The world is full of comfort foods, but nothing will ever soothe the soul and conjure fond memories of one’s childhood than a nice, hot, crispy and oozing grilled cheese sandwich.  When it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches any cheese is the right cheese and it is hard to go wrong – unless you’re one of many people who are lactose intolerant.

Cue the tears.

But fear not my lactose intolerant friends, today on National Grilled Cheese Day, I have news that will change your entire life.  According to a video by Tech Insider, being lactose intolerant doesn’tt mean avoiding all dairy, and there are a few cheeses that are actually safe to eat.  Aged cheeses like cheddar, swiss and parmesan are best for intolerant folk looking to live on the wild side.  But if you’re still unsure about whether or not to tempt fate, the Tech Insider team has a neat trick to help ease your fears – check the amount of carbohydrates.  Cheeses higher in carbs are often higher in lactose which is a no-no, but if the carb count is low, it’s time for a grilled cheese party!

So my lactose intolerant friends, come celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day with the rest of us with this Messy Grilled Cheese recipe from Williams-Sonoma.  Stay cheesy!

Ingredients:
6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room
temperature
6 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
12 slices country-style bread, each 3/4 inch
thick
1 lb. aged cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Directions:
Preheat an electric panini press according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

In a small bowl, stir together the butter and parsley. Spread one side of each bread slice with the parsley butter. Lay 6 slices, buttered side down, on a clean work surface and top with the cheese, dividing evenly. Top each with one of the remaining bread slices, buttered side up.

Working in batches, place the sandwiches on the preheated panini press, cover and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the sandwiches to a cutting board and cut in half. Serve immediately. Serves 6.