havarti

The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

The combination of creamy gouda and havarti cheese make a silky, cheesy macaroni and cheese sauce that tastes far better than the boxed kind.

There are several basic, classic, everyone-loves-them-because-even-when-we-shouldn’t-we-still-crave-them recipes I am driven to master.

The best steak. Check.

The juiciest roasted chicken. Got it.

The best potato salad. Double check and thank you mom.

The best homemade fudge. Ever. End of story. Period.

I’ve made several macaroni and cheese recipes on the blog, one with lobster, another with gobs of cheese and bacon, and yet another loaded with veggies and such and I’ve deemed each of them a wonder in their own right.

But I was missing something. I was missing the basic, homey, comfort food classic of a good old-fashioned baked macaroni and cheese.

But not anymore.

This recipe, affirmed by all of the “mmm-this-is-so-unbelievable”, “can-I-have-more-please” comments, THIS recipe, with it’s incredibly silky, cheesy sauce, is the best classic yet.

continue to the recipe… about The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

Brown Sugar Pecans and Sweet Bacon with Havarti Grilled Cheese

Meeting in the middle of savory and sweet, this candied bacon and pecan grilled cheese is great for lunch but makes a unique dessert too.

Today is a gooey day. Certainly meltable even if we have yet to hit the heights of summer. Ring the bells and warm up your skillets, it’s National Grilled Cheese Day!

Throughout the month of April I’m partnering with one of my favorite cheese makers, Wisconsin’s Arla Dofino, to create and share three recipes featuring three of my favorite, meltable cheeses: Dill Havarti, Creamy Havarti and Smoked Gouda.

I started off the month at a good clip, with my Spicy Smashed Avocado & Asparagus with Dill Havarti Grilled Cheese. If you haven’t yet tried Arla Dofino Dill Havarti, tick tock, this is the time.

This week I’m keeping up the pace with this savory meets sweet (sounds like me and my man, but who is which?) grilled cheese sandwich that melts somewhere in the middle of lunch and dessert.

It’s simply the best place to be.continue to the recipe… about Brown Sugar Pecans and Sweet Bacon with Havarti Grilled Cheese

Spicy Smashed Avocado & Asparagus with Dill Havarti Grilled Cheese

Roasted asparagus and spicy smashed avocado are fun additions to this grilled cheese, that features a dill-flavored havarti and seedy whole wheat bread.

Why the heck do I always feel the need to stack sandwiches?

Call me a dare devil (or maybe not) but maybe it’s just a bit more fun when I can challenge myself to a game of Jenga with a fantastically good, hot, melted sandwich.

See what one resorts to when one works alone? Please send someone if I start calling my sandwiches Wilson.

Since the first year that I started la bloggity blog, the flip of the calendar page to the month of April (make that the swipe of the screen on your iPhone if you’re living in 2015) promises an event of epic proportions.

Towering proportions even. An event that not even spring showers, cotton tails or bunny trails can top.

Or topple over.

It’s NATIONAL GRILLED CHEESE MONTH!continue to the recipe… about Spicy Smashed Avocado & Asparagus with Dill Havarti Grilled Cheese

Raspberry and Chocolate With Almonds Grilled Cheese

Havarti cheese, creamy mascarpone, tart raspberries, milk chocolate with almonds and orange zest get melty and gooey pressed in between hunks of angel food cake in this surprising and delicious take on grilled cheese.

Grilled Cheese—it’s standard fare at our house. Savory? Sure! But, sweet? Absolutely!

Sometimes we all get in a rut with that cheddar-on-white-bread-with-tomato-soup thing. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that there’s so much more cheesy goodness out there to be melted, gooed and strung into our mouths.

Especially when the cheese is paired with classic almond studded chocolate bars and a bite of sweet, fresh fruit for a savory take on a grilled dessert sandwich.continue to the recipe… about Raspberry and Chocolate With Almonds Grilled Cheese

Crab and Avocado Grilled Cheese

Uh-oh. Looks like I’ve entered an eating contest. It won’t be for hot dogs. It won’t be for pie and it’s not for chicken wings.

This eating contest won’t be with me as a contestant either. Instead, I’ll be on the other side of the table, as a judge. And I won’t be judging others eating. Nope, it’ll be me and a select few who will be doing all of the tasting.

This June I’ll be reprising my role as a judge at the Wisconsin Cheese Academy’s Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown. And loving every crumb of it.

Now, if you haven’t yet entered a recipe that will put me into a dead faint that has me dropped straight into a wheelbarrow and wheeled out the door, now is the time.

With the chance to win a $10,000 grand prize package, it’s probably worth a spin at this game of grilled cheese recipe roulette.

So let’s play!

continue to the recipe… about Crab and Avocado Grilled Cheese

Scrambled Egg and Roasted Asparagus Toasts

Brunch is too often reserved for occasions rather than any regular day of the week. Baby and wedding showers. Once in a while get togethers with friends. Springtime holidays that celebrate eggs and moms in sincere appreciation.

Most often brunches are thought of as a party. A gathering of many rather than just a few. Or even of just two. But this party dish is good any day of the week, and perfect for celebrating with a party of deux.

For the past few celebrations of Easters we’ve been out of town, doing our own version of celebrating in the midst of ringing slot machines, pools and palm trees and a smoragasbord of buffet options that would put any competitive eater’s aspirations at winning a championship to shame.

continue to the recipe… about Scrambled Egg and Roasted Asparagus Toasts