Tutorial Tuesday: The Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Okay, I have to admit, this post is a little cheesy! (sorry, couldn't resist)

But you see, when I realized that today was "grilled cheese sandwich day" (& apparently the whole month of April is "Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month"), that last Sunday was "sibling day", & that my sister's birthday was last Friday, I knew I had to do this post.

So you may be wondering, what in the world does "grilled cheese day" have to do with "sibling day" & my sister's birthday?  Well, let me explain.

My sister, who happens to be my only sibling, is quite the grilled cheese connoisseur.  In fact, growing up, it was well known by all of our family & friends that she LOVED, and I mean LOVED, grilled cheese sandwiches.  Being the picky eater that she was, her food options were quite limited, but there was one thing you could count on: she would always like a grilled cheese!  Having eaten a grilled cheese from just about every restaurant in town that served them, she can definitely tell you who has the best ones and what makes them good. 

So I decided that for today's post I'd share my sister's recipe for the perfect grilled cheese sandwich!  

What you'll need:
Texas Toast
Kraft Sharp Cheese Slices (the new "Big Slices" are good)
Butter
Pam or other cooking spray

Directions:
1) Spray the pan with cooking spray.

2) Butter both sides of the bread.


3) Add the cheese (at least 2 slices).

4) Turn the burner on medium or low/medium setting & add the bread & cheese. 

5) Flip it occasionally until the cheese is melted and both sides are a golden toasty brown.

{A special thanks to my sister for taking all of these pics for me & providing me with the recipe!  And happy late birthday, sis!  Love you!}

Scripture Sunday: Hospitable Host

God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.  It was the HOTTEST part of the day.  He looked up and saw three men standing.  He RAN from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.  He said, "Master, if it pleases you, stop for a while with your servant.  I'll get some water so you can wash your feet.  Rest under this tree.  I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path."  They said, "Certainly.  Go ahead."  Abraham HURRIED into the tent to Sarah.  He said, "HURRY.  Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread."  Then Abraham RAN to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant WHO LOST NO TIME getting it ready.  Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate. 

Genesis 18: 1-8 (The Message)

When I read this passage, one of the first things I noticed was Abraham's sense of urgency in welcoming these unexpected guests & making sure they were well cared for.  Multiple times, it states that Abraham ran & hurried.  Not only that, but he did it all during the hottest part of the day & a time when he was resting.  It made me think about how much we've lost this sense of hospitality in our society, where we often don't even know our neighbors!  We seem to rarely welcome people we know into our homes, much less unexpected guests that we don't know.  I'm not by any means suggesting that we welcome just anyone off the street into our homes, as it could, unfortunately, be very dangerous.  But I do think we could take a few tips from Abraham. 

First, Abraham looked up & saw the men.  I don't know about you, but I often get caught up in my own little world, and fail to take the time to look around me & see who I might be able to help or to minister to.

Second, Abraham didn't delay.  He saw a need & hurried to help.

Third, he took the time to greet them.  How often do we go throughout our day and fail to to even smile or say hi to those we come in contact with?

Fourth, he acted as a servant.  He honored them, both by speaking to them with respect & by acting to meet their needs.  Although it was the hottest part of the day and he was taking a break, he put their needs above his own.

Finally, he was detailed in taking care of them, supplying water for their feet & food for their tummies.  And he gave them the best (the best flour & a nice plump calf).

My prayer is that God helps me to serve as Abraham served........that He will bring people across my path to minister to, and that, whether it be inviting them into my home or just into my life at that moment, I will serve with a joyful heart.   

Tablescape Thursday: Picnic on the Greens

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.  Psalms 23:1-3 (NIV)

Since this coming Sunday is "Golfer's Day" & the Masters golf tournament is beginning (& because our weather this last weekend was absolutley beautiful!), I decided to treat the golfer in my life to a special
"Picnic on the Greens."

My hubby is an avid golfer, golfing almost every week with his dad.  While most people wait 'til the weather's beautiful to golf, they have a slightly different rule......the 40 / 40 rule.......it must be at least 40* & less than 40 MPH winds.  That's still way too cold for me!  And I think they've actually broken this rule a few times!  Like I said, they're avid golfers!!  I think it's great that they spend that time together, bonding & creating many memories......and boy do they have some stories!  They could probably write a book, or at least start a blog :). 

Me, on the other hand?  I'm just glad when I actually hit the ball!  Let's just say I make a much better cart driver than golfer!  I do go with my husband occasionally, mainly to enjoy the scenery.  (And I must warn you, I've learned a lot of golf terminology & slang....some of which you'll get to see below!)  On most of our vacations, we make it a point to visit a golf course.......so my hubby has gotten to play at some beautiful places......TPC at Saw Grass,  TPC at Scottsdale, Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach.......just to name a few.  He still has a bucket list of courses he eventually wants to play.

But on to the picnic......

While my hubby was out golfing this past Saturday, I decided to set up a special picnic dinner in our backyard.  I chose the greenest place I could find.......the shade grass under two of our trees...... just in front of the woods, and there I arranged the table & chairs. 
(The rest of the yard hasn't quite greened up yet).
{You'll have to forgive the landscape project going on in the background.  We have big plans to have a fountain that flows into a "creek" that will wind it's way around the outer edge of our yard.  But seeing as how this takes time & money, it's a very slow-moving project.  So for now, just imagine that all the dirt is really a small creek gently bubbling in the background.  And when it is complete, you can bet I'll show you the real thing!} 

So back to the tablescape:  At first I considered using darker colors, such as hunter green & burgandy, and using some of my hubby's golf collections (such as golf towels for napkins, golf flags for placemats, golf balls for place cards, etc.), but the beautiful weather just called fore for a much brighter setting.
 So I scrambled around the house, rounding up my dishes & supplies......and after "playing-a-round" a little, this is what I came up with:

I began by covering the small iron table with this red, semi-sheer overlay. 
(The red circle pattern reminded me a little of golf balls).


{Maybe I should have taken all of the pictures from this angle....a much nicer background!}



While I don't have any golf plates (I know, it's hard to believe), I do have a couple of matching golf chip & dip sets, so of course, I had to use them somehow......that's a gimme.

I used the chip platters as chargers........

{If you look closely, you can see the reflection of the clouds & trees on the platter.}

.....then added my everyday red Emeril dinner & salad plates (as I stated in yesterday's post, I love red dishes because they can be used for so many occasions & holidays),
followed by the golf dip bowl & a lime green cup goblet.



{Oops, I left a couple of spreaders & wine glass charms that I was considering using on the plate.}



To add a little more color, I chose royal blue napkins. 
(Although when I was cleaning up after dinner, it hit me that perhaps I should have used yellow napkins instead, since they resemble golf flags.....oh well.)


In keeping with the casual 'scape & to save on space, I simply putt put the colorful flatware inside the goblets.


(I have to admit, running up & down our sloped yard from the house to the table with my dishes was a little rough.  Maybe I should invest in some kind of cart or at least a caddie caddy!)

After drive-ing to the grocery store to pick up a few food items, I came across these fun, bright yellow Pom Pon flowers, and thought they'd be perfect for the table.  Rather than using a vase, I chose to display them in this golf ball bowl.





A couple of candles add to the ambiance.  (Although, they wouldn't stay lit due to the wind.)


I also grabbed this red golf-like bucket out of the garage, in which I had a little gift waiting:
some new golf balls & tees.

As evening approached & my hubby returned home, the table was ready & waiting.....now all we needed was the food.

In order to follow-through with my golf theme, I came up with this "Golfer's Menu" for the evening:
 ~ choice of Sweet Tee or Water Hazard
~ Greens
~ Club Sand-Wedge
~ Chips & Chili (cheese) Dip (yes, "chili dip" is actually a golf term!)
~ Slice of coconut cream pie

I decided the only fair-way to serve this 3-course picnic, was one course at a time.  Using my turf tray, I first served the tee tea & water.......

.....followed by the greens (a salad which consisted of leafy romaine lettuce, tomotoes, carrots, walnuts, and mandarin oranges)........

......next was the club sand-wedge (aka, club sandwich) & choice of chips........

......and finally a slice of coconut cream pie to finish it off!

Because I was short on time, & because I am, unfortunately, quite the amateur when it comes to home-made pies, I let Marie Callendar's make the pie for me!  I must say, it really hit the sweet spot!

Here's a few more pics as the sun was setting:

{I like how the sun is peeking through the tops of the trees}.

 You might be wondering what those big Christmas light spheres are hanging from the trees.  Well, this past Christmas, my hubby made these to add some festivity to our backyard.  I thought all the bright colors were perfect for tonight's picnic and would add some romantic lighting as the sun went down.  So we hooked them back up,
and this is how they looked a little later in the evening:

{The pictures just don't do them justice!}

{I tried taking a pic without the flash to show you the true glow of the lights, & the wonderful cast it made on the table, but it didn't turn out so well!}

 

As the sun set, the evening was beautiful, with a cool breeze and the chirps of a few birdies.  It was right on par with what I had envisioned.  You could say it was an ace, a perfect hole-in-one......no mulligan needed here.  We had a ball.  I think I even scored a few points with my hubby.  (Okay, I know what you're thinking....get a grip with all these golf terms already!)

Well, thanks for swinging by my blog.  Take a few minutes to check out BNOTP's Tablescape Thursday & Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday for a hole whole lot of inspiration by other tablescape pros.

red overlay - The Market at Quail Springs
golf chip & dip sets - Steinmart
red Emeril dinnerware - Dillard's
lime green goblets - Kohl's
colorful flatware - Kohl's
blue napkins - Pier 1
turf tray - Pottery Barn