Grilled Southern PB&J Sandwiches with Pimento Cheese, Bacon, & Tomato Jam

As many of y'all know, we go on picnics a lot. We would like to go on one once a week, but sometimes we just don't have time or the weather doesn't permit it. But, we most definitely make time for it eventually, especially for special occasions or holidays. Our last picnic wasn't for any specific reason, but it was an excuse to make a delicious sandwich, dip, and drink. The sandwich was my take on a PB&J... a grilled, Southern PB&J. So what are the components that classify this as a PB&J you ask? Well instead of peanut butter and jelly, there's pimento cheese, crispy bacon, and sweet tomato jam. You get everything you want from a sandwich... creamy, salty, smoky, sweet. It's the perfect grilled cheese, honestly. This Southern PB&J will go down as one of my favorite sandwiches that we have made. It just hits every note that it needs too. So go on and make this fo' yo'self, ya'hear?! Enjoy :)

Our Amazing Picnic

My Mountain Man & Baby Weezy

Grilled Southern PB&J Sandwiches with Pimento Cheese, Bacon, & Tomato Jam

Perfectly Grilled Bread

Look at all the bacon :)

For the Tomato Jam:

1lb Roma Tomatoes, Chopped & Cored

½C Sugar

1 Lime, Zested & Juiced

¼t Cinnamon & Allspice

½t Cumin

Pinch of Chili Powder

1t Hot Sauce

Salt & Pepper, To Taste

  

For the Sandwiches:

4 Slices of Crusty Country Bread, Fried in Bacon Grease until Golden Brown

8 Slices of Thick Cut Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Crispy

Homemade Pimento Cheese

Prepared Tomato Jam

Directions:

1. To Make the Tomato Jam: Combine all the ingredients in a pan, bring to a boil, and then simmer, stirring often until the tomatoes have dissolved and the jam is thick & glossy, about 45 minutes. Set it aside until ready to serve on the sandwich.

2. To Make the Sandwich: On one of the fried bread slices, spread some of the tomato jam in an even layer. On the other slice bread, spread on a thick layer of the homemade pimento cheese, and then top with the slices of bacon. Put the two pieces of bread together, and then grill in a panini press or bake in the oven until the cheese has melted and the sandwich has heated through.

source: tomato jam.