Foodie Fridays: My Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A grilled cheese sandwich is pretty basic, but I am sure that everyone has their own favorite version of this classic sandwich.  My current favorite includes rye bread (I like all types of rye, and find pumpernickel, marble, and seeded rye to be equally good).  I also like to use two types of cheese - two slices of a medium to sharp cheddar for the flavor, and one slice of mozzarella for an especially gooey cheese filling.

If you used pre-sliced cheese and find it hard to separate the Cheddar slices from each other without tearing them to bits (happens to me all the time), here is my unique solution - after buttering each bread slice, carefully slip the still oily butter knife between the slices and they are pretty much guaranteed to separate cleanly without tearing!  I have used this technique many times now and it has never once failed me. 

Instead of real butter, I now use Country Crock Plant Butter with Almond Oil spread, and actually prefer it.  It is also better for my health - once I switched from a real butter blend to all plant butter (and also switched from half 'n half to nut or oat milk creamer), my cholesterol dropped down to a normal range again.  I was amazed that just making these two changes to my diet made such a difference - I can even still eat real cheese!  If you do not already have a favorite version of a grilled cheese sandwich, give mine a try, or experiment and come up with your own!

My Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich

2 slices rye bread (any flavor)
1 T. softened butter (or a buttery spread)
2 sliced sharp Cheddar cheese
1 slice mozzarella cheese

Spread one side of each bread slice with butter.  Top the unbuttered side of one piece of bread with a slice of Cheddar, then the mozzarella, and finally the remaining Cheddar.  Place the second piece of bread on top with the buttered side facing up.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat.  Place the sandwich in the pan and cook for several minutes until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese starts to melt.  Lift the sandwich out of the pan and flip so that the top side of the sandwich can brown as well.

After a few minutes, when the second side is also golden brown and the cheese is completely melted, remove the sandwich from the pan, cut in half, and serve.  Serves 1.

Wish List Wednesdays: Cobble Hill Vintage Tins 1000-Piece Puzzle

I first saw the Cobble Hill Vintage Tins 1000-Piece Puzzle ($23.99) several months ago, but by the time I was ready to place my order it was out of stock.  It has finally become available again, and I placed an order immediately, but it seems to be selling out pretty quickly, so if you too are fascinated by the lovely vintage tins design you might want to place your order now!  I am really stocking up on jigsaw puzzles right now in anticipation of hot summer days, as I like to work on these puzzles when I am forced to stay indoors to avoid the heat of the day.  I am so glad I was finally able to order this particular puzzle - I really do love the design!

Foodie Fridays: Strawberry Oatmeal Muffins

The strawberries in our local stores have been especially sweet and tasty this year.  I have been buying them on a regular basis, and thought I would try baking with some, which is not something I usually do with strawberries.  I found a recipe for Strawberry Oatmeal Muffins that made six muffins instead of the usual dozen, an amount that is perfect for me since I am only cooking for myself at the moment.

I loved the combination of nutty, chewy oatmeal with the sweet juicy strawberries.  Since I did not have the sanding sugar called for in the recipe to sprinkle on the tops, I just used granulated sugar and it worked just fine.  I found that I did not have to drain my berries before stirring them into the batter because they did not produce much liquid, but if your berries are juicier be sure to drain them or the batter will be too wet.  These muffins are great for breakfast on a spring morning, or at any other time of the year (or day!) for that matter, so give them a try if you are in the mood for muffins.

Strawberry Oatmeal Muffins

1/2 C. milk (I used almond milk)
1/2 C. rolled oats (plus extra for sprinkling)
1 C. diced fresh strawberries
1/4 C. butter, softened
1/2 C. sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Combine the milk and oats together in a small bowl and let soak.  In another bowl, toss the strawberries with 1 tsp. sugar.  Set aside.

Cream the butter and remaining sugar in a large bowl until light.  Add the egg, beating well.  Stir in the vanilla and the soaked oats.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Gently stir the flour mixture into the creamed oats mixture.  Drain the strawberries and fold in gently.

Line a muffin tin with 6 liners and fill equally with the batter.  Sprinkle the sugar and some oats over the tops of the muffins.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool for 10-15 minutes before removing the muffins from the tin.  Serves 6.

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #12

My husband sent me this lovely protea bouquet for our anniversary last week.  This is the second anniversary in a row we had to spend apart thanks to the pandemic 😞.  The good news is that my husband is planning to visit me in New Mexico next month, when we will both finally be fully vaccinated 😊!

Once again I missed posting last weekend, but since I was not able to get into town this past week I will describe the outfit I wore two weeks ago for my essentials shopping trip.  I did manage to get a lot done that day - in addition grocery shopping I left my dogs with the groomer for their baths and nail trims, got my car's oil changed, and went to the bank.  I was actually feeling caught up on most of the items from my to-do list, until I drove out later in the day to pick up my mail.  It was rather warm so I rolled down the two front windows, and then the passenger side window suddenly stopped working.

By the time I got back home it had fallen all the way down and would not go back up.  I called for an appointment to get the window fixed but they could not fit me in until over a week later.  This meant that I could not go anywhere since I did not want to leave my car in a parking lot with one window completely open.  Luckily I am well stocked with supplies so I did not really need to go into town at all, but I still have to pick up my mail every day, and as it has been very windy and cooler this week even these short trips are no fun (you would not believe the amount of dust that will blow into your car on a windy day!).

The day I did get into town was much warmer than normal for this time of year, so much so that I only needed a light sweater and a quilted vest to stay comfortable.  I wore one of my fun Dalmatian sweaters since I was taking my dogs with me to leave with the groomer.  I also wore my silver wishbone necklace, since dogs and bones are such an obvious match!  I don't even remember where I got this necklace, but it paired very well with my sweater:

Clockwise from top left: Tashi Silver Wishbone Necklace (similar to mine); Calvin Klein Full Zip Puffer Vest in Black (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); MIRMARU Women's Cotton Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; prAna Women's London Jeans in Grey Denim (no longer available - similar to mine, also no longer available); Joules Dog Days Sweater in Navy (no longer available).

🐶🚗💉 🐶🚗💉🐶🚗💉🐶🚗💉🐶🚗💉🐶🚗💉🐶🚗💉🐶🚗💉

This week will be a busy one for me.  My dog Madison goes to the vet for her annual exam and vaccinations on Tuesday, my car (finally!) goes in to get the non-functioning window fixed on Wednesday, and on Friday I get my second COVID vaccine.  If I react to the second vaccine in the same way two of my siblings did, then I will definitely experience some uncomfortable side effects such as fever, body aches, and possibly a headache in addition to lethargy and sleepiness.  I am keeping next weekend free of any responsibilities just in case, so if you do not see a post from me it will be because I am recuperating from COVID vaccine side effects.  My siblings recovered completely after a couple of days and hopefully I will do the same.  I hope you have a productive week with beautiful spring weather!

Foodie Fridays: Street Corn Chicken

I have been wanting to make a Mexican street corn recipe for quite a while now, so when I found this recipe for Street Corn Chicken, which uses all of the flavors plus chicken to make a main dish meal, I just had to try it.  This is another one of my favorite types of recipes - quick and easy to make, and absolutely delicious!  All this dish needs is the addition of a salad or green vegetable to round out the meal.  I am looking forward to making this recipe again soon!

Street Corn Chicken

4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 C. frozen corn, thawed
1/2 C. roasted green chile (I used Hatch Valley Roasted Green Chile)
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 lb. chicken tenders
1/4 C. chopped cilantro (I used 1 T. Gourmet Garden Cilantro Paste)
4 oz. queso fresco, crumbled
1/4 C. diced red onion or sliced scallions

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, corn, green chile, chili powder, and cumin (plus cilantro paste if using).

Place the chicken tenders in an 11×7-inch baking dish in a single layer.  Spread with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with the queso fresco, cilantro, and red onions.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.  Serves 3.

Wish List Wednesdays: Nathalie Lete Mushrooms/Champignons 1,000-Piece Puzzle

I just placed my order for the Nathalie Lete Mushrooms/Champignons 1,000-Piece Puzzle ($19.95) at the Anthropologie website, and I look forward to working on this gorgeous jigsaw puzzle!  I love the colors, and the mushrooms are beautifully done in great detail.  Unlike most people, I am more likely to work on puzzles during the heat of summer rather than on cold winter days, so I will probably save this one for warmer weather, when the middle of the day is just too hot to work outside.  If you love to do jigsaw puzzles, you may want to order this one too.  It will not be available for shipment until April 22nd, but if you wait too long you may miss out (I have had that happen with other puzzles when I wait too long to place my order - jigsaw puzzles are a very popular pandemic pastime!).

Foodie Fridays: Curried Couscous Salad

Now that warmer weather is approaching, I am ready to try out new salad recipes.  I found a recipe for Curried Couscous Salad last summer, but only now got around to making it.  I wish I had made this salad sooner because it really is tasty!  It is also very quick and easy, which makes it just my kind of recipe since I am a rather lazy cook.  Don't let the seemingly long list of ingredients intimidate you - the last eight ingredients are for the dressing, and the only cooking needed is for the couscous.  I could not find plain couscous, so I used a boxed mix that worked quite well in this recipe.  I did make a few minor changes - this is the sort of recipe that lends itself to the addition or subtraction of ingredients depending on what you have available.  This salad really is perfect as a spring or summer side dish or even main dish with some added protein, and I look forward to making it again soon.

Curried Couscous Salad

1 C. Israeli or pearl couscous, cooked, rinsed, drained, and cooled
1/2 C. golden raisins
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2-1 C. shredded carrots
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1/4 C. sunflower seed kernels
1/2 C. crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
1/4 C. olive oil
1/4 C. apple cider vinegar
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. honey or sugar
1 tsp. curry powder
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1/4 tsp. smoked paprika
1/4 tsp. salt

Place the first 7 ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour this dressing over the salad mixture and lightly toss to coat.  Taste and season with more salt if needed.  Serves 2 as a main dish or 4 as a side dish.

Wish List Wednesdays: Gardener's Supply Company Vita Urbana Keyhole Garden

Now that the weather is warming up, I am starting to think about getting my vegetable garden ready.  This year I thought I would try a raised bed in the smaller of our two courtyard areas so that I can plant some greens and possibly either beans or peas.  I checked out the Gardener's Supply Company website, and when I saw the Vita Urbana Keyhole Garden ($249.99) I knew it was the one for me.  I liked the 3x5-foot size since the area in which it will sit is not very big, and I also liked the 22-inch height which is taller than most raised beds.  The most interesting aspect of this bed, however, is the composting keyhole, an African technique using a central composting basket into which food scraps and other clean organic matter are placed so that they break down to nourish the surrounding soil where the vegetable crops are growing.  Best of all, a portion of the profits from the sale of these raised beds is donated to help build keyholes gardens in Rwanda in an effort to promote healthy and sustainable food production.  I chose the brown color (below), but it is also available in gray (above).  It is made of a frostproof, BPA/phthalate-free composite that is easily assembled without tools.  I can't wait to receive my new raised bed so that I can get started on planting!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfits of the Week #11

My boldly colorful Easter table, featuring green, turquoise, yellow, white, and black.

I have been very remiss in getting my wardrobe posts up lately, so today I have outfits from the past three weeks.  My big news is that I have received my first COVID vaccine!  I had to go to a supermarket that I had never visited before, so I decided to check out the location the week before my scheduled appointment when I was doing my essentials shopping trip.  Below is the outfit I wore that day, now three weeks ago:

Clockwise from top left: St. John's Bay Cable Women's V Neck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Blackberry Wine; Craghoppers Women's Expolite Hooded Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); Bombas Women's Solids Calf Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Banana Republic Women's High-Rise Straight Jean in Light Wash; Draper's & Damon's Basic Mock Neck Cotton Poly Long Sleeve Tee in Heather Aubergine (color no longer available; similar to mine - Blackberry Wine color no longer available); Center: Sterling Silver Grey Pearl Pendant Necklace (similar to mine).

Someone in the store actually complemented me on the Blackberry Wine color of my sweater and tee, so I think that this reddish purple shade is actually a good color on me.  I guess I need to rethink my reluctance to wear purple!

For my return trip to the store the following week to receive my shot, I wore one of my loose-sleeved sweaters and a tee with sleeves that rolled up easily.  The whole process was relatively quick and I did not even feel the needle when I was vaccinated (although right now, ten days later, the injection site suddenly became swollen and sore, which my doctor brother tells me is not an unusual side effect).  Below is the complete outfit I wore that day:

Clockwise from top left: Acorn Favorite Cotton Sweater in Turquoise (no longer available); Craghoppers Women's Expolite Hooded Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); Target Women's A New Day Crew Socks in Cream; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Coldwater Creek Knit Denim Slim-Leg Leggings in Spice (no longer available); Lands' End Women's Relaxed Cotton Long Sleeve Mock Turtleneck in Ivory (similar to mine); Center: Santo Domingo Irene Lovato Four Strand Turquoise and Orange Spiny Oyster Shell Necklace (similar to mine).

The medical professional who administered my vaccine said she loved the color of my sweater, and so do I.  I plan to add more turquoise blue apparel to my wardrobe in the future.  It is a great color for spring - bright but not too dark, and not too pale for my complexion like most pastels.

Finally, for my shopping trip last week I could not decide if the weather was going to be warm or cool, so I chose a recently purchased light cotton sweater with a thin silk top underneath, plus a quilted vest instead of a coat.  I still ended up being too warm and shed the vest layer pretty quickly - spring has definitely arrived, at least for the next week or so:

Clockwise from top left: J. Crew Factory Leopard Jacquard Pullover Sweater in Khaki Black; Calvin Klein Full Zip Puffer Vest in Black (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available);MIRMARU Women's Cotton Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Banana Republic Women's High-Rise Straight Jean in Light Wash; Terramar Women's Thermasilk Pointelle Scoop Neck Shirt in Natural; Center: Gold Tree of Life Pendant Necklace (similar to mine).

We are enjoying a beautiful and warm Easter Sunday today here in Santa Fe.  You can see the Easter table I set for the day at the top of this post.  Here are a few shots of recently purchased items featured on my table:

I love the new salad plates I purchased recently - the colorful birds and butterflies really stand out on the black background.  The little glass jar contains M&M'S Peanut Butter Chocolate Easter Candy Eggs - they do not taste any different from regular peanut butter M&M'S, but the colors worked for my table.

I bought this cute penguin-shaped egg cooker way back in February but only just used it for the first time to hard-boil eggs for Easter.  I am really impressed with how easy and convenient it is to use - I can cook, cool, store, and serve the eggs in this simple little device!  (Forgive the over-exposed image - the sunlight streaming in from the window was almost more than my iPhone camera could handle.)

I treated myself to a 40-piece floral gift box of 70% dark chocolate Lindt Lindor truffles, which was so pretty I had to add it to my table decor.  The chicken-shaped egg separator is a very recent purchase - it is so cute that it made its way on to my table as well!

🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷 🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷 🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷

I hope to take advantage of our beautiful weather today and get some gardening and yard work done.  I hope you are also experiencing nice spring weather and are planning something fun for the day.  And of course I have to include my favorite short Easter YouTube video - it is my annual tradition, after all!

Foodie Fridays: Avgolemono

For some reason I always associate lemons with spring, so I decided to finally try a recipe for Avgolemono, a lemony egg soup that I have been meaning to make for years but only just now got around to doing so.  I don't know why I waited so long, because this soup is so good!  The tartness of the lemon makes this soup so refreshing, and it is a perfect light side dish for any meal, including an Easter brunch or dinner.  Fresh herbs are the perfect complement to the lemon flavor - I used scallions because that is all I had on hand, but chopped fresh chives, parsley, or dill would also be great as a topping.  Diced cooked chicken could be added to make this a heartier dish, but I liked it as a light and simple appetizer.  If you love lemons, you might want to try making this quick and simple soup yourself.

Avgolemono

4 C. chicken broth
1/4 C. uncooked orzo (or rice or pastina)
salt and pepper to taste
3 eggs
3 T. lemon juice

In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil.  Add the orzo, rice, or pastina and cook until tender but still al dente, about 7 minutes (20 minutes if using rice).  Season with the salt and pepper, reduce the heat to low, and simmer.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and lemon juice until smooth.  Ladle about 1 cup of the hot broth into the egg-and-lemon mixture, then whisk to combine.

Add the mixture back to the simmering saucepan. Stir just until the soup becomes opaque and thickens as the eggs cook, about 1-2 minutes. Add more salt and pepper, if desired, and serve topped with chopped fresh herbs.  Serves 4.