GLUTEN FREE VEGETARIAN GRILLED CHEESE WITH VEGAN JERKY

I'm a committed ovo-lacto vegetarian who sometimes eats as a vegan or raw vegan. Still, there are times when fantasies of devouring the treats of my youth overtake my healthful instincts and I spend time, probably way too much time, thinking of animal-friendly substitutes.

Lately, I've been thinking about an old fashioned diner favorite: the grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and bacon. Herewith, my vegetarian attempt:

I made this grilled cheese sandwich the way my mom always did, with minor adjustments:

1. Butter bread slices on both sides (Here, Earth Balance on homemade gluten-free bread).

2. Fill with slices of cheese (I grew up on American, but used cheddar here).

3. Add sliced tomato.

4. Add crisp bacon (here I used hickory-flavored vegan gluten-free soy jerky).

The bread and cheese parts were melted and crisped to perfection. The tomato could have been a thinner slice. The jerky has good flavor but absolutely no crunch.

Next time, I will try the slice it horizontally, if possible, and pan-fry it first to hopefully crisp it up a bit. Hearty, good-looking sandwich, though, and very vegetarian as well as gluten free! (Easy to make vegan, too, using Daiya cheddar cheese, available at Whole Foods, as is the jerky.)