Full Stomach, Fuller Heart
(an occasional series)
I really should write about “turkey with all the trimmings. After all, it’s the American Thanksgiving meal. And I do love it. But Thanksgiving means tons of preparation. And most of my food-associated memories are about comfort foods, SiBY (Simple-but-Yummy) dishes you can fix with minimal prep (or even none, in the case of take-out). So, as wonderful as “turkey with all the trimmings” is, it doesn’t qualify as comfort food.
What does?
Tom & Chee (tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches)! No American food combo so epitomizes SiBY as tom & chee. I even associate it with being sick. Wait, isn’t that bad? Nope, it’s comforting! As a kid, it meant I got to stay home from school and watch Rocky & Bullwinkle while mom fixed me tom & chee. Later, as a college guy, I did it for myself. What could be easier when it was raining felines and canines than heating up a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup and smash-grilling a massive amount of cheddar cheese between two slices of bread? (A proper grilled cheese sandwich is as flat as that favorite old vinyl record you still listen to.)
I associate tom & chee with romance, too. My college acting teacher assigned me a scene with a former teen beauty queen. Oh, and it featured a kiss. My first thought was, “We’ll have to rehearse that part a lot to get it right.” She invited me over for rehearsal and “a quick lunch” at her apartment, and I thought “Yes! There is a God!” (I was an atheist at the time, but started rethinking that).
When I arrived, I saw two steaming servings of–you guessed it–tom & chee on her dinette table. Forget sharing a bottle at a little café on the Seine (wait, no, don’t—that sounds awesome!)… But anyway, I was certain this would be the moment we fell in love. It wasn’t. Or rather, it wasn’t for her. But we did become friends. And the kiss was cut.
Some time later, however, I did end falling in love, mutually this time, with a smart, talented, beautiful girl who happily rehearses kissing scenes with me–all the time! Oh, and 35 years on, guess what we eat when we want something SiBY?
And when we need a quick meal away from home? We often end up at a Cincinnati-based comfort food chain that makes delicious sandwiches and soups. They’re named for their specialty:
Tom & Chee!
Mitch Teemley 
One of my favorites for this time of year!!
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Just had it the other day!
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SiBY, right?
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Yup! 😉
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Hurray for Tom and Chee!
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I have never had this combination.
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How is that possible? You must correct this error right away!
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Hahahaha it does not seem to make sense to me and I am a South African. I can’t even promise to try it. I might even forget because the combination seems strange to me.
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Don’t knock it till you try it, as the saying goes. But I get it. I’m of Scottish heritage, yet may very well go to my deathbed without ever trying haggis.
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Yep, I remember getting that combination on “sick days” too although I opted for a different cartoon when possible. You brought back memories.
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This post just makes me smile, being grateful in just your brand of gratitude. Gotta love those rehearsals.
Oh, and I heard that in some places gatherings of more than 6 for Thanksgiving are outlawed, though 30 can attend a funeral. So, you guessed it, the tried and true solution. The workaround. On Thanksgiving, friends and family come together to attend the Turkey’s funeral, giblets into the canopic jar-vessel of the oven, and a butter and beer embalming solution goes right into the Turkey. Problem solved…. well, not the 6’ distancing part, though it ramps up to more than 6 people to resolve the rest from there. Cops come to the door? No problem. “Why thank you officers for stopping by to extend your condolences. Mr. Gobbler-Beard would be proud. Won’t you come in and say grace for us?”
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;>)
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Love me some Tom and Chee!
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I grew up with the Chee, but not the Tom. I am allergic to tomatoes 🍅🙁. Comfort food does the trick when you don’t feel well. I still remember my mom bringing me soda and crackers—probably after I sneezed some tomato 🥣 soup.
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And, of course, chicken soup is the ultimate cure-all.
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I meant “sneaked” some tomato soup, but sneezed works too.
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It certainly does in this case. ;>)
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I once did a sermon on grilled cheese sandwiches. Likely tom and chee is the most perfect food and I’ll bet could cure most illnesses.
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My mom had a Girl Scout recipe that was sort of tom & chee rearranged. Heat the condensed soup (w/out water or milk), add cheese, and stir until it melts, then pour over toast. They called it “Blushing Bunny” (a play on “Welsh Rarebit” 😉 ) It was my favorite “Mommy meal.” ❤
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There is nothing like comfort food. One of my favorite meals is Tom & Chee! I also have nostalgic memories of being home sick and given this comforting food. My cartoon of choice though was Underdog!
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Looks like delicious! Happy Thanksgiving! Michael
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Thank you, Michael!
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The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show rocked!! And, whether Tom & Chee or Mac & Chee, one’s down-sick days (or blizzardy days!) were tolerable!
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I remember coming in after shoving the walkway or building an igloo fort and having this for lunch – what could be better!!
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Oh yes–time spent outdoors in the snow prior to tom and chee greatly enhanced the flavor!
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Oh I fondly remember my mom making this for me when I was small. Sadly the old stomach no longer tolerates the tomato soup but grilled cheese gets to make an encore about twice a month! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your bride!
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Thank you, you too, Pete!
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No I believe I pherfer this over turkey any day. 😊
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I love tomato soup and grilled cheese. I dip the sandwich in the soup. Though I have to admit, the day after Thanksgiving I grill a turkey and dressing sandwich…. I can’t wait for it already. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Ah, a dipper. You are not alone.
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That’s definitely a good comfort food choice (and I rather like the “tom and chee” name). My other comfort food (I’m hesitant to admit) is Mac and cheese. Not the kind that grandmother makes from scratch, but the crap that comes in the box. It’s awful for you and is probably barely real food, but lord it hits the spot when I need it.
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Oh, yeah! But at least there are some tasty natural versions (not lo-cal) out there. Trader Joe’s has one, and a lot of stores carry one from Annie’s. Lifelong mac-and-cheese guy here.
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And the funny thing is is that tomato soup when we’re sick, is one of the worse soups we can put in our sick tummies. But what did we know, we were goofy kids. Have a good Thanksgiving, Mitch. 🦃😊
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You too, Lucie!
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Perfect combination ❤️
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You’re such a guy. My comfort food is CHOCOLATE.
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But ice cream will do in a pinch. 😉
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Good point, Linda Lee. Dark Chocolate is hard to beat! (Wasn’t it wonderful news when researchers determined it’s good for us?!)
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Right! All those yummy antioxidants! ❤
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One of my fvts
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You are correct! That is the American all time favorite. Mention it to anyone and you see a dreamy, longing look. I’d rather have that then turkey any day.
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Another comfort food my brother and I liked: creamed tuna on toast. Sounds awful now!!
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I liked it too!
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I also grew up with tomato soup and grilled cheese. I at it so much that I do not eat tomato soup any more, but I do still love grilled cheese.
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I love grilled cheese and tomato soup! It certainly is a comfort food!
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Simple and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
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Oh yes, I love this comfort food too when I”m sick! I’ve never heard it called Tom & Chee..but now I have a nickname for it:) Thanks for sharing this. Mary
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My mother’s favorite meal and a favorite of mine, too!
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I think tomato soup is one of those things that has so much flavor, even if you haven’t been feeling well, you can still taste it! Of course, it’s a law in Vermont that you must use sharp Vermont cheddar on the grilled sandwich!
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;>)
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Tom & Chee … Yummy ❤ ❤
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What do you think about coffee ? Should be nice
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Doing a post on coffee? I might. I have quite a few coffee-fueled.memories. Thanks for the suggestion!
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I actually just bought tomato soup to make some grilled cheese today! love this combo!
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A brilliant combo I have it about twice a week. In the UK we have a thing called Worcester Sauce, not sure if you have the same in the States? Its great with both of these, put it on the cheese before grilling and splash it in the soup as you serve.
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Oh, yes, Worcester (Lead and Perrin’s Worcestershire Sauce) is a ubiquitous condiment in th U.S. Though I’ve never added it my tom and chee (which I had just last night, btw). Good to meet you.
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No time like the present! My other favourite with grilled cheese is Gentlemans Relish???
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First I’ve heard of Gentleman’s Relish. Made from anchovies? Hmm. (It’s also, I’ve learned, the title of a 2001 TV movie with Billy Connolly.)
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amazing read
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Thanks, Jalon.
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My comfort food is basically anything with chocolate and potato, cassava, or jackfruit chips :9
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