Wednesday, March 14, 2012

If You Haven't, You Must! Grilled Cheese Sandwich

If you haven't tried Kerrygold cheese, you absolutely must!  Once you try it, you'll never go back to your old cheese.  Absolutely never!

Both Skellig (white cheddar) and Dubliner (swiss) are very dry and pungent, but absolutely wonderful.  We originally bought the Dubliner for Reuben sandwiches (and it was heavenly) but it's hubby's new favorite for grilled cheese sandwiches.

He slices up the cheese...(yeah, yellow cheese on yellow plate not easy to see--I decided to take pictures at the last minute).

He slathers butter on the outside of bread and places it butter side down in preheated pan/griddle (medium heat).  Then he layers on thin slices of cheese and tops with a second slice of bread.

He heats it until browned on both sides and cheese has melted.

Grilled cheese sandwiches are best on a really good sour dough bread.  At least, that's hubby's favorite (mine too!)  Our current favorite is from the bakery at Costco.  It's fabulous.

Enjoy!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly

Friday, March 2, 2012

Bridal Shower

This past weekend daughter #2 and I were in Minnesota.  Because Haley was already planning to be in the land of 10,000 lakes to attend the American Idiot Broadway show at the Orpheum in Minneapolis with daughter #1 (and daughter #1's soon to be mom-in-law and sisters-in-law) we decided it would be a good weekend to also have her bridal shower.

Haley hosted the event and I catered.  Bet you didn't know I was that talented, huh?  We had the shower at my dad's house, which required a good cleaning and organizing.  We borrowed a table and chairs from my Aunt Bev, and viola! we were in business.

Haley chose a 50's retro housewife theme using blue and red as the colors.  I researched food to match the time period and came up with 50's finger foods.  Toothpicks, people.  It was all about toothpicks. And Spam, but I chose not to go that route!

Custom invitations daughter #2 found on line.  They were perfect!  She collected vintage-looking Coke bottles to use as centerpieces.



 Punch 'martini' glasses.

 The making of deviled eggs!  I used a plastic pastry bag and large tip to fill the center of the egg whites.

 Deviled eggs.  A staple at dinner parties in the 50's (and today)!


  Individual veggie cups.

Wrapped pickles.  These were my favorite.  Dill pickles wrapped with yummy black forest ham and cream cheese. 
I used vegetable flavored cream cheese to give more flavor.

Pigs in a Blanket.  
In my haste to serve everything while it was still hot, I didn't get a picture of them post baking.

 Tablescape.

 Daughter #2's rockin' shoes she found for $10 at Charlotte Russe.

We served mints, nuts, blue/red m&ms, and chocolate covered pomegranates on the tables.  
Yeah, the pomegranates aren't vintage, but I love them.

The decorations were made complete by these simple white Gerbera daisies.


Beverage and dessert station.  Picture a large vintage silver 30 cup coffee pot on the right and a blue polka dot tea pot on the left that hadn't quite made it to the table before I took the picture.

 Cupcakes and brownies for dessert.

Name tag and recipe card station.  Crocheted pot holders were made by my Grandma Hilda.  She's been gone for 26 years, but both my mom and I have a supply in a multitude of colors.  I found out at the shower that my Aunts have a supply too!


 Daughter #2's handmade banner that hung above the name tag and recipe card station.

Daughter #1 being greeted at the door by her host, daughter #2.  
Eden brought an assortment of outfits to wear.  She didn't find out the theme until that morning!

 The beautiful bride-to-be!

 The buffet.


  Empty baskets are for the Pigs in a Blanket that were about to come out of the oven.

The guests were encouraged to dress in June Cleaver style.  They did not disappoint!  
Eden with 4 of her 6 bridesmaids~Haley, Megan, Eden, Kristen and Laura.  
Check out Haley's and Eden's aprons.  Yes, I made those!

 Let's Eat!

 Roseann (Eden's second mom) and Ann (Eden's soon to be mom-in-law).

That's Rachel in the middle, one of Eden's soon to be sisters-in-law.

 Meatballs!



 Opening gifts.

 She sooo didn't want to wear the crown, lol.  She humored us and wore it anyway.  
We let her take it off when she opened presents.





 Lori, Aunt Karen, Roseann and Kristen.

 Emilee and Aunt Bev.



 Sisters. Love. I heart these two so very much!

 My tall beauties.

Eden and her BFFs.
Megan looks like she just walked off the set of Mad Men.

Alas, I neglected to get even one picture of myself with the bride-to-be.  I really need to work on getting on the other side of the camera!

The shower was wonderful!  Eden is into everything vintage, so she loved the theme and the colors.

It's hard to believe that 3 months from today, Eden will be saying 'I do'.  I had better get going.  I need to find a dress!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly