there is no denying that this time of year is very hectic. and i know that i'm not alone when i say that sometimes during the holidays i often end up filling up on sweets instead of actual food. 

suddenly the office is exploding with cookies, candies and even fruit cakes. treats are literally surrounding you. it doesn't help that your already full schedule is now packed with holiday parties and office shindigs. 

basically, now more than ever you need a simple, but satisfying meal you can make quickly and eat on the go if necessary. 

enter a childhood favorite with some adult twists. no, there is no booze. there will be plenty of that at your office holiday party. and let me just tell you from personal experience, do NOT over indulge. you WILL regret it.

grilled cheese has become one of my go to lunches and it even makes visits to my dinner table when i'm really in a pinch. and the best part is that you really can sub anything you want or have on hand in the house. no onions? no problem, you can caramelize shallots or sub something else salty like bacon or ham. no apples? no problem. any fruit or jam will do. white cheddar can be subbed for your favorite melty cheese or a combo of a few. i could go on, but i'm pretty sure you get the point. 

grown up grilled cheese
serves: 1 sandwich
prep time: 30 minutes (note that almost all of the prep time is spent caramelizing onions. if you make some in advance to have on hand or sub another salty ingredient your time will be greatly reduced.)
cook time: 10 minutes
total time: 40 minutes
ingredients: 2 slices of your favorite bread (i used a whole wheat sourdough). .5 cup white cheddar cheese. 4 thin apple slices. 2 tbs arugula roughly chopped. 2 tbs caramelized onions (1 yellow or sweet onion, halved and sliced. 2 tbs olive oil. .5 tsp salt. .25 tsp pepper.) 2 tbs butter, divided. 

tart by caramelizing your onions. combine your onions, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large pan. cook over medium low heat until medium brown and caramelized. stirring ever few minutes. this will take 20-30 minutes. 

while the onions cook, grate your cheese and slice your apples. lightly butter the outsides of both pieces of bread with 1 tbs of butter. reserve the other tbs butter for the pan. 

when your onions are caramelized, start to layer your sandwich. on top of one slice of bread, lay down your cheese, followed by onions, apples and arugula. top with second piece of bread. 

wipe out the pan you cooked the onions in. turn the heat to medium and add the remaining butter. grill your cheese until the bread is toasty and the cheese is melty. about 5 minutes a side. 

when your cheese is melty, remove from the heat, slice and serve. 

xo, a

grown up grilled cheese
serves: 1 sandwich
prep time: 30 minutes (note that almost all of the prep time is spent caramelizing onions. if you make some in advance to have on hand or sub another salty ingredient your time will be greatly reduced.)
cook time: 10 minutes
total time: 40 minutes
ingredients: 2 slices of your favorite bread (i used a whole wheat sourdough). .5 cup white cheddar cheese. 4 thin apple slices. 2 tbs arugula roughly chopped. 2 tbs caramelized onions (1 yellow or sweet onion, halved and sliced. 2 tbs olive oil. .5 tsp salt. .25 tsp pepper.) 2 tbs butter, divided.
start by caramelizing your onions. combine your onions, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large pan. cook over medium low heat until medium brown and caramelized. stirring ever few minutes. this will take 20-30 minutes.
while the onions cook, grate your cheese and slice your apples. lightly butter the outsides of both pieces of bread with 1 tbs of butter. reserve the other tbs butter for the pan.
when your onions are caramelized, start to layer your sandwich. on top of one slice of bread, lay down your cheese, followed by onions, apples and arugula. top with second piece of bread.
wipe out the pan you cooked the onions in. turn the heat to medium and add the remaining butter. grill your cheese until the bread is toasty and the cheese is melty. about 5 minutes a side.
when your cheese is melty, remove from the heat, slice and serve. 

good morning! i hope your candy hangover finds you well. 

now, most of the time for breakfast i am a standard eggs and bacon girl. sure, it could be some
combo of sandwich, or scramble, or poached eggs with candied bacon. you get it. but every once in a while, i get a real serious craving for pancakes. it always hits me out of nowhere. and they can't be any pancakes. i'm looking for a fluffy, flavorful cake. bonus points for some sort of delicious creamy cheese or fruit preserves. hell, even throw some berries in there. 

and the other day i got a MAJOR pancake craving. it was perfectly timed with a morning wes had off and my brother just happened to stop by. 

next thing i knew, this craving crushing beauty was born. 

blood orange + ricotta pancakes
serves: 4
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 20 minutes
total time: 25 minutes

ingredients: 1 cup ricotta cheese. 1 cup all purpose flour. .5 tsp baking powder. 1.5 tbs sugar. .25 tsp fine salt. .75 c whole milk. 2 eggs, separated. zest of 1 blood orange. juice of .5 blood orange. .5 blood orange roughly chopped. extra sliced blood orange for serving. .5 vanilla extract. 2 tablespoons butter for cooking. maple syrup for serving. 

start by whipping your egg white in with a hand beater or in a stand mixer till they have stiff peaks. 

in a large bowl combine the milk, egg yolks, vanilla and ricotta. whisk together till smooth. add in your blood orange zest, juice and segments and mix to combine. 

mix your dry ingredients into the ricotta and milk mixture. 

add a large spoon full of your eggs and mix till combined.

add in the remaining eggs. fold them into the batter till completely combined. 

heat your pan to a medium high heat or heat your electric skillet to 350 f. 

when hot, add in your butter and lightly push it around to cover your cooking surface. 

use a 1/3 measuring cup to pour equal serving of batter onto the skillet or pan. 

cook until bubbles form and start to pop. 

when many of the bubbles have popped, flip your cake. about 3 to 5 minutes. flip and continue to cook till cooked through. and additional 3-5 minutes. 

stack, top with blood orange slices, drizzle with syrup and serve. 

xo, a

blood orange + ricotta pancakes
serves: 4
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 20 minutes
total time: 25 minutes
ingredients: 1 cup ricotta cheese. 1 cup all purpose flour. .5 tsp baking powder. 1.5 tbs sugar. .25 tsp fine salt. .75 c whole milk. 2 eggs, separated. zest of 1 blood orange. juice of .5 blood orange. .5 blood orange roughly chopped. extra sliced blood orange for serving. .5 vanilla extract. 2 tablespoons butter for cooking. maple syrup for serving.
start by whipping your egg white in with a hand beater or in a stand mixer till they have stiff peaks.
in a large bowl combine the milk, egg yolks, vanilla and ricotta. whisk together till smooth.
add in your blood orange zest, juice and segments and mix to combine. in a smaller bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
mix your dry ingredients into the ricotta and milk mixture.
add a large spoon full of your eggs and mix till combined.
add in the remaining eggs. fold them into the batter till combined.
heat your pan to a medium high heat or heat your electric skillet to 350 f.
when hot, add in your butter and lightly push it around to cover your cooking surface.
use a 1/3 measuring cup to pour equal serving of batter onto the skillet or pan. cook until bubbles form and start to pop.
when many of the bubbles have popped, flip your cake. about 3 to 5 minutes. flip and continue to cook till cooked through. and additional 3-5 minutes.
stack, top with blood orange slices, drizzle with syrup and serve.