Grilled cheese w/ ketchup: moral imperative, or mortal sin?

[HTRN]

Yes, it's originated in China in the 1690s. The name "Ketchup" is an english mangling of the name. In China, it was known as kôe-chiap or kê-chiap, while in the Malay states, where the Brits came across it, called it kĕchap

[308Mike]

Ketchup has four uses:
1. Dip fries into.
2. Topping for hamburger/cheeseburger.
3. With meatloaf.
4. In soup beans.

5. Slathering over pan-fried liver.

[Rich]

I may burn for this, but a little ketchup also goes well with Boston Baked Beans, along with a little bacon and a drop or two of molasses.

(I think it's to hide the Boston.)

[Termite]

Ketchup can be used as a base ingredient in home made BBQ sauce, but so can tomato sauce.

Putting ketchup on fried fish just means (a) you have no sense of taste, or (b) it's not good fried fish.

If you put ketchup on fresh fried oysters, you need a butt kicking. Ditto for Vidalia onion rings. If you simply MUST put sauce on either of those two, remoulade sauce is much better.

[Steamforger]

Ketchup has four uses:
1. Dip fries into.
2. Topping for hamburger/cheeseburger.
3. With meatloaf.
4. In soup beans.

5. Slathering over pan-fried liver.

Ugh. Why eat the filter out of a cow?

Hypocrite warning I will #$%^ up a sack of oysters in basically any form you can think of to present them.

[Darrell]

Ketchup can be used as a base ingredient in home made BBQ sauce, but so can tomato sauce.

Some people would say that THAT is heresy.

[Denis]

What we think of as Ketchup, is properly, Tomato ketchup. In the previous century, varietys like mushroom and Walnut ketchup were popular, before tomato ketchup became the mainstay.

Mushroom ketchup is a traditional Irish condiment. Difficult to find commercially, and better home-made anyway, but delicious either way. You make it by sauteeing and reducing very, very ripe field mushrooms, the gills of which are fully open - it gives a dark, almost black, savoury liquor.

[SoupOrMan]

No, ketchup does not go on a grilled cheese sandwich. Sliced dill pickles and bacon on the other hand... booyah.

[Rich]

I may burn for this, but a little ketchup also goes well with Boston Baked Beans, along with a little bacon and a drop or two of molasses.

(I think it's to hide the Boston.)

Why on earth would you want to make boston baked beans any sweeter?

You must not have actually had Boston baked beans, because the real thing has as much molasses in it as it does beans (and also has bacon or salt pork).

Having been born and spending a large part of my pre-teen youth (circa 1945-1955) north of the Massachusetts state line, I can assure you I have on occasion sampled Boston Baked Beans. And if I recall correctly, the ketchup was used to dial the sweetness back a little.

[Odahi]

As for tomatoes and ketchup, herewith the Gospel According to Odahi. Ketchup on French fries, usually with mustard on them as well. Ketchup only to mask nasty flavors otherwise. Mustard on grilled cheese. For a change of pace, I do this:
Toast some bread
Spread with mayo (best done after the toast cools)
Dollop of mustard spread thinly atop the mayo
Thick slice of tomato, half inch or better, large enough to cover the toast
Sprinkle with garlic powder
Crumbled bacon
Sliced cheese (Two slices is better than one)
Nuke until cheese is melted
This is way better than it may sound, as is my old sandwich staple of peanut butter, dill pickles, and mayo