Do you notice anything strange about this picture?
Ben unloaded & reloaded the dishwasher last night, God bless his little heart, and instead of putting this lone Tablespoon into the silverware holder, he placed it in the top rack…face up…all alone…
Bahahaha! I don’t know why this made me laugh so hard – but it did. It’s just sitting there all alone, completely out of place!!! Maybe you had to be there…
I get to find fun, goofy surprises like this around the house all the time. Finding parmesan cheese in the hall closet, half-full cups everywhere (he’s seriously worse than the Signs girl) and my good kitchen shears in the garage, are among some of my favorites.
Until I found out he used said kitchen scissors to trim some weeds in the yard with. Really? 
With a face like that, how you can stay mad?? 
Ohhh, in other news, I had the best time last night.
I was invited to attend a Cooking Club Party! 
Every month, a group of 9-10 women who know each other from work, friends of friends, etc., get together at one person’s house. The host picks the menu, hands out a booklet of the recipes when everyone gets there, then they all cook it together! Isn’t that fun?!
Our menu last night was centered around the grill. Nearly every course including Eggplant, Red Pepper & Fontina Panini, Grilled Avocados with Salsa and Grilled Rum-Basted Pineapple was made over the piping hot coals.
Some of the ladies chopped veggies inside, while others manned the grill outside.
We cooked and chatted, with Skinny Girl Margaritas in hand, (have you tried? To die!)
then all sat down to devour our homemade feast.
We went crazy for the Strawberry & Spinach Salad, made with a sweet & garlicky dressing recipe from the host’s mother, and the grilled avocado. More on that in a minute.
I so enjoyed the menu, and my time, that I decided to do a little recreation action tonight – these recipes were totally 2-nights in a row worthy!
Up first, a Grilled Grilled Cheese.
Called a grilled grilled cheese, because I have never actually grilled a grilled cheese sandwich before!
I started by buttering 2 slices of Great Harvest bread.
Then I layered on creamy fontina cheese,
which might be my new favorite cheese because of its superb melting qualities and creamy, mild taste,
cheddar cheese,
and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Tops on…
and to the grill! Super low heat, lid down, ~5-7 minutes total.
Just enough time to get a nice crisp on the outside of the bread, and let the cheese get all gooey and melty. Why have I never done this before?!
Ben certainly enjoyed it!
The real highlight for me though, was the Grilled Avocado.
Thisismynewfavoritethingever.
All you do is slice an avocado in half, drizzle the tops with a little lime juice, olive oil and salt & pepper,
Then lay it face down on the grill, for 5-7 minutes over medium heat.
Sprinkle the top with a little lime juice & salt when it’s done, then prepare to melt alongside the creamy, warm flesh. Add a dallop of fresh salsa to the center to really take it over the edge!
I served a cup of fresh pineapple on the side, too. That was actually done without thinking about the luscious, juicy grilled pineapple served with cold, raspberry sorbet for dessert last night. Mmmmmmlusciousjuicypiiiiineapple…
Thanks to the cooking club for such wonderful company, and a great meal!
For dessert I whipped up a bowl of Blueberry Banana “Ice Cream“…
which actually has no ice NOR cream in it! Just frozen blueberries and a frozen banana.
Whipped into a delicious, creamy concoction that you would SWEAR was the real thing.
FYI, do not be greedy and try to lick the remnants off your food processor’s blade. You may nearly cut your eyeball in the process. I wouldn’t know from experience, I’m just saying it could happen…
I’m off for the evening! See ya’!
~~~~~
That cooking club is such a great idea – how fun!
I love making banana soft-serve and adding in other fruit – it’s also really good with just a little bit of peanut butter.
That grilled avocado is the best idea ever! I want one right now!!
Cooking club sounds like tons of fun! I’ll have to start one of those up in Boston soon
And that grilled cheese… Oh man. I need one now.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of grilling the ‘cado! YUM!
AHHHH! The grilled avocado is such a good idea- must try asap.
Oh wow! Grilled avocados sound incredible!!!! This is a genius idea that I have never heard of until now. You are on to something my dear.
That faux ice cream looks stinkin’ good!
First…this “ice cream” idea intrigues me. I’m not a banana LOVER, but I’m not a hater either. I went back to your original Frozen Banana Custard post you linked to and am completely amazed by this concept. It just doesn’t seem possible that ONE banana, frozen, turns into the bowl of custard!! You best believe my next grocery trip will include bananas for testing purposes.
Second…cheese. I looooove cheese. My favorite is Muenster. Have you tried? If not, you MUST!! I typically just eat it plain…straight outta the fridge (I have the deli dept thinly slice it for me), but my coworker says it makes heavenly grilled cheeses. TRY!!
Mmm love me some muenster! Especially with turkey!
oooooh this all looks amazing! too bad our apartment complex banned grills.
apparently they’re illegal due to the fire hazard. so sad. so we have one, we just feel guilty about using it now.
Grilled grillled cheese… who woulda thunk it?
Love the choice of cheeses!
I have to try that frozen banana “ice cream.” I’ve seen it around, but always forget about it when I’m looking for something sweet.
I find that picture of the dishwasher HILARIOUS!! When I see my husband starting the dishwasher, I always go sneak a peek and end up adding more dishes before running. It’s like he gives each item 4 inches of breathing room
The grilled avocado looks delicious! I just whipped up a batch of cinnamon “mock serve” that I will be serving up with some warm rhubarb compote. YUM!
Perfect post for me right now! I just asked on my blog if anyone had ideas, and this is exactly what I needed.
I have never thought of grilling grilled cheese…or avocado. WOW
Soo funny! That is waht my dishwasher looks like when my BOY loads it up. I always thank him (because atleast he tried) but end up re-doing it. Maybe it’s the Virgo in me : )
Your avacado looks delish! Will definitely try that this weekend!
Hehe I do too. It’s the Type A in me!
Yum, grilled avocado sounds amazing!! Summertime + grilling = best food ever! Now, if you could just pass on the recipe for the delish-sounding strawberry salad, I’d be a happy girl!!
Re: Dishwasher … HILARIOUS!! Must be a man thing. My boyfriend and I have lived together almost a year and some of the things he does just crack me up. For example, he did all our grocery shopping the other day (we usually go together) and he came home with 2 jars of ranch dressing instead of one. Apparently, since I had written “2 for $5″ on the list, just to be sure he got the sale price, he thought I really wanted $5 worth of ranch dressing.
Another one of those you’d-have-to-be-there moments, but it was hilarious to me because we are cheap college students and I would NEVER spend $5 on ranch dressing. He goes, “Well, I thought it was a little weird…”
Ha! Ha! I had to teach my husband that even though it says 2/$5, that doesn’t mean you have to buy two to get the sale price!
Sorry if I am missing, but what do you have in the center of the grilled avocado?
Fresh salsa
thought so but wasn’t positive…Thank you!
Oh that icecream looks divine! I’m going to try that!
I know nothing about licking food processor blades. Nope. Completely foreign concept to me.
i grill year round, so why….why have i never thought to actually GRILL a grilled cheese sandwich???????? i have no freakin idea but you can bet i’ll be doin this! thanks for clueing me in!
That blueberry and banana soft serve is on my to make list! Perfect summer treat
I might have to recreate this entire meal. The whole thing looks amazing!
What a fun evening!! The grilled avocado looks fantastic. This is something I’d love to start. I know my girlfriends would love it!
That grilled cheese is intense btw.
Yum, I love making banana ice cream and the blueberry makes it look so pretty! That grilled cheese looks off the hook delish.
I’ve been reading your blog for a couple weeks now and find you so entertaining
not to mention your recipes make me happy as well as my boyfriend. I made the turkey burgers with bruschetta and in your words “I die” I’m begged by my boyfriend to make them all the time. I even made turkey burgers with spinach, artichoke and mozzarella cheese. Aahhh you have sparked the creative chef in me! Thanks for a wonderful blog with true personality. You have a fan in Florida 
I am so trying the frozen blueberry and banana dessert!
Oh husbands. . .they try so hard, yet it is a hard match for our Type A personalities.
haha I’m like such a boy in that regard…I’m the kind of person who would put a spoon in the dishwasher facing face up like that!
your grilled grilled cheese looks delicious!
Everything looks amazing (not sure about the little spoon though, haha)! I am definately going to try grilling my grilled cheese and making the bannana/blueberry “ice cream,” it definately looks like the real deal!
Love all the food, definitely going to be trying all of it soon!
What I really love about this post is your giant fork and spoon hanging on your wall, so awesome!!
The in-laws arrive tonight (insert Type A anxiety here) and I want to recreate a combination of your meal and Jessica’s meal. How was the eggplant prepared? Was it just sliced and tossed on the grill? Wondering because eggplant is so finicky, you know, some people salt it and let it sit to draw out the moisture before cooking. The grilled avocado, strawberry spinach salad and blueberry-banana no-cream are DEF on the menu. Wish me luck!
Here’s the sandwich recipe! http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/photo/Eggplant-Red-Pepper-and-Fontina-Panini-with-Spinach-Salad-354309
GOOD LUCK!
My mouth is watering. I hate you! I must try this asap! I’ll have to blindfold my hubby though during the avacado part! I had a feeling he’d love these though!
All of that food looks incredible! I need to try making ALL of it! I’ve never heard of grilling an avocado before! I am definitely going to try it! Oh, and the soft serve, I want to try so badly! I cannot wait to register for a blender!
Yum and yum! I love grilled cheese and avocado and everything is better on the grill haha. Can’t wait to try these out. And I want to have a cooking party!!!! Sounds like fun
oh wow! yum, yum, yum!
One question: Do you have a magic way to get the pit out of the other half of the avocado?
I just kind of whack a knife blade into the pit, and it comes right out with the knife!
Ha ha! I spotted that errant spoon right away!
Well, at least it made it’s way INTO the dishwasher – that only happens about 50% of the time at our house! Grrr…
My co-workers and I have a monthly cooking club, too!!!! (This July will be our 1-year anniversary!) The next meeting is this Sunday and the theme is “Finger Food.” At our monthly clubs, we decide on a theme (some past themes were “Apple,” “Pasta,” “City-Themed,” and “Cobbler”) and then every member brings their recipe and ingredients, and we help each other make our dishes, and then enjoy our massive feast after! We started with just 3 and have had as many as 8 people show up. It’s so much fun and I anticipate “Cooking Club Day” every month. For July we’re doing a “Red, White and Blue” theme
I made the grilled avocado – but I used mango salsa instead – yummmyyy – I will be doing it again!
OMG you can GRILL an avocado?? I’m going to try that the next time I have access to a grill!!! I wonder if a George Foreman would work…
Reading this recipe made my mouth water. I am going to give this a try next weekend. Not to big on avocado’s but with the salsa how can it be bad. And I make an awesome pico de gallo!!
Thanks for sharing.
I loved everything about this post except for the almost empty wall wine holder. That lonely wine bottle made me sad, or at least, want to drink it.
[...] tonight (even a salad sounded repulsive to my heat-induced nauseated state.) Peach Banana "Ice Cream" came to mind, but I didn’t have any frozen peaches. Or bananas, for that [...]
Fontina is one of my favorite cheeses too. If you can find it (I’ve only gotten it in Wisconsin), I highly recommend rofumo which is a smoked fontina. Best. Cheese. Evar.
I tried the grilled avocados tonight… Oh… myyy…. Goddd…. it was glorious! I never would have thought of that. Thank you for sharing that…life-changer!
[...] on BPWW, Ben had precariously perched a lone Tablespoon face-up in the top rack of the dishwasher to, apparently, get thoroughly cleaned. Why face-up in the top rack instead of in the silverware [...]
[...] you imagine how yum this would be with grilled avocado on top? My mind is spinning with the endless flavor combo [...]
Am I the only one that noticed you put the cheese on the buttered side of the 1st piece of bread? Is that right? Or am I seeing things? I figured it was suppose to be that way until I saw the top piece with the butter on the outside instead of inside. Help! (don’t even know if you’ll see this since it is an old post).
Haha, that was definitely a mistake – I don’t usually butter both sides!