Grilled Cheese W/Bacon, Spinach, Tomatoes & Fried Eggs

Esi Impraim's inspiration: chef Thomas Keller's Cheesy fried-egg BLT in the 2004 movie Spanglish. Impraim's version is quite different from the original-and just as delicious. Sunset Magazine, July 2009 edition. Have tweaked this, so as to cut down on the caloric value without changing the flavor. :)

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 2 Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 6 -8  tomatoes, halves (soaked & then dried)
• 2  large eggs
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons  softened butter, divided (we used about half the amount)
•  olive oil flavored cooking spray (optional)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1⁄8-1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1  pinch red pepper flakes (a couple pinches, if desired)
• 1  teaspoon  minced flat leaf parsley
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  minced fresh thyme leave
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 4  slices  whole wheat bread
• 1⁄2 cup  coarsely shredded smoked gouda cheese
• 6  slices  crisp-cooked  turkey bacon (made in the microwave)
• 1⁄2 cup  loosely packed  baby spinach leaves

Directions

1. Soak tomatoes in warm water until they're very soft, 20 to 30 minutes, then dry with paper towels.
2. In a large nonstick frying pan, fry eggs in 1/4 tablespoons butter & some olive-oil cooking spray, over medium heat until whites are just set.
3. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine remaining 1 tablespoons butter (more if needed), 1/4 teaspoons salt, pepper to taste, pinch of red pepper flakes, the parsley, thyme, and lemon juice.
5. Transfer eggs to a plate.
6. Spread herb butter on 1 side of each bread slice, dividing evenly.
7. Turn 2 slices over and top with gouda, bacon, tomatoes, and spinach, dividing evenly.
8. Top each sandwich with a fried egg and remaining bread slices, buttered sides up.
9. Cook sandwiches (using olive-oil cooking spray - wherever you can) until golden brown, turning once, about 8 minutes total.