A Galentine's Grilled Cheese Party

Grab your ladies, and grab the cheese. It's time for a grilled cheese party that will make your guests melt in satisfaction (and style)! If you're a fan of Galentine's Day -- whether or not you have a man on your arm -- this party setup is a perfect platform for celebrating. As hostess, I like to provide the staples -- sourdough, multigrain, brioche, and multiple cheeses -- but invite your guests to bring their most creative grilled cheese topping. Basil pesto, fig jam, prosciutto, caramelized onions, arugula, avocado are just a few ideas.

If your group is feeling crafty, cheesy Valentine's cards with headlines such as "Brie Mine" and "You're a Gouda Friend" are an absolutely adorable gesture. Of course, chilled rosé or champagne will add an extra level of fanciness.

Watch the following video (by Noah Glenn) for step-by-step grilled cheese party instructions...And cheers to a cheesy gathering!

[embed]https://youtu.be/z-LMoIWjO_4[/embed]

(featured image via joy the baker)

No-Filler Jumbo Crab Cakes

No filler? No problem. I'm fairly reluctant when I see crab cakes on a menu (with the exception of Clark's in Austin) for fear of disappointment in the crab-to-crumbs ratio. I seek excellence when it comes to a crab cake, as the sweet shellfish is immeasurably best when not tampered with too much. My version celebrates the crab with herbs and just enough fresh breadcrumbs to hold the cakes together. Serve atop an arugula salad or alongside roasted vegetables. No filler, but much satisfaction.

Makes 6 servings

2 pounds jumbo lump blue crab meat 1/2 cup mayonnaise 3 teaspoons seafood seasoning 6 scallions, finely chopped 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped 2 large eggs Black pepper 4 tablespoons fine fresh bread crumbs Olive oil

1. Gently over the crabmeat to remove any shells, and set aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Mix together mayonnaise, seafood seasoning, scallions, basil, eggs, and salt and pepper. Pour mixture over the crabmeat gently mix together. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the crab and continue to mix. Divide mixture into 6 parts and mold cakes with your hands. Do not rinse hands between mixing and forming the cakes.

3. Refrigerate the cakes for 30 minutes. Then, paint the crab cakes with olive oil and sear on a griddle top until lightly golden brown on both sides. Carefully flip to ensure the crab cake do not fall apart.

4. Place the pan in the oven for approximately 5 minutes. Serve immediately with an aioli of your choice.

adapted from food network

Triple Mushroom and Cipollini Gnocchi

With meetings and events and travels, I have hardly taken a breath to spend quality time over the stove, prepping and plating meals of my imagination. Thus, New Years Day posed my ultimate opportunity. I gathered gorgeous recipe rip-outs and jotted-down notes, ventured to the grocery and prepared five plates. No, they did not go together; yes, each was wonderful. My mother was my sous chef--I miss spending routine nights with her in the kitchen--and we had a few friends over to taste the large quantities of food. Among these dishes was a triple mushroom gnocchi, which requires attentive handling and extra time for caramelizing. Sure, a quick sauté will satisfy; though the extra thirty minutes yield naturally sweet undertones and a fragrant kitchen you'll never forget.

As I stood over the range with my wooden spoon that evening, oblivious to time or schedule, I realized the reason for Caramelized. The blog is about unleashing those extra moments--the commonly forgotten step or the seemingly unnecessary break--that bring out the most treasured moments (and meals, too). Time is precious. So, let's allow ourselves to spend extra time in that invigorating novel, or on that "never-ending" walking trail, or at that relative's home we're ready to escape. Who knows--the sweetest moments might arise from such extra focus. I'm confident they will.

Makes 6 servings

2 pounds mixed mushrooms, sliced into 1-inch pieces (I prefer baby bella, shiitake and trumpet) 1 pound cipollini onions, peeled and quartered 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound gnocchi 1 pound shrimp, sautéed in olive oil (optional, for main course topping) Kosher salt and pepper Italian parsley, to garnish Shaved parmesan, to garnish

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and continuously toss until fragrant, approx. 30 seconds.

2. Add onions and mix, caramelizing for approximately 10-12 minutes. Onions should be translucent yet hold their shape.

3. Add butter and, upon melting, add mushrooms. Turn heat down to medium and toss occasionally, caramelizing mushrooms for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add gnocchi and cook for 3 minutes (or according to package instructions). Drain and add gnocchi to mushroom medley. Stir until gnocchi is golden brown and crisped, approx. 3 minutes. See image above for visual guidance.

5. To serve, plate gnocchi with shrimp, a sprinkle of parmesan and Italian parsley.

Delicata Squash Carbonara

A cozy dinner in has been on my mind amidst non-stop calendars flooded with holiday duties. The last instance I found a free Tuesday evening, which I believe was in early November, Alex and I whipped up this carbonara with our favorite vegetable of the season: delicata squash. The sweet-as-sugar addition to traditional carbonara pasta is best coated with my pantry staple, Nature Nate's honey. The squash is drizzled and roasted, then combined with a traditional pasta recipe of egg and crisp pancetta. It's a dreamy combination, especially when paired with cooler temperatures and some Fleetwood Mac on the record... I urge you to take out the calendars and block off an evening for you and this slightly sweet, savory pasta. Whether shared with friends, family or that special someone, you'll be so thankful you did so. Enjoy, my friends!

Makes 6 servings

2 medium delicata squash 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon Nature Nate's honey Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 ounces Pigasus pancetta, sliced into 1/2-inch cubes 12 ounces bucatini 5 large egg yolks 2 teaspoons lemon zest Pecorino, to serve

1. Halve squash lengthwise, scrape out seeds, and slice crosswise into 1/4-inch thick half moons. Toss with oil and Nature Nate's honey in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper.

2. Arrange squash slices on a wire rack set inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast in a 350-degree oven until squash is tender yet still holds its shape, approximately 30 minutes. Transfer squash to a platter; set aside.

3. Add pancetta to a skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to a small bowl. Reserve skillet with drippings.

4. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Add pasta to skillet with 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid and toss to coat, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon.

5. Lightly beat egg yolks and lemon zest in a large bowl. Working quickly, add hot pasta to egg mixture and toss vigorously with tongs until a thick, glossy sauce forms, about 4 minutes. (If sauce still looks watery, keep tossing).

6. Carefully add pancetta and reserved squash to pasta, season with salt and pepper, and toss everything together. Shave Pecorino over pasta and top with more pepper just before serving.

Adapted from bon appetît

This post is in partnership with Nature Nate’s. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

Egg Yolk Ravioli with Tomato Bacon Chutney

Upon aimlessly scrolling through Instagram last week, I came across an egg yolk ravioli that simply made me wonder: Why can't this be served for brunch? Eggs with bacon in a new presentation? Friends, listen up: ravioli can be served for brunch. Your guests will welcome the idea with open arms, especially during the holiday season. I added a gorgeous chutney of blistered tomatoes and bacon with paper-thin shaved parmesan and butter. It's undeniably rich and unmistakably memorable. If you're intimidated by making fresh pasta dough (especially for a crowd), call a local pasta maker for a pound of fresh pasta sheets. Less stress, guaranteed execution.

Makes 6 servings

RAVIOLI

1 cup whole-milk ricotta 1/3 cup grated parmesan Kosher salt + black pepper Fresh pasta dough, rolled into flat sheets Flour, to dust dough 6 large eggs 1 large egg + 2 tablespoons water, for egg wash

TOMATO BACON CHUTNEY

1 pint cherry tomatoes Kosher salt Red pepper flakes, to garnish 6 strips bacon, cut into 1-inch squares 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons fresh sage, cut into strips Shaved parmesan cheese, to garnish

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and add tomatoes. Toss tomatoes with a generous drizzle of olive oil and pinch of salt. Roast for 15-20 minutes, shuffling tomatoes on pan every 5 minutes, until tomatoes are blistered but not burst.

2. Meanwhile, mix ricotta, parmesan and salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Transfer to a large Ziploc bag and place in refrigerator.

3. On the stove, place the bacon in a medium frying pan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

4. Lightly flour a countertop surface, and cut a 6-inch square of pasta dough. Remove cheese from refrigerator and cut 1/2 inch hole from the bottom Ziploc corner. Pipe a 1 1/2-diameter ring of filling onto the pasta, forming a nest for the egg yolk.

5. Crack an egg and separate whites from yolk. Gently place yolk in the hole of the ricotta ring. Brush edges with egg wash, then gently cover the egg with another 6-inch pasta sheet. Be careful not to break the yolk!

6. Cut away extra pasta dough, either with a knife or cookie cutter. Immediately add the ravioli to the boiling water and cook until floating and the cheese filling is warmed through, about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove with a slotted spoon and continue with remaining ravioli. If you prefer not to immediately cook, freeze the prepared pasta.

7. Add blistered tomatoes, butter and sage to bacon pan. Saute for 2-3 minutes until all is combined. To serve, place a ravioli on a plate with tomato bacon chutney and garnish with shaved parmesan and red pepper flakes.

Mexican Mahi Ceviche

I just returned from the beautiful shores of Puerto Vallarta, a sleepy tourist town in Southwest Mexico with the most beautiful of sites and tastes and people. Reality is slowly (and sadly) setting in during these cooler rainy days in Memphis, and I can still feel the sunny, salty air and taste the addictive, salty guac that seemed to arrive on-demand every few hours of the trip...

Traveling with my boyfriend Alex's family was a dream. Though I missed mine dearly over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Shindler-Hughes-Dufour group of 19 proved to offer the best balance of character: easy-going and wildly entertaining, welcoming and grateful. We spent 7 days swimming with dolphins, touring the town's food scene, boating in the Bay, beaching and fishing. Of course, each bucket list activity was framed with a homemade breakfast and dinner in the open-air kitchen and Harry Potter-esque dining room of our seven-story private casa. And plenty of cinnamon sugar-rolled churro deliveries, per Carey's request.

The ultimate highlight was reeling in a 35-pound Mahi (or Dorado) off the Bay of Banderas. Alex's dad, David, helped me hold onto the fishing rod for dear life as the fish fought the line for what felt like five years. Luckily, Lindsey, Adam and Tiffany were ready with cameras, GoPros, and instant polaroids in one hand (and a Tecate beer in the other).

For my first-ever deep sea fishing trip, it was a delight to witness the process in its entirety, from reeling and catching to filleting and serving. Upon returning to Casa Yvonneka, our chef Melena prepared the most exquisite sashimi-style ceviche. I hope to recreate this recipe at home, though nothing beats a fresh catch!

Makes 6 servings

1 pound mahi fillets, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick strips
1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
4 jalapeño chiles, seeded; 2 minced, 2 thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1. Combine fish, lime juice, and oregano in large glass bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Chill for approximately 20 minutes.

2. Strain almost all lime juice from fish. Stir in onion, minced and sliced jalapeños, and cilantro. Season with salt. Serve, or chill up to 2 hours.

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