In case you haven't had grilled cheese in awhile...

May I suggest a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich for your next lunch? I found a recipe a couple of years ago in Cooking Light magazine, for a Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich. Maybe you can look it up on the recipe search over there, but I modified it to suit what was in my kitchen at the time, and I must say, it's been one of my favorites ever since.
Funny though, it sometimes gets forgotten among all the other meals we eat around my home, and so I have to specifically think about it and intentionally buy the stuff to make it. Which is what I did the other day. I grilled this baby up, sunk my teeth into it while it was still toasty and I said to myself, "I am going to have to put this on my blog!"
One quick 'scrappin' thought' though before I share my recipe; it's just fitting for today. I was thinking who I could compare my "style" and "look" to in the scrap industry. I've had people tell me that I look like Heidi Swapp...which is a compliment! But she's got so much style and fashion sense, and come on!...she's got the color PINK! I love her stuff and her scrap-look and real-life look too, but she's in her own league at the top. Next, I totally admire Elsie (Flanningan in case some of you don't know her by her first name yet) for her carefree attitude and for her quirky style and love of almost everything in life. She's young and already knows what matters and what she wants out of life. Yep...I'd love to do what she does everyday! I definitely see bits of her style rubbing off on me...yet I can't claim to be her! Additionally, there's Carrie (Colbert) Batt and Cathy Zielske, whose ideas about what to scrap about hit me squarely between the eyes. They made me realize that I SHOULD be doing this too. That stories are that important. They have their own unique styles and techniques, and I've seen myself study their work in regards to design and style and I've gleaned some things that have been poured out into my pages from them. I been filled by them in so many facets of my life- beyond scrapbooking. There are others too. I guess I just love ideas and inspiration.
So, all this made me think the past few days about how I could be described in 'scrapbooking terms' and I think I found a good comparison. If I had to label myself, I would say that I'm the 'Rachael Ray of Scrapbooking'. How funny is that? =) But, I think it fits me. She's like the girl-next-door of cooking...the Marianne, not the 'Ginger, movie star', of Giiligan's Island. There's something about her that is very comfortable and easy to like.
I think that's what I am doing through my scrap pages. I want people to be able to see them, read the journaling and somehow relate to my story, or feel like they know me- as if we could be friends. I hope that as I continue scrapping my stuff will inspire people to pick up their own supplies and start trying some things out for themselves. Just play around with it- make it easy, modify my "recipes", you know? Like Rachael Ray in the kitchen. Go out there and have fun and make it 'taste' good and meaningful in your own life. I'm not about glamour and getting to be the best. My hope is that through scrapping I get others to dig a little deeper, try something they might not have otherwise tried, and be pleased with the end result.
Maybe my 'scrap thoughts' are totally off the wall. I don't know, it's just what came to me when I started thinking it through some more. I may not fit a mold in the industry, but that's what's so cool about it- that there is room for new faces and ideas and even making stuff up. Just being true to myself has already gotten me this far. Nitty.Gritty. EveryDay. Me.
Now, here's that Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich...if you're into modified gourmet. =)
I use different bread for this sandwich, and so far it's been all good. Usually I pick up a loaf of Cinnamon Raison Swirl, but I've also used that Cranberry Walnut and Blueberry Swirl bread too. Any kind of 'sweet' toasting bread works here. Pick your favorite...you're the one that's gonna eat it. So, you butter your bread on the outsides, and then spread goat cheese on one side of the non-buttered slice of bread. I buy just plain goat cheese in small tube-like packages. It sort of crumbles when you spread it, so just cover one side of your bread. Easy. Next, spread jam- again, I use different flavors, depending on what I have on hand- blackberry and apricot are two of my favorites. I've also used Cranberry Honeymustard for a more savory flavor. I think that's what the original recipe called for...something savory. Oh yeah, if anybody has a really good Fig Jam (I think you can buy some for me at Williams-Sonoma, hint.hint)...you can send me some. That would be yum-o. =) Put your jam or spread on the other slice of bread, also on the non-buttered side. Place your goat cheese and jam bread together, and grill as you would any other grilled cheese. In a skillet or grill pan over medium heat for a few minutes on either side. That's it. You'll feel like you're a really terrific cook when you eat this little sandwich. Be careful of your first bite or two...the goat cheese gets really hot. Good, but hot. If you make this, for real, email me your thoughts. I'd love to find out if this recipe translated well and tastes good in your kitchen too! Final note on this sandwich...I've eaten it for all three meals, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Anytime of day, this little morsel will satsify! I hope you try it and like it! I'm off to go fix one myself. {nitty.grittyjody@yahoo.com}