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Rock The House With Your Toaster Oven

October 25, 2012   33 Comments

Sometimes the simplest snacks are the best. I suppose the above snack isn’t going to win me any awards, but I still wanted to feature it.

Grilled Cheese Tomato

I think that the Food Network has warped our vision of cooking. Can you use a lowly toaster oven and get a great dish? I haven’t seen any of those top chefs use a toaster oven, but I think toaster ovens can be very gourmet.

If you have a toaster oven or an oven with a broiler, I would attempt this recipe as a breakfast, lunch, or snack item. To keep the calories low, I weigh the cheese. I know that sounds kinda wierd - WEIGH THE CHEESE - but I can tell you that I will keep piling on cheese if I don’t give myself a defined limit.

I have a kitchen scale that I use to weigh the high calorie foods (meat and cheese) to keep me in check. I use it when I write recipes for the site to be sure I have the right amounts, but I also think it is a great idea for everyone who has an issue with portion size.

If you don’t have an issue with portion size, raise your hand! (eyes squinting) Out of 25,000 subscribers, I see that 4 of you are good. :)

What is so cool about getting a handle on one ounce of cheese is that you begin to see how far it will take you. Full fat cheese with a strong flavor, like sharp cheddar, is utterly unreal melted. Add it to a fresh tomato (I like the ones on the vine) and your taste buds will likely sing some upbeat pop song.

I have tried a bunch of “reduced fat” cheddars and I just hate the way they taste. Instead of using them, I just weigh the cheese.

Do you have a cheese problem? How do you deal with it?

Cheese & Tomato Cracker Recipe

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Ingredients

4 slices fresh tomato
2 RYVITA or WASA whole grain crackers
1 ounce cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)
salt to taste

Instructions

Preheat broiler or toaster oven to high. Put crackers onto cookie sheet and place tomatoes on top. Sprinkle the tomatoes with salt (optional). Add thin slices of cheese and place under broiler for one minute. Remove when cheese has melted. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

195 calories, 9.7 g fat, 6.0 g saturated fat, 14.0 g carbohydrates, 1.7 g sugar, 9.2 g protein, 3.8 g fiber, 179 mg sodium, 5 Points+

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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33 Comments:

My husband makes these for breakfast several times a week. Yummy and so gealthy!

Hi Lisa, I have been a fan for several months now and always check my email for your latest post. This one caught my eye. I thought it was a raisin bagel - do you think that would crush the healthiness. The idea of the sweetness and tomato - yum! Will try. Thanks for all the great tips!

I make this on a piece of whole wheat bread that I spread a slice of avocado, tomato and cheese. Good point about full fat cheese. Also low fat cheese has more salt for those that have to watch.

Because I don't have a kitchen scale - maybe I should invest in one - I use Sargento's low fat sliced cheese - already has a calorie listed on the package but I was reading Sue's comment (never checked the sodium on low-fat cheese) thought I was being so healthy :)

Yum!1 I love this idea! I have made it before and I love to throw on fresh basil!!

I LOVE cheese. The only fat free cheese that I like is sliced Borden Cheddar, everything else just doesn't seem to have any taste. Melting is a problem too. Portion control is the key for me. Laughing cow and cheese heads low fat string cheese are my preferred choices (pre-packaged for portion control). 2% Velveeta is great for homemade mac & cheese and dips, you don't even miss the fat. When going crazy with cheese... I usually mix 2-4 portions of fat free cheese with 1 portion low/high fat cheese. You are right, a little full fat (and even some low fat) does go a long way. The above recipe reminds me of my favorite english muffin pizza recipe! I use light english muffins, chunky salsa (no sugar/fat) and low fat cheese head string cheese. They can be made in the toaster over too. Yummy!

Mmmm... I bought Wasa crackers, but haven't done anything with them yet. I know you've featured it before but those Laughing Cow cheese wedges are great for portion control - cheesy, but only 35 cal (1 Point) - I also love my Parmesan grater - a small chunk goes a long way! Keep the tips coming - sometimes simple is better!

The toaster oven is total sleeper-kitchen appliance gold. Why do more people not talk about its wonder??

I love tomatoes on my grilled cheese, and the crackers are such a fun twist. Plus the crackers you suggest are HEARTY, so I bet this is a super filling munch.

Looks so yummy, and l love how simple it is. Going to make it today! Do you think any other veggies would be good? Peppers maybe?

I LOVE my toaster oven! I don't use a microwave so it's my preferred appliance! Thanks for the excellent recipes and ideas! This looks yummy....

This looks yummy! I love cheese as well and found the low fat versions did not measure up as far as taste. So I use a food scale. It's sad how little 1 ounce is but I feel better knowing I'm using the right balance.

Whey the cheese? :-)

I make this using weight watchers whole wheat or multigrain bread.

I also love a good whole wheat/sharp cheddar/tomato slice combination. However, I made one modification to your recipe: GARLIC salt, rather than regular salt. Honestly, garlic salt is probably my favorite seasoning. Anyway, it adds another element to contrast to the sweetness of the tomato.

I loved broiled tomato with mozz. cheese! I usually leave the cracker off and put some sauce on top of the tomato, then top with fine shredded cheese.

Cheese problem? Bah!

I kid. Yes ma'am.. I do indeed have a cheese problem. How do I deal with it? Shredder baby!. One ounce of shredded cheese covers more "ground" than sliced.. Easier to get my beloved cheese in every bite!

I use my Breville toaster convection oven all the time. Also I have been using Daiya instead of cheese which I really like. It melts, stretches and tastes like real cheese but it is made out of tapioca and other vegan ingredients.

Try grating the cheese; I'll bet you can get by with half an ounce and eliminate 1 and a half points! Looks yummy.

May I recommend on of my favorites for grilled cheese? Cotswold - comparable to a cheddar, with chives blended in. Mmm. This, with addition of freshly sliced tomatoes, is match made in heaven. While we're on the very timely subject of toaster ovens (I'm searching high and low for one for my family), any favorites out there?

I love my cheep ($20) toaster oven with broiler. Much of my cooking is in small stainless steel dishes in this oven. It is so versatile, and the finished product is superior to that of a microwave, which I avoid. When I need a cup of hot water, I have an electric kettle for that.

I love it when my friend makes me a tuna melt because she uses Dubliner white cheddar and toasts them in her toaster oven. No one makes one better!

I'm a Wisconsin Girl, so I undoubtedly have an issue with cheese! I do need to weigh mine before putting it in salads or if I am going to indulge in a bit of cheese and crackers. I also by the mini babybel cheeses and will throw one in my lunch every now and then for a cheese fix. ;-)

Simple but yet satisfying!

Those look great, I can't wait to try them.

Also, I've read that all low-fat cheeses (except for Mozzarella) are mostly made up of chemicals. This is probably why they taste so gross.

In my opinion, I'd rather take the extra fat if I'm eating real food. But thankfully I love mozzarella!

I do this for myself and for my kids with a light english muffin (100 cal) for breakfast-

We call it cheese toast and it is one of our fastest, most filling, and healthy breakfasts!

I make a similar recipe for lunch. I spread the bread with avacado, add the sliced tomatoes and cheese and after I broil it, I drizzle balsamic vinegar on it!

Pizza is why I bought a toaster oven. A big oven takes so long to heat up, sometimes i forgot i turned it on. It's also great for reheating left over pizza...in a microwave it turns into a soggy sponge.

I've only been making frozen pizza, but I want to try a homemade toaster oven pizza recipe. It should be pretty easy, and I bet it tastes awesome too.

I use laughing cow for the cheese, to stay in check.

I LOATHE fat free cheese. I ABHORR fat free cheese! HATE fat free cheese. If it doesn't melt, its not cheese! ( and have you seen what they use to replace fat? SUGAR! ICK!) A little of the 'real thing' goes a long way. I weigh my cheese as well.

After living in Germany and seeing British commercials for Lea & Perrin's Worchestershire sauce, I discovered another cheesey, delicious, toaster oven snack. Cheese on Toast. A slice of cheddar, on bread and sprinkled with some Lea& Perrins Worchestershire. " Tastes great on cheese on toast!"

I love this grilled cheese tomato recipe. I need to add bell peppers to recipe and it would be perfect. Thanks for sharing!

This grilled cheese tomato looks so zesty and tasty! Absolutely love your creative idea! Thanks for sharing!

Love my toaster oven. Most common thing I make is with a pizza bread type thing. A low calorie flatbread topped with chest boy ar dee pizza sauce, my favorite, some mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top and ten calamata loves.

I've been making these for years although I always add a slice of deli turkey. Very yummy and very filling.

Just going to do avocado cream cheeses egg and tomato with garlic salt today. But yes that looks great. In Australia we are just getting cheese slices with Jalapino in it. That would work great too.

ps : Use my toaster oven for nearly everything.

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