Tomato soup and grilled cheese. For most of us, these words conjure up childhood images of one of the ultimate comfort meals.

My first memory of eating tomato soup with grilled cheese was at a friend’s house. We were inside playing in the basement on a cold day, and my playmate was bossy and difficult. Nothing about the morning was memorable in a good way. At lunch time, her mom called us up to the kitchen for lunch. I was dismayed to see tomato soup on the table. I didn’t like tomato soup, and I certainly didn’t want it anywhere near my lovely, ooey-gooey grilled cheese. But, I was an extremely polite child and I didn’t want to offend her mother, who was very sweet.

Even to my six-year old, unsophisticated palate, it was clear that grilled cheese and tomato soup was a match made in heaven. It was one of the first times I became aware, on some fundamental level, of the importance of food pairings. The sandwich was perfectly grilled with cheese oozing out of the center, and it tasted even better when it was dipped into the hot tomato soup. I always loved tomatoes, so I’m not sure why I was so convinced that I wouldn’t like it in soup form. It was hot and velvety and tasted like tomatoes (this shouldn’t have been a surprise) with a punch from some mild seasonings. It was like getting wrapped up in a warm blanket on a cold day. I was delighted, and found myself asking for seconds. The soup was probably from a can, and the cheese was no doubt extracted from a plastic wrap envelope, but to my six-year old self, it was perfection.

I still love to eat grilled cheese and tomato-based soups, although the ingredients have gotten a little more sophisticated. I love experimenting with different cheeses in my grilled cheese – whether it be Tallegio, Fontinella, or just a nice sharp Cheddar. And, there are myriad tomato-based soups. Homemade tomato soup with chunks of tomato is a wonderful grown-up option – you can use canned diced tomatoes to add texture to a simple tomato broth. They’re a wonderful ingredient to keep on hand and there are several varieties now available including diced tomatoes with basil and/or garlic, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and diced tomatoes with green peppers. In a pinch, you can grab a can to quickly season a soup. Cream of tomato soup is a richer option – simply add cream (or fat free half and half if you’re watching your waistline) to thicken up a basic soup. Add some fresh vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and onions and you have a hearty vegetable minestrone. Canned cannellini beans, otherwise known as white kidney beans, along with tomatoes and vegetables make for a tasty pasta e fagiole.

For a grown-up version of the classic combo, try the Gibbet Hill Grill (www.gibbethill.com) in Groton, MA. Their Farmhouse Grilled Cheeses feature locally sourced cheeses (the finger sandwiches vary a little from visit to visit) served with a tomato dip that is a wonderful cross between tomato soup and tomato sauce. It is chunky and sweet and perfect for dipping the gourmet grilled cheeses into. When I eat it, I’m six again – in all the best ways.