This week I’ve been focusing on the small details of my life that I might be missing. Right now, all I seem to have the willpower for is the big picture. I’m in full on planning mode, big dreams, and high reaching goals. But that pulls me away from the present, and before I know it, I’ve missed the sweet interactions between strangers and savoring my last drink of coffee.
So, let’s write down these small joys and focus our hearts today. Let’s focus on the new beginnings of the season or the school year; on the way the light hits your living room when you get home from work; on the subtle ways our family shows their love for us.
And, as for me? I’ll tell you where I’ve been finding my little joys this last week before we move onto the more important Tart Apple Jack Grilled Cheese Sandwich. A sandwich that will ground you and leave your fingers shinier than a newly waxed car.
Today, on the way back from grabbing a coffee a few blocks from my place, I ran into a security guard who looked at me with grimacing eyes and then gave me a big ole’ ear to ear smile. I’m always wary of people on the street. But today, my stern face was broken, and it was a nice little human connection. Note to self: do this more often.
This weekend, in a fit to clean the house and get the kitchen in order and rearrange my closet and, and, and… I lit some of my fall candles from last year. They filled the house with so much warmth that I just sat down on the couch with a coffee and had a moment. It was a fleeting moment as I remembered an approaching deadline, but a moment none-the-less.
I got to see the curliest, blonde hair cutie bounce her way into pre-school for the first time. I love that little girl so much.
A rom-com and painting my nails pink actually cured a headache.
A dear friend of mine cried. It was heartbreaking and real. I hated it. But, it reminded me that we all need to treat each other with kindness and respect. With peace, love, and pickled onions.
I bought school supplies. A light blue notepad, college-ruled and two mechanical pencils — pink and purple respectively. Proof that $12.99 can really fix anything.
So how about you? Write down some little things that happened this week. Don’t litter your list with how productive you were at your job or how you couldn’t quite catch up on laundry. Fill your page with the little things that you might have missed if not for searching for them. Remind yourself that you are human. Remind yourself that smiling at a stranger and fixing a grilled cheese sandwich after school is often the best medicine.
This grilled cheese sandwich lends itself to you in ways you don’t currently know. It’s made with the most tart apple you can find at the store. I used Granny Smith, but I’m allowing you some free reign on this one. The cheese is Monterey Jack Cheese. I used Tillamook because that’s my preference. I buy it in block form, and it lasts me months. Jack cheese is the perfect consistency that gushes around your teeth and through your gums when it’s all melty. And then it’s smothered in a good, no, a great helping of deli mustard. Those whole mustard seeds make this whole thing SINGGG. For good measure we also drizzle on a little honey too. Because I LIVE for salty/sweet. I used Challah bread to hug these ingredients, but feel free to use whatever is in your pantry right now. I think a sourdough or honey wheat would be incredible. Those leftover burger buns wouldn’t ruin this sandwich either. Nothing can ruin this grilled cheese.
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Tart Apple Jack Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Fill your house with the smell of Tart Apple Jack Grilled Cheese Sandwich. It’s cheesy, gooey and cut by the tart apple and spicy deli mustard.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
8 slices of bread (I used Challah)
1 tart apple, Granny Smith preferred
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Honey
Deli mustard
Butter for frying
Instructions
Slather one side of each slice of bread with deli mustard and sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese. Slice the apple thinly and add 4-6 slices to each respective sandwich. Drizzle honey on top of apple slices. Top with second slice of bread and press sandwich together. You can save sandwiches in the fridge in an airtight bag for up to a day before grilling. To grill, place a large pan over medium/low heat and coat the bottom of the pan with butter. Fry the sandwiches for about 1-2 minutes on each side adding more butter as needed.
Keywords: apple, cheese, grilled cheese, jack, sandwich
Your words touched a deep part of me. I know this because large, slowly formed tears are gently rolling down my cheeks. I operate in the big picture but want to live in the beautiful quiet of the often overlooked goodness that God gently presents. I hurt someone I love deeply with words that came from a heart of confusion and ignorance rather than a still quiet heart. Your words remind me to be still. For in stillness the words that should be spoken and the words that should be forgotten can be found.
Haven’t we all been there? Gosh, it’s not fun. You are absolutely right about stillness. But also, remember that you deserve grace as much as the next! Write those things down and know you’re worth all those tiny moments!
Thank you! ❤