I never really liked sweet potatoes until I went to college in Memphis. Growing up I think sweet potato fries looked too much like carrots for me to give them a try. After trying the fries at Young Avenue Deli in Memphis, I became obsessed. I went to Sam's Club this weekend and bought sweet potatoes in bulk; I eat them so often that this is actually necessary. Usually, I just wrap them in foil and throw them in the oven, then stuff them with cheese, spices, and fruit, but I wanted to try something new.
Read moreEcho Palm Beach & a Lychee Martini
Maybe it is because of the freezing weather in Baltimore, but I keep wanting to write about my trip to Palm Beach. I used to be one of those people who said they could never live somewhere it's warm year-round because they like seasons, but I'm starting realize that some seasons are terrible. Don't get me wrong, I love the snow, but snow seems to hate me; it's avoiding me like I’m a stage 5 clinger. I don’t understand why, all I want to do is love it and collect it and put it in my freezer so I can use it to make snowballs to throw at my brothers even after its melted away. That’s normal, right?
Read moreGetting {grilled} Cheesy
There are few things more comforting in this world than the combination of bread and cheese. I wrote about French Onion Soup as my favorite comfort food almost a year ago. But today, instead of talking about delicious bread soaking in a brandy-beef broth with gooey cheese melted over it, I will be talking about an equally delicious and gooey food-- the grilled cheese.
It’s no secret that my family loves grilled cheese; my little brother used to eat one every day for breakfast. I jumped on the grilled cheese bandwagon and started eating them myself a few weeks ago and have been playing around with a few variations, mostly based on what leftovers were in my fridge. They are so easy to make, and with so many choices, I never feel like I am eating the same thing! So defeat your lunchtime boredom with these 20 fancified grilled cheese!
1. Wake the f*** up!: Swiss cheese, avocado, 1 or 2 fried eggs, siracha, english muffin
2. Mademoiselle: Brie, honey, pear, croissant
3. French Onion Soup: Caramelized onions, reduced brandy and beef stock, Gruyere cheese, ciabatta
4. Caprese: tomato, basil, mozzarella, focaccia
5. Broccoli-Cheddar soup: Broccoli, cheddar, ham (optional), focaccia
6. Fall harvest: Apple butter, rosemary, cheddar, ciabatta
7. You ate my sandwich? MY SANDWICH!?: Turkey, apples/cranberry sauce, gravy, brie, wheat bread
8. Grown-up: Balsamic glaze, brussel sprouts+minced garlic, havarti, brioche
9. Summer lovin': Peaches, mascarpone, honey, rosemary, croissant
10. Minimalist: Fried sage, Fontina, challah
11. Tree hugger: Grilled vegetables, goat cheese, basalmic, wheat bread/ciabatta
12. Texan: goat cheese, blackbeans, guacamole, cornbread/texas toast
13. A step up: Gruyere, prosciutto, arugula, and tomato, Focaccia
14. Jalepeno popper: jalepenos, sourdough, cream cheese, jack/cheddar cheese, biscuit
15. Lazy Sunday: brie, blueberries, french toast
16. Pregnant woman: Cheddar, bacon, pickles, sourdough, white bread
17. Steakhouse: Steak, gorganzola, arugala, basalmic reduction, brioche
18. Southern gentleman: fried chicken, cheddar, waffle
19. Be Mine: roasted strawberries, dark chocolate, mascarpone, french toast
20. Baltimore: crab, mac and cheese, hot dog bits, old bay, sourdough
If you are dizzied with delight after reading this list and just don’t know where to begin, I asked our resident grilled cheese expert to lend a helping hand and recommend his top 5 from this list (in no particular order)- Caprese, Fall Harvest, Lazy Sunday, Southern Gentleman, and Baltimore (not pictured).
If sometimes you want the comfort of grilled cheese without the heavy carbs that come with it, here are two options for the grilled and the cheese without the bread.
.*HEALTHY OPTIONS*
1.Grilled Zucchini rolls with herbed goat cheese and kalamata olives
2. Grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted red bell peppers, goat cheese
Enjoy the comforting gooeyness my hungry friends! But beware, it can get messy.
Red Cross Beach Bash
Now, this is a complete first world problem, but it is a horrible feeling to fly home from somewhere warm and see your breath the moment you step off the plane. That’s what happened to me when I arrived in Baltimore after an amazing weekend in Palm Beach, FL, for the Red Cross Beach Bash. Besides tickets to the event, we won a two night hotel stay, so we had time to explore Palm Beach and revisit all my favorite places.
Read moreAnd we're off!
It's finally here! I am on my way to Palm Beach for the Red Cross Beach Bash with my brand new Lilly tote!
I am so excited to be on my way to 75 degree weather and far from cold Baltimore nights. I am a little sad that I will miss the snow that is supposed to come on Saturday, but a high of 86 is totally worth it.
Many more details about the trip to come!
