All About Grilled Cheese...lol

It's the childhood favorite you never outgrow, the most comforting comfort food of all time -- the grilled cheese sandwich. American, cheddar, gouda ... whatever your pleasure, follow these ten tips from Laura Werlin, author of Great Grilled Cheese, and have yourself a slice of melted heaven.

Cheese
1. Good to grate
Don't slice your cheese when you can grate it (the bigger the grater, the better). This ensures evenly melted, gooey cheese in every bite.

2. Get cheesy
Don't be shy -- plan on about two ounces of cheese per sandwich. Use your palm to press the grated cheese onto the bread so it doesn't fall out.

3. Embrace the ooze
Don't fret if the cheese oozes out of the sandwich. The toasty bits at the bottom of the pan are the best part!

Bread
4. No need to Wonder
Don't just assume that white is the only way. If you love focaccia or whole-wheat, go for it.

5. Size does matter
Don't slice your bread more than 1/4" thick or it'll overwhelm the cheese.

6. Smush your bread
Flatten sandwiches with a spatula or a heavy pan to ensure oozing cheese and crisp rather than doughy bread.
Butter

7. Butter le pain, not le pan
Spread room-temperature butter on the bread (on the side you're grilling, not the inside of the sandwich) before you grill. That way, you'll get evenly buttered, evenly browned bread with a little crunch.

8. Salted butter is best
Just trust me.

Cooking
9. Stick with nonstick
Although a cast-iron skillet is the traditional fave, a nonstick skillet is your best bet for easy flipping and no sticking.

10. Put a lid on it
Cover the skillet while cooking the first side of the sandwich for maximum cheese melting.

And now for the ultimate grilled cheese recipe, from Laura Werlin's Great Grilled Cheese:

The Best Grilled Cheese
8 slices sourdough bread (1/4 inch thick)
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
6 ounces best-quality cheddar cheese (orange or white), coarsely grated
To assemble: Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place 4 slices on your work surface, buttered side down. Distribute the cheese evenly over the 4 slices. Place the remaining 4 bread slices on top, buttered side up.
Stovetop method: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Put the sandwiches in the skillet (in batches if necessary), cover, and cook for 2 minutes, or until the undersides are golden brown and the cheese has begun to melt. Uncover, and turn the sandwiches with a spatula, pressing firmly to flatten them slightly. Cook for 1 minute, or until the undersides are golden brown. Turn the sandwiches again, press with the spatula, and cook for 30 seconds, or until the cheese has melted completely. Serve immediately.
Sandwich maker method: Preheat the sandwich maker. Follow directions for sandwich assembly, and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Gas grill method: Brush the grill rack with oil and preheat the grill to medium-high. Follow directions for sandwich assembly. Put the sandwiches on the grill and follow directions for the stovetop method.
Makes 4 sandwiches.



Oh yeah, heres a Cashcrate update: I did receive my check in the mail for $52.00 so the website is actually legit. Pretty nice...

Turnoffs for Guys and Gals

Been having trouble lately in the dating world? Maybe the answer is to learn the top 10 turnoffs that make great gals wave goodbye. If any of these fictional guys sound like you, it's time to change your approach.

Great Gal Turnoff #1: Showboat Sammy- Maybe he owns a yacht off the coast of France. Maybe he has a timeshare in the Hamptons. Maybe his annual bonus is bigger than most guys' salaries. That's all well and good, but does it really need to be divulged on the first date?

Great Gal Turnoff #2: Messy Melvin- A-list celebrities can pull off the unkempt look. First-daters need to pay attention to shaving, clothing and bad breath. If the guy can't even put in the effort for a first impression, it doesn't bode well down the road.

Great Gal Turnoff #3: Rude Randal- "Where's our drinks, lady?" If a guy treats the service staff with a lack of respect, a great gal will likely assume he'll do the same to her someday. The last thing anyone wants is to be talked down to or disrespected.

Great Gal Turnoff #4: Cheapie Charlie- There will always be debate about who should pay on a first date. Some guys are traditionalists and want to foot the bill; others expect a 50-50 monetary split. In most cases, offering to pay is the way to go. Let her pick up the tab on a future date.

Great Gal Turnoff #5: Still-Married Michael- Marriage, separation and divorce are pretty cut-and-dry terms. If a guy says he's separated when he really means he's cheating on his wife, it's going to cause trouble. Be honest from the get-go and let the dating chips fall where they may.

Great Gal Turnoff #6: Hands-On Howie- Guys need to read the signals before assuming hand holding, massaging and other touchy-feely activities have the green light. Jumping too quickly to any form of intimacy can make any guy seem too aggressive.

Great Gal Turnoff #7: Stereotyping Stephen- "Oh, you're one of those types of women." Jumping to conclusions about a date from the way she answers one or two questions is a definite mistake. Let the date unfold before making assumptions about someone you just met.

Great Gal Turnoff #8: Distracted David- His cell phone is ringing constantly, he's popping away from the table every 10 minutes, and he keeps interrupting the conversation flow. First dates require focused attention -- that means putting the phone on vibrate, making eye contact and being present.

Great Gal Turnoff #9: All-Business Barry- Some guys are great salesmen or outstanding negotiators. But there's a time and place for business and a time and place for leisure. Guys who treat first dates like business transactions will never close the deal.

Great Gal Turnoff #10: Nervous Ned- He can't sit still, he's banging his fork on the table, and he won't make eye contact for more than three seconds. Nervous antics are a real turnoff and make a great gal think a guy has something to hide. Work out the nervous kinks before the date starts.

Now the guys turn...
10 Turnoffs That Make Good Guys Wave Goodbye
Where did you go wrong? How could you have misunderstood what you thought was great chemistry? Maybe it's time you learned the top 10 turnoffs that make good guys wave goodbye. If any of these fictional female daters sound like you, it's time for a first-date makeover.

1.Misleading Maggie: Her profile says no kids, athletic and raking in the big bucks. The first date reveals two young kids, an extended waistline and unemployment checks. Nothing says trust issues for a guy more than lies from the get-go.

2.Insecure Ilene: She reads into every comment a guy makes. She wants to know right away if date #2 can be tomorrow. She asks you to call the minute you get home. This clingy nature screams of a potential needy girlfriend lacking independence.

3.Third-Degree Donna: The cross-examination begins before the menus arrive. The questions are coming fast and furious, and the guy begins to feel like the defendant on the stand in a criminal trial. If a guy feels stuck under the interrogation lights, he'll run for the hills.

4.Tardy Tina: She arrives late, she no-shows, she changes plans last-minute, she loses his number, she flat-out just doesn't respect a guy's time. Fashionably late is one thing; keeping a guy waiting 30 minutes or no-showing is unacceptable.

5.High-Maintenance Hilda: "Thanks for taking me to this nice restaurant, but couldn't you get a table by the window?" The feeling that nothing is ever good enough makes a guy quit trying to impress. A simple thank you for a nice dinner is a better way to go.

6.Chatterbox Charlene: The conversation doesn't have to be 50 percent talking and 50 percent listening, but if she does all the talking it feels more like a seminar than a date. Charlene's opposite cousin, Pulling Teeth Patricia, is equally unsettling, making the guy do all the work.

7.Still-Hurting Sally: First dates are notorious for spilling the beans on what went wrong with prior relationships. Sharing an amusing anecdote is good; making it clear you're not over your ex-boyfriend is a definite no-no.

8.Game Player Gina: "Maybe I'll kiss you goodnight, maybe I won't." Good guys like to know where they stand. They leave the game-playing for the sports field. There's nothing wrong with flirting, but just know when it crosses over into deception and confusion.

9.Conceited Colleen: "Any guy would be lucky to have me." Guess what, the great guy across the table is also a real catch. Stop assuming every guy doesn't deserve you, and then you'll be on your way to actually landing a good one.

10.Matrimony Maureen: He dips his egg roll in duck sauce when all of a sudden she spills the beans on what they should name their kids. Intense relationships can be exciting for a good guy, but walking down the aisle before you walk each other home for the first time is a turn-off.


Ever had any of these dates or do you believe one of these characters have been you? I wanna hear your dating horror stories!

Easy Friggin Money!!!

So I'm up to $40.60 in earnings with Cashcrate so far! Easiest money I've ever made in a short week and only a few hours of my time here and there. Plus I didn't have to spend a penny to do this.

So I should get my check in the mail around mid-August. That is so awesome! Check out my earlier post about Cashcrate called Cashcrate...I think it really works! Again, this is my first time at a survey site so I was very skeptical but it was seriously easy money.

I went to a few other survey sites and Cashcrate seems to be the one with the most offers and the cleanest website by far.

Try it out, you have nothing to lose! :) Seriously, who couldn't use a little extra dough for little effort?

Lindsay Lohan...I'll do what I want, I'm a celebrity!

Before Lindsay Lohan was arrested early Tuesday morning, she commandeered a car and took three men hostage according to the three men who were in the car with her, reports TMZ.com.
TMZ interviewed Dante Nigro, Jakon Sutter and Ronnie Blake who claim to have gone to Malibu with the boyfriend of Lindsay Lohan's assistant.
Allegedly, a bit later the assistant text-messaged Dante, saying Lindsay wanted to invite him to a Malibu party that night.
Dante tells TMZ that he and his friends drove to the party. Dante and the assistant's boyfriend were let in, but Jakon and Ronnie were rejected and stayed outside.
Dante claims Lindsay allegedly was never without a drink during the evening and he even did a shot with her.
An argument ensued with Lindsay's assistant and her boyfriend - which angered Lindsay who rebuked her, to which the assistant allegedly said, "I quit," which then "enraged" Lindsay.
The three guys took this as their cue to leave, in the GMC Denali belonged to Dante, but he was sitting in the front passenger seat. Ronnie and Jakon were in the back seat.
The assistant and her boyfriend continued to bicker. The assistant left in a separate car.
According to the group's interview with TMZ, "Lindsay suddenly jumped in the driver's seat of the Denali, started the engine and began driving -- chasing the assistant's car. Ronnie says he was so fearful, he jumped out of the vehicle as it accelerated. Just as he hit the ground, he says Lindsay ran over his foot and just kept going."
Allegedly a frightened Dante says he tried to grab the wheel when tey were speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway, allegedly prompting Lindsay to say, "If you touch me I'll sue you." Jakon says they pleaded with her to stop.
Dante claimed to TMZ they were going 100 MPH. They say Lindsay caught up with the assistant and began doing circles on PCH, around the assistant's car.
They claim that Lindsay boasted, "I can't get in trouble. I'm a celebrity. I can do whatever the f**k I want."
The now former assistant finally got away from Lindsay on PCH. Dante says Lindsay thought the assistant was going to her mother's house in Santa Monica so Lindsay went there.
It was then allegedly when the assistant's mother was pulling into the driveway as Lindsay arrived.
TMZ reports that Dante claims the mother "panicked at Lindsay's crazy driving," and backed out and took off not knowing who was behind the wheel. The guys say Lindsay then began to chase her at speeds of up to 80 MPH through Santa Monica, "blowing multiple red lights."
TMZ then reports that Dante "realized the mother was driving to the police station and warned Lindsay if she didn't stop she'd get in hot water. He says Lindsay responded, 'I'm a celebrity. I'm not going to get in trouble.' "
The two cars finally stopped in a parking lot near the station. When police arrived, Dante claims that Lindsay put the blame on someone else: "I wasn't driving. The black kid was driving," Lohan is alleged to have said.
Dante and Jakon say they watched as Lindsay failed the field sobriety test. They say when she tried touching her nose, she almost fell over.
As Ronnie put it "It was pretty much the worst night of my whole summer."
Lohan's reps had no comment to TMZ.

It's no wonder todays youth are in so much trouble...look who their role models are.

Say it ain't so Bear Grylls!!!!

Survival show faces 'fake' claim

Channel 4 calls Grylls "a cross between Ray Mears and Rambo". Channel 4 is to investigate a claim that it misled viewers in a survival series, in the latest allegation of reality being manipulated on a TV show.
Born Survivor featured British adventurer Bear Grylls dealing with "perilous situations" in the wild.
But a crew member told the Sunday Times some nights were spent in hotels.
Channel 4 insisted Grylls was never billed as working entirely unaided, but promised to raise the matter with the production company that made the show.
American survival consultant Mark Weinert, who was recruited by Diverse Productions, told the paper Grylls claimed to be stranded on a desert island on one occasion.
He often directly addresses the production team, including the cameraman, making it clear he is receiving an element of back-up
Channel 4 statement: However, he was actually in Hawaii and spent some of his time there in a motel, Mr Weinert alleged.
Another time, he added, Grylls was filmed building a raft by himself, whereas the crew had actually put it together and dismantled it beforehand, to ensure that it worked.
And in a further episode, supposedly "wild" horses rounded up by Grylls had come from a local trekking facility, he claimed.
Further investigation
Channel 4 said in a statement that Born Survivor was "not an observational documentary series, but a 'how-to' guide to basic survival techniques in extreme environments".
"The programme explicitly does not claim that presenter Bear Grylls' experience is one of unaided solo survival.
"For example, he often directly addresses the production team, including the cameraman, making it clear he is receiving an element of back-up."
The broadcaster said Grylls carried out his own stunts and did place himself in perilous situations, "though he does so within clearly-observed health and safety guidelines required on productions of this kind".
"However, we take any allegations of misleading our audiences seriously and will be looking into this further with Diverse over the next few days."
The series was originally made for the Discovery Channel in the US and was acquired for UK transmission by Channel 4.
Diverse Productions declined to elaborate on Channel 4's statement, while Grylls's agent was unavailable for comment.

What do you think?

Cashcrate...I think it really works!

OK, so I'm VERY skeptical when it comes to completing offers and making money sites. But I just joined Cashcrate yesterday and they were totally different than other websites. In two days I've made $21.00 by filling out offers. That's not bad considering it only took a couple hours of my time. I know I could make a lot more just from reading their forum and hearing about how much others have made.
It was really simple to figure out, almost too easy. For starters I would recommend that you use an email address that you don't really care about. A junk email address that can be used for filling out these offers. Then go join Cashcrate for free and find offers you want to fill out with no cost to you whatsoever. You can sort which offers you want to do by rating, payouts, etc. They have tons to chose from that will pay you anywhere from $1.00 to even more. Some are worth a few cents but over time it really adds up. It just depends how much time and effort you want to put in.
You can also make money for free by getting referrals. When readers sign up you can make $3.00 per a referral. Also every time you fill out an offer from Cashcrate you get points. The points add up and can get you free gift cards from Amazon, Starbucks, and more.
I mean I'm seriously skeptical of sites like these and have never really bothered with them but Cashcrate just seems different. Just from reading their forum and reading the posts from people who have received their checks is enough proof for me.
I guess the only downfall of Cashcrate is the repetitiveness of filling out your info but to make money doing these offers is worth it to me. Just go to their website and read about it. I'll keep you all posted with how I'm doing and I'll let everybody know when I receive my first check.
Has anybody else had any dealings with them? I'm curious to find out. Let me know :)

Love her or hate her?

LOL..Paris Hilton. Why is the world so obsessed with this one celebrity?

Paris Hilton told CNN's Larry King she would never again drink and drive and that her time in jail was "a time-out in life."

Please, she couldn't care less. Is that why she was out partying it up the next day? Get over yourself Paris Hilton. There are more important things in the world. I can't believe I even wasted my time on this blog about her. But I wanted to post this hilarious link from YTMND called Paris Hilton Doesn't Change Facial Expressions. I gotta say its pretty damn accurate...lol.