Three Magic Words

Add Cream Cheese

Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘I have this handful of recipes I make that (I think) are really good?’ You enjoy making it (maybe not the clean-up afterward), but “eating” it is a joy. And people who have no issues pointing out when something you did sucks say they like it and appear to enjoy themselves while eating it. Some may even rave (too much kindness, stop).

I like my Chili, chicken soup, omelets, homemade hashbrowns, and grilled cheese sandwiches, … and I’ll leave that hanging. Something is missing, and it might come to me if I keep writing, which, by the way, is one of the secrets of life. Keep writing, going, and “showing” up. Keep learning, trying things, experiencing, and exploring.

Try new foods.

I had Indian food for the first time a few weeks ago (maybe months ago). I think I could have handled the hostile spice level, but I wanted to taste the food, so I stepped it back one notch. I don’t go out to eat as often as I once did (inflation!), and I wanted to enjoy it.

The Indian food was good. I’d eat it again, though I’m not sure I’d just go and get it. I’m happy with a cheeseburger and a beer.

Mostly Pub Food!

Each of my (self-proclaimed) culinary accomplishments fits nicely with my simplified view of dining, which I affectionately summarize as pub food. If the question is, what do you guys like to eat? The answer is pub food.

We’ll have a roast, pasta, steak, chicken ala this and that (I love my wife’s enchiladas). We make meatloaf, meatballs, chicken parm (you taste so good), and numerous other “dinners,” but there are some that find their way onto the menu more often because planning dinner every night for the rest of your life is a brutal thankless reality for which no one prepares you.

Every. Damn. Night. Forever.

Every family has go-to meals. Ours happen to be Buffalo wings, Pizza (we make it ourselves), burgers, fajitas, chili (chili dogs, chili fries), grilled cheese (with soup or not), tacos, and nachos (chicken and beef)—pub food! Not every meal or even every few days, but when a day needs something in it, one of these will answer that call.

We keep the stuff around the house. What’s for dinner? I don’t know. How about Tacos?

Winner!

What are your go-to love-it meals, recipes, or comfort food? The ones you make that make you proud or that make menu planning that much less tedious … and might you be willing to share? I’m not going to share my Chili recipe (an ancient Northeastern secret), but I do have a tip for grilled cheese or omelets if you haven’t discovered it or tried it yet.

Photo by Gio Bartlett - Unsplash

Three Magic Words

Those three words are ‘add cream cheese.’ It can elevate a lot of things, but a long time ago, in a different part of the country, I was introduced to the idea of putting cream cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich. This was back before Emeril (Bam!). There was no Food Network. Gordon Ramsey was in short pants swearing at the other lads in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

It was a while ago.

We had Julia Child on PBS when the weather didn’t suck, and you held the rabbit ears on top of the TV just the right way.

Where’s that cooking sherry?

Julia was out of my culinary league then and, to be honest still is, so I rarely watched that. I was more of a creature double-feature guy, Monty Python, Red Dwarf, wrestling (Andre the Giant and Chief Jay Strongbow), and we had cream cheese which makes a great addition to cheese omelets as well. I won’t speculate on how that might have complicated my health issues many decades later, but we use low-fat cream cheese in moderation these days.

You can use the brick or the spreadable stuff (cream cheese), but it can rip bread that is not dense or if the cheese has not been softened.

While I grew up using American singles, adult Steve has migrated to fresh cheddar or sliced pepper jack. The latter has a telegenic quality with trailing melted strands when taking a bite (the cheese pull).

Grilled Cheese, no, Cheese pull, yes! - Photo by Scott Eckersley on Unsplash

Here is another tip: Spread the cream cheese on your slice(s) of cheese first, instead of the bread, then put it all together in the pan.

Time to Share

So, what recipe, meal modification, or enhancement do you fancy and are willing to share (in comments, obviously)? Everyone has a few, and everyone reading this eats, and food brings people together.

You can share something as simple as I’ve described or an entire recipe.

Or not. Keep your secrets. But please keep reading and engaging this new community. We all have a lot more in common than the things the world focuses on to drive us apart.

Happiness is a choice, and it might be easier than planning dinner.