Recipe Background
Do you feel that? The light takes on a new hue. The world feels a little more enchanted. The past is just a touch brighter. Nostalgia can charm us like few other forces in the world. It's times like this we could all use a meal that tastes... well, that tastes like old times. Like Old Times Casserole starts with a base of the best grilled cheese sandwiches you could imagine: sharp cheddar and nutty, creamy Swiss cheese melted between two buttered, toasted slices. On top are oven-roasted tomatoes for brightness and sweetness, with a lusciously creamy and savory custard all over, tasting like all the best dipping sauces ever! Like Old Times Casserole takes you back to when life was simpler and joyous and ignites a spark of that feeling again!
Do you feel that? The light takes on a new hue. The world feels a little more enchanted. The past is just a touch brighter. Nostalgia can charm us like few other forces in the world. It's times like this we could all use a meal that tastes... well, that tastes like old times. Like Old Times Casserole starts with a base of the best grilled cheese sandwiches you could imagine: sharp cheddar and nutty, creamy Swiss cheese melted between two buttered, toasted slices. On top are oven-roasted tomatoes for brightness and sweetness, with a lusciously creamy and savory custard all over, tasting like all the best dipping sauces ever! Like Old Times Casserole takes you back to when life was simpler and joyous and ignites a spark of that feeling again!
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 12 slices white bread
- 12 slices cheddar
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan grated
- 4 cups mixed cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- kosher salt to taste
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 large eggs
- ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves roughly chopped
Directions
- Preheat the broiler.
- Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin layer of the melted butter.
- Lay 6 slices of the bread on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Brush the tops of the slices with 1/2 of the melted butter, being generous.
- Broil the bread, rotating the baking sheet as necessary, until the bread is golden brown and toasted, about 2-4 minutes.
- Flip the bread slices so the untoasted side is up.
- On 3 slices of the bread, place 2 slices of the cheddar each.
- Place 1 slice of the Swiss cheese on each of the remaining 3 bread slices on the baking sheet.
- Broil until the cheese is completely melted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Sandwich the cheddar cheese toast slices and the Swiss toast slices together, placing the cheese in the middle so you have 3 grilled cheeses.
- Transfer the grilled cheese sandwiches from the baking sheet and repeat the process with the remaining butter, the remaining bread, the remaining cheddar, and the remaining Swiss cheese.
- Trim the crusts off the sandwiches.
- Arrange the sandwiches in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the parmesan over the tops of the sandwiches.
- On a baking sheet, scatter the tomatoes and toss with the salt.
- Broil the tomatoes until very soft and the skins are wrinkled and browned in spots, about 4-5 minutes.
- Spread the tomatoes over the sandwiches.
- Switch the broiler to bake and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Whisk together the half-and-half, the mayonnaise, the eggs, the salt, and the pepper in a large bowl.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the tomatoes and the sandwiches. Don't worry if it doesn't completely cover.
- Cover the baking dish with foil.
- Bake until the custard is mostly set, about 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake until the casserole is hot and golden-brown in spots, about 15 minutes.
- Serve topped with the parsley.
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