A simple upgrade for your fried bologna sandwich to make it even yummier.

Although I love the mayo chip fried bologna sandwich sometimes you just have to step it up.  This version is Tonia’s favorite way to eat bologna.  It is so seldom that we eat lunchmeat that when we do, it has to be something special.  What could be more special than a grilled cheese fried bologna sandwich.  It has the grilled taste of frying the bologna first and the warmth of gooey cheese.  Your taste buds will think this is Mangialicious.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoons butter (for frying)
2 tablespoons butter (for the bread)
8 slices good quality bologna
4 slices bread
4 slices Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
Make 3 little slices around your bologna, from the middle out.  Each slice should be about 1 ½ inch long.  This is so that the bologna does not shrink up and it cooks in the middle.  Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet.  

Add the bologna in a single layer so that most of the surface is touching the pan.  Cook on medium high heat until browned on both sides, maybe 5 minutes total.

While the bologna is frying, spread butter onto all 4 slices of the bread.  Remove the bologna from the pan.  Wipe out your non-stick skillet and melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan.  Place one two pieces of the bread, butter side down in the pan.  Top them both with the fried bologna and then place the cheese on top of the bologna.  Put the remaining slices of bread on top with the butter side up.

Cook over medium heat about 3 – 4 minutes on each side until the bread is toasty and brown and the cheese is melted. 

Remove from the pan and serve while the cheese is warm and melty.

Any way you decide to make your fried bologna sandwich, have fun with it.  Some people fry onions with it, others like theirs with lettuce and tomato.  I have even seen people put ketchup on them.  So experiment in your kitchen with your loved one or with the kids and make something special.

Yes, my bologna has a first name, its F-R-I-E-D.  For those of you who have enjoyed a fried bologna sandwich, you are probably particular about the way you like yours. There are all kinds of techniques and condiments that people like.  Most of us probably like it whatever way our mothers made it.  And of course, that will always be the right way.  If you've never had this before then you are probably scratching your head wondering why on earth anyone would ever eat bologna, much less fry it.
  
Well, because it's good. 

I prefer to use thin cut bologna, fry it till it's dark and then put it on some white bread with a good plop of mayo and potato chips.  There isn't too much you can do to make a bologna sandwich any better. Its beauty is in its simplicity: bologna, white bread.

Fried bologna sandwiches are awesome. If you've never done it before, give it a try. You won’t regret it.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoons butter
8 slices good quality bologna
4 slices bread
Potato Chips
Mayonnaise 

Directions:
Make 3 little slices around your bologna, from the middle out.  Each slice should be about 1 ½ inch long.  This is so that the bologna does not shrink up and it cooks in the middle.  Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet.  

Add the bologna in a single layer so that most of the surface is touching the pan.  Cook on medium high heat until browned on both sides, maybe 5 minutes total.   As it cooks, the bologna gives off a nice savory smell.

Spread the mayo onto two of the slices of bread.  Place the fried bologna on the mayo side, put the potato chips on the sandwich. This was something my mom taught me. The potato chips give the otherwise soft texture of a bologna sandwich a nice, salty crunch.  Put the other piece of bread on top of the chips and smoosh down just a little to nestle the chips in there.  And there you have it.  

A yummy memory of being a kid watching your mom make you lunch.  And while fried bologna sandwiches probably aren't going to be on regular rotation in our menu, it’s a nice little trip down memory lane and it is certainly Mangialicious!