Anatomy of a Classic: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

The thrifty, comforting meal was a Depression-era staple; in this version, an egg adds a little luxury

Don't mess with a classic: The soup is Campbell's. The bread is white. The cheese is orange. Aimee Lee Studios/Shutterstock

I somehow made it through childhood with minimal exposure to what I now realize was, for many, a cherished part of many a growth spurt: a grilled cheese sandwich alongside a bowl of tomato soup.

This iconic lunch combo, as American as a burger, wasn’t in my parents’ cooking rotation, and my friends were hippies or Korean and it wasn’t on their menus either.