Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

  • home
  • about
    • contact
    • media kit
    • link parties
    • privacy policy
    • where you’ve seen me
  • food
    • easy weeknight meals
  • life
  • frugality
    • Printables Library
  • teaching
  • blogging

Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

January 8, 2018 by Abby

Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

I’m not sure if this is normal, or if it’s a foodie thing, or if I’m just weird, but I sometimes obsess over leftover food. Not boring leftover meals, but fun or unique ingredients sitting in the fridge or cupboards. In this particular instance, I’m referring to the Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions I made a few weeks back.

I made that batch so I could make Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip. That was a solid decision, but I ended up with a container of leftover onions in the fridge. Sure, that’s a good thing, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d make with them. I mulled over and discarded several ideas before landing on Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese.

The last amazing hot sandwich I made was a Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese. Y’all, I still dream about that sandwich, and I can’t believe I haven’t made it again recently. Now it’s got competition, though, in the form of this Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese. I used American cheese for that classic grilled cheese ooze, plus pepper jack for a little boost of heat. Everything was layered on white sandwich bread, which I only buy especially for making kick ass grilled cheese sandwiches.

The star of the sandwich show, though, was definitely the caramelized onions. If you’ve not tried them, even if you don’t usually care for onions, you’re missing out. They aren’t your typical harsh, overwhelmingly-strong onions. Instead, they’re cooked down to a deep brown. The sugars are caramelized, leaving you with tender, sweet onions that are perfect for everything from French onion soup to topping burgers to stuffing inside this over-the-top grilled cheese sandwich.

Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: dinner, food, in the kitchen, recipes, supper — Tagged With: american cheese, caramelized onions, cheese, dinner, lunch, onions, pepper jack cheese, recipe, recipes

Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas

August 14, 2017 by Abby

They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

My local grocery stores don’t always have a large variety of peppers to choose from so, when I saw the crate of poblanos the other day, I grabbed a few without giving any thought to what I’d make with them.

I immediately roasted most of the peppers because I knew I’d want them that way for pretty much anything I would make. I ate some in a potatoes-and-eggs breakfast bowl and added a little more to a sandwich.

And then I made Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas. The idea wasn’t original, since I make fajita quesadillas all the time. I decided to keep these a little simpler, though, to let the veggies shine. Now I’ve made them three times in the last week. Okay, fine. Four times.

I just.can’t.resist. Poblanos aren’t spicy; sometimes they carry a little heat, but mostly they’re just full of flavor. In addition, onions are probably one of my favorite vegetables. Add in a little cheese, plus the crispiness of the corn tortilla, and I could eat these things all day long.

They be simple to make and require only five ingredients, but these Roasted Poblano and Onion Quesadillas are full of mellow vegetables and just the right amount of melted cheese.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: dinner, food, in the kitchen, recipes, snack, supper — Tagged With: appetizer, cheese, corn tortillas, dinner, gluten free, lunch, onions, peppers, poblanos, quesadilla, snack, tortillas

Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita

July 30, 2017 by Abby

 

Need a last-minute appetizer or a quick lunch? Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita, with two kinds of pesto, plump tomatoes, and the unexpected brightness of peperoncini, is the perfect easy recipe.

 Need a last-minute appetizer or a quick lunch? Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita, with two kinds of pesto, plump tomatoes, and the unexpected brightness of peperoncini, is the perfect easy recipe.

One of the first vegetables I remember falling in love with is peperoncini. There were other veggies I ate, of course, but I don’t remember the first time I tried them. Peperoncini, though, I first tried on my sandwich at a popular sub shop. I immediately loved the mildly spicy flavor and the hearty crunch.

Now, I don’t order a sub sandwich without them. In addition, I always have a jar of Mezzetta peperoncini in my refrigerator. I love to eat them on salads, in omelets, and on these Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita. Basically, I’m constantly looking for new ways to eat them. I even have a recipe that uses the liquid from the jar because I’m not about to waste even one little bit. Don’t worry, that won’t be a problem now that you have this recipe on hand.

Need another reason to love Mezzetta? They’re currently offering a sweepstakes with Chef’d to give away 52 meal kits! Plus, all entrants get a 10% off coupon.

 Need a last-minute appetizer or a quick lunch? Toasted Peperoncini and Tomato Pesto Pita, with two kinds of pesto, plump tomatoes, and the unexpected brightness of peperoncini, is the perfect easy recipe.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: food, in the kitchen, recipes, snack — Tagged With: appetizer, cooking, lunch, peperoncini, pesto, pita, recipe, snack, sponsored, sun-dried tomatoes, tomatoes

Tips for Easy School Lunches

March 1, 2017 by Abby

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #2Good2Bear #CollectiveBias

Does packing your kids’ lunches fill you with dread? It doesn’t have to! Check out these tips for easy school lunches.

Does packing your kids' lunches fill you with dread? It doesn't have to! Check out these tips for easy school lunches.

My two oldest kids started school this year. I went from only worrying about my own lunch to being responsible for the three of us (full disclosure: J makes their lunches sometimes, too). I started the school year with big ideas about what I’d pack them and how I’d make the process easier. Some of those ideas panned out, some of them flopped, and some have been tweaked to create what I consider to be a pretty streamlined system.

Tips for Easy School Lunches

Prep for the Whole Week on Sunday

Maybe you can relate to this: Sunday night brings the best intentions regarding school lunches. You’re going to pack well-rounded meals every day. Monday goes well, and Tuesday isn’t bad either, but things go downhill. By Friday, you’re raiding the pantry for combination of items that won’t draw judgment from you kids’ teachers.

Here’s my best tip for overcoming that weekly slide: do as much prep work as possible on Sunday. This can include slicing cheese, making sandwiches, cooking a batch of chicken nuggets or pasta and portioning it into containers. Basically, do in advance anything you can. Not only does it take little additional time to make five sandwiches instead of one, you’ll also save yourself the headache of doing the same chore four more times during the week.

Turn to Ready-Made Treats

I’d say at least 80 percent of what I send in my kids’ lunches is prepared in our home. I’m not talking homegrown produce or from-scratch bread, but instead of prepackaged cheese and crackers, we buy a box of crackers and a brick of cheese. We do this to save money and to make sure our picky eaters get meals we know they’ll eat.

Does packing your kids' lunches fill you with dread? It doesn't have to! Check out these tips for easy school lunches.

There are times I turn to store-bought snacks, though, because they’re convenient and because my kids love them. One of our favorites is TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snacks. My kids love that they’re shaped like bears, and I love that they don’t contain artificial colors, artificial flavors, or high fructose corn syrup. They’re made with ingredients I’m familiar with, like eggs and milk (and, of course, chocolate!).

Does packing your kids' lunches fill you with dread? It doesn't have to! Check out these tips for easy school lunches.

Don’t forget to use ibotta to earn cash back when you purchase TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snacks.  I grab them in the cracker/cookie aisle at Walmart when I’m stocking up on other school-lunch necessities. If you were there February 23, you might have noticed a fun demo featuring TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snacks and GoGo Squeeze.

Use Your Freezer

A long time ago, before I had kids, I saw a tip about making and freezing peanut butter sandwiches. I thought it was ridiculous because peanut butter sandwiches are crazy easy to make. Then I had kids, and those kids started school, and I learned how naive I’d been. Sure, making a peanut butter sandwich may take two minutes, but that’s sometimes two minutes you don’t have.

Now, I buy a loaf or two of bread and use all the slices to make peanut butter sandwiches. I half them, freeze them, and pull them out one at a time as needed. I also use the freezer for berries purchased fresh in season and for pureed vegetables used to make our own pouches.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: food, frugal living, in the kitchen, motherhood, Parenting, snack — Tagged With: in the kitchen, kids, lunch, motherhood, parenting, school, sponsored

Avocado Tuna Salad

September 12, 2016 by Abby

No mayo here. Hearty, healthy ingredients like Greek yogurt and sweet bell peppers will make this avocado tuna salad your new favorite lunch.

Canned tuna is a pretty love it or hate it food. Obviously, I fall in the love it category, even though I’m not a fan of eating it plain. In the past few years I’ve started to substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise and sour cream in a lot recipes, so I decided to give it a shot here, too. I’m also on an avocado kick, so I tossed some of that in, too.

No mayo here. Hearty, healthy ingredients like Greek yogurt and sweet bell peppers will make this avocado tuna salad your new favorite lunch.

I love making my tuna more hearty by adding all kinds of diced vegetables. I just go with whatever I have on hand, which usually consists of diced jalapeño (from a jar), sweet bell pepper in any color, and red onion. Sometimes, if I have it, I’ll throw in celery and cucumbers, too. I love the crunch and the texture those vegetables add.

I don’t care for much for celery or sweet relish, which is why you won’t find either of those in this recipe. You can totally add those if that’s what you’re into, but I love it just the way it is. My favorite ways to eat avocado tuna salad are with pita bread or crackers, like the cracked pepper and olive oil Triscuits from the pictures.

No mayo here. Hearty, healthy ingredients like Greek yogurt and sweet bell peppers will make this avocado tuna salad your new favorite lunch.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: dinner, food, in the kitchen, recipes, snack, supper — Tagged With: avocado, dinner, Greek yogurt, lunch, onion, recipe, recipes, snack, supper, tuna

what i’m loving wednesday

February 4, 2015 by Abby

what i'm loving wednesday: random stuff that I'm liking lately | winstead wanderingI’m pretty excited about what I’m sharing in this week’s post. Most of the items I’m mentioning are things I’ve been using/watching/doing for a while now.

mason jar salads

what i'm loving wednesday | winstead wandering

There was a pin a couple years ago that seemed to be everywhere. The post detailed how to prepare several salads, including dressing, in mason jars and eat them throughout the week. The post promised that the salads would stay fresh for several days. The catch: you had to vacuum seal the jars, just like when you can fruits and vegetables.

That was ridiculous to me. I never gave the idea a second thought. Until a few months ago, when I read this. The post goes into much better detail than I ever could, but the gist is that, if you pack your salad ingredients in the right order, everything will stay fresh and there’s no need to vacuum seal anything.

the blacklist

what i'm loving wednesday | winstead wandering

Surely J. and I aren’t the only ones hooked on this show. I won’t even try to get into the plot, but it stars James Spacer and it is so good. If you’re into shows like White Collar and Burn Notice, you should definitely check out The Blacklist. Be warned, though, it’s quite a bit darker than either of those shows.

pretzel chips

what i'm loving wednesday | winstead wandering

One of my biggest craving weaknesses is for something salty and crunchy. I try not to buy tortilla chips too often, because tortilla chips lead to nachos and nachos lead to pants that don’t fit. I don’t really buy crackers, either, like cheez-its or wheat thins. So what do I reach for when I can’t fight that craving anymore?

Pretzel chips (this is a link to the brand we buy, but they’re currently $8+ a bag, which is way more than we usually pay). The whole family loves them. They’re crispy and salty and perfect for dipping in hummus or as a vehicle for tuna. My kids eat them plain or with slices of cheese. They offer a better calorie count than tortilla or potato chips, too: 110 calories for 13 crisps.

green smoothies

green smoothie

Green smoothies are another one of those things that have been talked and blogged and written about a million times. I first started drinking them a few years ago, when I as pregnant with B. There are so many recipes floating around Pinterest that I won’t add mine to the mix (plus, I don’t really follow a recipe) but I will throw in my two cents. J., my non-vegetable eating husband with the palate of an eight-year old, loves these. Even though the primary ingredient is spinach, I can’t reiterate enough that they don’t taste like spinach. G. and B., who are as vegetable-averse as their dad, love a good “monster drink”, too.

Note: if you don’t have a blender capable of blending ice or a frozen banana, I highly recommend getting a Magic Bullet. I’ve had and used mine steadily for four years, including to make all B. and G.’s baby food, and I’m just now considering buying a new one.)

soma panties

soma panties

We’re getting intimate on the blog today. Over the course of my adult life, I’ve owned underwear that fall all over the price spectrum, from cheap Walmart multi-pack to Victoria’s Secret. And I have to say, I’ve been happier with the panties that fit somewhere in the middle- think Target individually-sold pairs- than with the more expensive brands.

Until I met Soma. My mother-in-law picked up a few pairs of Soma panties for me at the outlet a few weeks ago. These underwear are incomparable. They’re comfortable and soft, yes, which I would expect from a pair of pricey underwear (though if you hit a sale, they’re cheaper than VS). But they’re so much more than that. The leg holes are lined with a thin layer of silicone- it sounds crazy, I know, but it’s hard to explain- that keeps them from riding up or giving you an underwear line; Soma calls it “vanishing edge”. They stay perfectly in place all day, regardless of what you’re wearing them under. If you splurged on a pair- or six- of Soma panties, I don’t think you’d be disappointed.

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. When you click those links and make purchases, you support me, this blog, and my family.)

What are you loving this week?

Filed Under: breakfast, drinks, food, life, Wandering — Tagged With: lunch, snack, tv, what i'm loving

logo
Food Advertisements by

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter

* indicates required
Daily Boutique Deals
Crazy 8
logo
Food Advertisements by
logo

Food Advertisements by

Copyright © 2023 · Designed by Beautiful Dawn Designs