Grace's 4th Birthday/ Grilled Cheese Bar/ Beef & Barley Soup

My adorable little spunky niece Grace just turned 4 on December 5th. Here are some of the pictures from her birthday party.

This is the best picture I could capture of these little rascals. Grace is in the middle, her cousin Dominic is on the left and her best friend Cheyenne is on the right. Grace loves My Little Pony right now and that was definitely the theme of the party. 

My sister Erin had the fun idea to have a grilled cheese bar. We made gooey grilled cheese sandwiches using my panini press with a variety of toppings and amazing combinations. I've listed some of my favorites below.

Beef & Barley soup has been one of our family staples this winter. It goes really well with grilled cheese, but really, what doesn't? ;)

The girls in my family love Downton Abby. Watching the hustle and bustle of the kitchen staff makes me very grateful for modern appliances. The recipes in Downton Cooks are great from scratch options that soothe the soul with comfort and nostalgia.  Click here for the Beef & Barley Soup recipe pictured above.

And now for the grilled cheese... Here are some ideas to start, as the possibilities are endless. Pick a basic cheddar and Texas toast, or go ultra gourmet with sourdough, Brie, balsamic, blueberries and basil. A grilled cheese bar is great for a DIY dinner for your guests. You can even customize your options for allergies and dietary restrictions; (think vegetarian, gluten free bread, non-dairy cheese, etc., that everyone can enjoy. And guests get to let their creativity flow.

1-Bread

Have a variety of options; sourdough, French, ciabatta, whole grain, rye, brioche. Or go for the gourmet options like asiago, garlic or jalapeño cheddar. Why not add more cheese? ;)

2-Cheese

Make sure whatever you pick, that the majority has a low melting range. Mix your favorites! Suggestions: cheddar varieties; smoked, sweet, spicy or nutty. Mozzarella, fontina, gruyere, brie or pepper jack to name a few. One of my absolute favorites is a white cheddar with walnut. AmAzing!

3-Ad In's 

Vegetables, fruits, herbs, greens, meats, the works! 

• Herbs: basil, cilantro, parsley, sage and chives add distinctive (and elevated) flavors.
• Fruit: sliced apples, pears and figs pair perfectly with cheese.
• Pickles & relishes: pickled jalapenos are great for adding spice, and regular 
• Vegetables: slice peppers (jalapeño, bell or banana) tomatoes, zucchini, avocado, carrot or caramelized onions 
•  Don’t forget fresh greens like spinach, arugula, kale or radicchio.
• Meats: bacon (because it should be a part of every meal) prosciutto, deli meats such as ham, turkey or chicken, pepperoni or thickly slicked steak.
• Preserves & condiments: fruit jams, pepper jelly and preserves make a wonderful complement to many cheeses, as does mustard (Dijon, hot or honey), pesto, hummus or BBQ sauce.

Have a suggestions menu for your guests to help them with a few combination ideas and encourage them to think outside of the box. I suggest having a few panini presses available or a cast iron skillet in the range. Keep melted butter and a silicone brush handy to butter the outside of the bread for extra flavor and crispness. Keep napkins nearby, oven mits, a spatula to flip (one that can take the heat), and an apron if guests would like to get in the spirit and cover their party clothes. Make sure to have a few basic sandwiches ready to go when your guests arrive so they are not starving while waiting to make their masterpiece. To round out the meal, serve with a soup selection such as tomato, beef & barley as shown below or a simple chicken noodle. Have snacking fruit such as grapes on hand as well as a green salad if you would like.

I have pinned several amazing recipies on Pinterest, follow me and look for my "Sammie's" board. My username is Stilettos7Spice or you can click the link at the top of the blog homepage.

"Zoodles" with Marinara and Chicken Meatballs

I was so happy to get my Amazon shipment today with this little baby inside! Like all culinary addicts, I needed my latest kitchen gadget fix.The GEFU Spirelli Spiral Cutter  tool creates long ribbon "Zoodles" (zucchini noodles) for low carb, yummy pasta. You can also use it to make ribbons out of yellow squash and Julienne carrots or parsnips. It was easy to use and dishwasher safe for easier cleanup.

I made a batch of chicken meatballs to portion out and freeze for future use, in easy, healthy meals in a hurry. they went perfect with the veggie pasta. And you can't beat the smell of these in the oven. Mmm!

Chicken Meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground chicken
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon chicken grill seasoning
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and lightly mist with cooking spray.

Place ground chicken, egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley and grill seasoning and olive oil in a medium bowl.

Knead the mixture gently with your hands until just combined, being careful to not overwork.

Form the mixture into 1-inch balls with your hands and place evenly spaced on the cookie sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes, remove from the oven and add to your favorite sauce. You may simmer for a few minutes longer in the sauce while your pasta cooks, or serve the meatballs plain.

For an added time saver, pick your favorite jarred red sauce. I thought spicy was in order this time to fight the cold weather.

Isn't this dish pretty? I sautéed the veggie noodles in a dash of olive oil for about 3-5 minutes until they were Al dente. I find my wok works great for this. Add the meatballs, sauce and toss until well coated. Plate and add a sprinkling of aged Parmesan cheese to top it off. Enjoy!

Tips: Play around with this. Add mushrooms or julienned bell pepper. You can also add a small amount of cooked wheat angel hair pasta to help smooth over the dish for picky eaters. The pasta helps to create a more traditional spaghetti texture.

This recipe can also be made vegan/ vegetarian by using Morning Star Farms veggie meatballs.

*You may purchase a GEFU Spirelli Spiral Slicer from Amazon.