Reflecting on the Birth of a Comfort Food The first bread slicer that was able to slice a full loaf of bread was invented in Davenport, IA in the 1920s by Otto Frederick Rohwedder, an inventor and jeweler by trade, and bakers across the country thought it was the best invention since…well, sliced bread. Shortly before 1920, the development of a way to process cheese in order to make it keep longer led the way for a new style of cheese, “American” cheese, which before long, was a staple in homes across the country. The ’20s were a perfect storm for the birth of the ultimate sandwich, one that would define comfort food as we know and love it: (**trumpeting sounds) The Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Aside from the obvious allure of this sandwich―the buttery crunchy outside melding with the gooey melty inside to utter perfection―the primary reason for its popularity is its versatility. Any kind of bread or cheese works and most any kind of meat or vegetable can be added to make your little sandwich a complete meal. It can be as healthy or as decadent as you want to make it. There are appliances and pans that are dedicated to the making of the grilled cheese sandwich, or you can make it on your kitchen stove or outside on the grill (your Paradise grill, naturally.). Frugal college students have even been known to make grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron (Don’t do this. Really, we recommend the grill.). While you can (and will) want to come up with your own ideal sandwich, check out these recipes that will definitely up your grilled cheese game. Sweet Apple, Maple Bacon, and Brie Grilled Cheese Photo courtesy of Lemonthisle.com The bacon gives this luscious sandwich a smokey flavor while the brie