Mouthwatering Grilled Cheese Recipes

Nothing says comfort food better than a mouthwatering grilled cheese sandwich. Filling tummies all around the world, this culinary classic is one of the best meals you can have after a long day at work or even during a stormy night. In celebration of National Grilled Cheese Day on April 12, we give you our favorite versions of this all-time wonder:

Barbecue Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This recipe combines three wonderful things everyone loves: grilled cheese, barbecue, and bacon. Here’s what you need to cook up this appetizing creation:

2 slices of bread
2 tablespoons of your favorite barbecue sauce
Sliced cheddar cheese
Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
5 slices of honey-cured bacon
Salted butter

1. Spread the barbecue sauce evenly on a piece of bread. Add your sliced cheddar, bacon, and Monterey Jack. Top it off with the other slice of bread.

2. Heat your skillet over medium fire. Once it’s hot enough, add your butter.

3. Place your sandwich on the skillet. Make sure it absorbs the butter. Cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts. Flip the sandwich and let it cook for another 4 minutes. Serve hot with a side of fries or potato chips.

Grilled Cheese Bacon-Andi Fisher (via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Andi Fisher/Flickr.com

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Classic Celebrity Homes

Interior Design Cues from Your Favorite Celebs

Want to snag some secrets of celebrity home design? We’ve explored a variety of celebrity homes to investigate their personal styles this year, from breezy bedroom ideas to warm, southern Christmas styles. Here are five top celebs and their decorating secrets.

1. Oprah’s Hawaii Cottage

Nothing is as laid-back and easy as a sophisticated island abode, and Oprah’s Hawaii home is the epitome of effortless style. By keeping the color scheme simple and neutral, the space highlights the windows and the incredible views outside–but details within the design are also worthy of notice. A subtle floral pattern and rich textures work well with the space’s light, airy style.

Oprah.com

Oprah.com

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5 Uses for Christmas Ornaments You Probably Never Thought Of

Christmas ornaments aren’t predictable red and green balls anymore. Try these 5 ideas to repurpose last year’s ornaments for the coming season!

1. Vintage Ornament Wreath

Have a ton of glass balls and colorful, round ornaments that have been passed on for years?

Try combining them into a unique, festive wreath for your front door. You’ll just need a foam wreath base, some tinsel or garlands, and a hot glue to preserve those ornaments in an updated Christmas decoration you’ll actually use.

Wreath by retrorenovation.com

Wreath by retrorenovation.com

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5 Crafty Wreaths for Spring and Summer

Want to brighten up your home’s front door with a splash of color for spring and summer? Here are five fun, crafty wreaths you can put together to add bright style to your home’s entrance. The idea for this super-easy wreath comes from Family Chic. For this eye-catching design, all you need is a foam wreath form and a bunch of bright-colored paper drink umbrellas in various sizes.

Photo by Family Chic from Camilla Fabbri

Photo by Family Chic from Camilla Fabbri

Try experimenting with different arrangements to figure out what works best for you! Grapevine wreaths also work well with cocktail parasols–you could even leave a portion of the grapevine exposed for a slightly different look.

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3 Christmas Dishes You Can Repurpose for Spring

You may have packed away the artificial Christmas tree for the season, but you can still enjoy some of your favorite Christmas dishes–with a twist! Here are three traditional holiday recipes you can tweak to brighten up your spring dinner table.

1. Sugar Cookies

Photo by nuchylee via freedigitalphotos.net

Photo by nuchylee via freedigitalphotos.net

Santa’s favorite snack doesn’t have to disappear when the holidays are over! Try adding a few drops of lemon extract to your favorite sugar cookie recipe, and invest in flower-shaped cutters for a bright, spring-y touch. Royal frosting makes a fantastic glaze, and you can tint it any color of the rainbow to complement your flower shapes. This is a great project for kids, too!

2. Turkey and Gravy

Instead of the traditional turkey and gravy, try making a turkey salad for springtime. Fresh greens are more readily available this time of year. Coupling those lush greens with pieces of roasted turkey, fresh fruits and a light vinaigrette dressing will result in a special brunch or gourmet accompaniment to your regular dinner spread.

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Planning a Farewell Winter Celebration

The end of winter and the beginning of spring is always worthy of a celebration. After all, this is a period of new opportunities – a period for us to recount the blessings of the past year. So why not cap off this season by throwing a simple yet elegant dinner for your family and friends? Here are some tips for a lovely farewell winter celebration.

Photo 1 (Planning A Farewell Winter)

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Family Fun: Easy DIY Spring Décor

Ready… Set…. Spring! Gather the family and welcome the arrival of spring with these easy DIY décor

march-48404_640Winter has already started to pack its bags and make way for Spring. Flowers have started to bloom as an early announcement of the coming season. If you think it’s time for the décor to change, we are right there with you. We have listed down a few easy DIY décor ideas your whole family can enjoy making.

Wooden SPRING Sign for Dad
When it comes to creating challenging crafts that involve power tools, it’s best to let dad handle it. Give the man of the house the job of making this lovely wooden spring sign that you can display in your front porch or backyard. You can purchase a wooden board and some pre-cut wooden letters that spell out “spring”, or dad may want to show off his carpentry skills with wood and power tools by cutting out the letters from wooden boards. Liz from Hoosier Homemade posted this lovely DIY spring wooden craft along with instructions on how to make one.
spring-68934_640

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Family Project: Creating a Window Box Garden

Being in the outdoors is a great way to spend time with the family. You and your loved ones can bring nature closer to home by creating a window box garden together. This project promotes closeness among family members and keeps them refreshed after a long work week while enhancing your home’s curb appeal.

by Sura Nualpradid / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Kick Start the Project

Getting ready entails purchasing the materials, setting a specific day for the project, and getting family members involved. Have on hand the following basic materials: a ready-made window box container made of metal, plastic, concrete, wood, or terra cotta; concrete screws; wood or metal brackets; gardening tools; and planting materials.

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Top 5 Kid-friendly Valentine’s Treats

The day of hearts celebrates all kinds of love. It’s time to show your kids just how diverse love is.

As the month of February arrives, love songs fill the air; shops and restaurants turn their eyes on lovers and all things romantic for Valentine’s Day. But the day of hearts is not simply for lovers, but for everyone who loves. Continue reading

Terrific Tree Tuesday: National Lampoon’s Christmas Tree

If you thought you had the quirkiest seasonal decorations or the biggest decorating dilemmas, the Griswold family might just prove you wrong. One look at the Griswold family Christmas Tree, in the third installment of National Lampoon’s vacation series, makes our little Christmas tree quirks and seasonal issues seem like a walk in the park in comparison. Continue reading