Blog Posts by The Daily Meal

Cheese expert Laura Werlin weighs in on how to make the perfect ooey-gooey grilled cheeseA grilled cheese: the perfect combination of crunch, butter, and melted goodness. People just can't get enough. Grilled cheeses are the perfect example of why we love cooking; without heat and technique, you'd never be able to obtain the sandwich's crispy crust or oozing center. It's a science, and it's one of cooking's greatest accomplishments. Whether you enjoy a Kraft Singles stacker version alongside a bowl of tomato soup or prefer an elegant restaurant creation of crusty sourdough bread with goat cheese and pecorino, you have to appreciate the culinary beauty of a grilled cheese and the impact it makes on our taste buds.

Click here to Learn How to Make the Perfect Grilled Cheese (PLUS Recipes)

Because a grilled cheese is such a perfect creation, it's important to get it right. Forever searching for excellence, The Daily Meal sought out Laura Werlin, cheese expert and author of Grilled Cheese, Please!, to get the facts about how to make the perfect grilled cheese. Werlin's book

Don't want to wait in line for Dave Thomas' Frosty treat? We've got an at-home recipe hereThere's nothing quite like that first spoonful of a Wendy's Frosty. The cold, sweet drink is as old as the red-headed girl on the logo; the Frosty premiered as one of founder Dave Thomas' original creations on the day the first Wendy's opened in 1969, says Denny Lynch, senior VP of communications at Wendy's. "[Thomas] wanted a really thick shake at first, but was concerned that restaurants couldn't produce it consistently," he says. So Thomas went to a dairy supplier and told them to take half vanilla and half chocolate dairy products and mix them together - and to make it thick.

The result was a creamy treat so thick that you can't even sip it through a straw. Of course, the official Wendy's Frosty recipe is on lockdown. But Lynch shared with us that the original recipe has remained almost exactly the same in the 40-plus years Wendy's has been whipping them up. "The only difference is that ice cream has a large amount of butter fat, so we've lowered the [percentage] of butter

Surprise — your favorite lunch option may be on this listThere's an awful lot of pressure to pick the right option during lunch on a typical busy workday. Basically, everyone wants something that's quick, healthy, cheap, and still has some attempt at flavor. But, every once in awhile, we succumb to just grabbing whatever sounds good without giving it a whole lot of thought - such is the problem with grabbing lunch on the go.

Click here to see 20 'Healthy' Foods That Are Actually Unhealthy (And How to Fix Them)

So perhaps it's time to remove yourself from that situation; after all, it's much easier to make health-conscious choices when you're not in a time crunch. It may take a little planning the night before, but it's well worth it. We came up with a list of foods that may sound like healthy options when you're dining out, but are better made at home. The fixes are simple, and perhaps some may not necessarily be surprising, but every once in awhile, it's helpful just to have a reminder.

Check out these 12 Good, Fast, and

The most nutritionally sound breakfast dishes at the most popular fast-food chainsLet's get real - why do most people head to their favorite fast-food chain for breakfast? Perhaps it's the convenience or the consistency, or maybe because it's cheaper than grabbing a cappuccino and scone from that expensive artisanal bakery on the corner. Chances are, the vast array of nutritionally sound options is not coming into the decision-making process - but maybe they should be.




Click here to see America's Healthiest Fast-Food Breakfasts

A host of major fast-food giants are making an effort to offer customers lighter and more nutritious ways to start their mornings, and there's no denying the importance of a healthy breakfast to set you on the right track for the day.

Check out these 15 Mind-Blowing Bacon Dishes

According to nutritionist Kelly Aronica, M.S., the best morning choices with regards to proteins include eggs, smoked salmon, Canadian bacon, and yogurt. On the flip side, steering clear of super-sweet items, such as French toast sticks, pancakes, and pastries is a

What happens when the country's fast-food behemoths pair off with a favorite brand-name food? Well, the best analogy we can come up with is that it tastes something like listening to two of your favorite songs perfectly mashed up together in the most mind-blowing, earth-shattering remix of all time.

Click here to see Favorite Fast-Food Mash-Ups

Only a genius, for instance, could think to create an ice cream made out of Oreo crème filling - not the cookie, just the pure white goodness that according to a poll, 50 percent of eaters go to before dealing with its chocolaty surroundings. Or what about a Taco Bell taco with a shell made out of Nacho Cheese Doritos? Sounds pretty loco to us.

Check out America's Healthiest Fast-Food Breakfasts

Fortunately, some of these food trysts have blossomed into full-on iconic food partnerships on which America depends. Where would 7-Eleven be without the Coke Slurpee (or the Mountain Dew, Fanta, Pepsi, Barq's, or Dr Pepper versions, for that

Every meat lover dreams of cutting into a perfectly grilled steak and sharing the experience with friends and family, but they probably don't dream of paying restaurant prices. Instead, save some dough and make your own perfectly grilled steaks at home. With a few tips from the pros, you'll be able to achieve restaurant-quality results without breaking the bank.

Click here to see Tips From the Pros for Grilling the Perfect Steak

We consulted a couple of experts for their advice on how to achieve consistent, flavorful results every time you hit the grill with some steaks. John Schenk is the corporate executive chef at Strip House Steakhouse, with locations in Houston, New York City, and Las Vegas. Prior to his role at Strip House, he served as executive chef at Monkey Bar and Mad.61 at Barney's New York. His simple, memorable advice will ensure juicy, tender, flavorful steaks each time.

Check out these 10 Expert Marinade Recipes

Jan Birnbaum is the executive chef and co-owner of

Times, scores, and medals aside, these countries make a mean dish in the kitchenWith the Olympics in full swing, there's lots of buzz about who's winning gold and what sport is up next. After a jam-packed weekend, Olympic spectacles are already stealing the headlines - covering everything from record-breaking times and expulsions to drug testing. In light of controversies and gold medals, we're taking it a step further at The Daily Meal and thinking about the games in terms of food.

Click here to see Favorite Regional Dishes from Competing Olympic Countries

Along with being known for their athletic prowess, some of the competing Olympic countries are quite savvy in the kitchen as well. As announcers recalled the ancient Greek origins of the Olympics, we thought about how much we love Greek spreads, and while Americans were appalled when they saw Frenchman Yannick Agnel beat Ryan Lochte and the American team in the men's 4x100 free relay on Sunday, we wondered how his bouillabaisse tastes. The Spaniards are out of the soccer tournament this year? More time

Let's paint the picture: you're at the beach (or the park) as a child, enjoying a perfect, carefree summer afternoon playing around and soaking up the sun. Suddenly you hear the familiar chime of the Good Humor truck rolling down the street. You order an ice cream sandwich; the vanilla ice cream starts to melt as soon as you begin unwrapping and the residue from the chocolate wafers sticks to your fingers. End scene.

Click here to see America's Most Outrageous Ice Cream Sandwiches

Certainly, ice cream sandwiches have come a long way since the iconic Good Humor variety - chefs and ice cream artisans across the country pride themselves on offering innovative and unique twists on this summertime treat. From changing up the base of the sandwich, using anything from slices of banana bread to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, to including unusual ice cream flavors inside, the room for creativity is boundless.

So what makes an ice cream sandwich outrageous? It's all about the