination was served in government institutions, military mess halls, and school lunch rooms. The grilled cheese sandwich was a staple meal in family homes at the time, and the addition of tomato soup balanced the meal with vitamins and nutrients. The vitamin C in tomatoes and carbs in the cheese sandwiches kept energy levels high. After the war, the combination became widespread among schools and government institutions.
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Tomato soup was created a century before grilled cheese
Although the combination of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup is rooted in a desperate need to feed people as inexpensively as possible, it has remained a constant comfort craving from one generation to the next. During World War II, the hearty grilled cheese sandwich was paired with tomato soup in government institutions, military mess halls, and school lunch rooms. This was to balance the meal with vitamins and nutrients from the fruit, as well as providing a substantial, nourishing meal for families without the higher cost of fresh, whole ingredients.
Known then as toasted cheese sandwiches, or cheese dreams, the delicious and filling grilled cheese sandwich became a staple meal in family homes in this time. With vitamin C found in tomatoes and carbs in the cheese sandwiches, tomato soup and grilled cheese was a quick recipe that could keep energy levels high.
From its humble beginnings, grilled cheese has climbed to the highest heights: The most expensive iteration in the world is the Quintessential Grilled Cheese at Serendipity3 in New York City.
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The combination was made to balance vitamins and nutrients
The combination of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup was made to balance vitamins and nutrients. The pairing was created during World War II when it was served to military personnel in mess halls. Tomato soup had been around since the mid-1800s, but it was during the war that it was paired with grilled cheese sandwiches, which were also known as toasted cheese sandwiches or cheese dreams. The sandwiches were a staple meal in family homes at the time, as they were filling and inexpensive to make. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C, while the cheese sandwiches provided carbs, so the combination was a quick and easy way to keep energy levels high. After the war, the pairing of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches became widespread in schools and government institutions.
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Grilled cheese sandwiches were known as toasted cheese sandwiches or cheese dreams
Tomato soup had been around since the mid-1800s, featured in cookbooks such as "The Appledore Cook Book". Grilled cheese sandwiches, known as toasted cheese sandwiches or cheese dreams, were a staple meal in family homes during World War II. The inexpensive ingredients, such as flour and processed foods like spam and canned vegetables, allowed people to provide a substantial and nourishing meal for their families without the higher cost of fresh, whole ingredients.
After the war, the combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches became widespread among schools and government institutions. The meal has remained a constant comfort craving from one generation to the next, with people becoming experts in the craft and discovering ways to consistently reimagine the meal in new ways. For example, the most expensive iteration in the world is the Quintessential Grilled Cheese at Serendipity3 in New York City.
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Frequently asked questions
The combination of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup was originally made to feed people as inexpensively as possible. Tomato soup was created a century before grilled cheese, but they were made popular when paired up during WWII when it was served to military personnel.
The combination was known as toasted cheese sandwiches or cheese dreams.
The vitamin C in tomatoes and carbs in the cheese sandwiches meant that the combination was a quick recipe that could keep energy levels high.
Spam, canned vegetables and soups, margarine, and other processed foods were used to provide a substantial, nourishing meal without the higher cost of fresh, whole ingredients.
The most expensive iteration in the world is the Quintessential Grilled Cheese at Serendipity3 in New York City.
