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You know those times when I can get a little carried away?
Well this is one of those times.
And I am so excited about it.
Actually, I am excited about a lot of things. Well, more just feeling grateful for a lot of things. Sometimes I find myself randomly drifting off and thinking about life. I always come away feeling amazed and grateful for everything I have, and just genuinely appreciative for my life, my family and the fact that all nine of us are healthy and together…well minus Creighton since he lives in Cleveland, but we miss him like crazy and hope he can find a job out here soon!
I guess that I am going on about this now because I got a super mean comment the other day about how I am an ungrateful brat and that I should stop pretending to have a job and actually get a real one. And yes, those where his words.
Two years ago, this comment would have knocked me down for days, but now I just think about how happy I am that I do not have to put others down just to make myself feel better, which my guess is exactly what “Jimmy Bob” was doing.
FYI, it’s kind of not cool, and you really should not pass judgment on people until you know all the facts… and then some.
Anyway, this mean comment just got me thinking about all the stuff I actually am so grateful for. Things like having a job that I LOVE, which YES is a real job because I spend almost every waking minute of my days working hard at. This beautiful new home/studio/barn of mine that is pretty much the space of my dreams. Sure things have been a little stressful, BUT I am so excited to have some space to actually work and concentrate AND it will be even better once all these workers are outta here (can’t wait). MY PARENTS who help me SO flipping much. People who say they do it all alone are just not being honest if you ask me. Help is something I have a really hard time excepting, but without help I would not be able to do all the things I am doing today. My mom’s the genius behind all the techie stuff for the blog and my dad’s the ULTIMATE kitchen cleaner. And yes, I do 100% realize how awesome it is that my parents actually want to help me out so much. THANK YOU. I am also so grateful for my family’s health. Thankfully none of us have any serious health issues, which is honestly one of my biggest fears. Feeling incredible thankful that at the moment all six of my brothers, little miss Asher and mom + dad are healthy as horses. <–this makes me smile big!
I could go on and on (like hey I am so happy to live in the mountains where I can play in the snow and hike in my back yard every single day!), but even just writing this all out made me feel so happy.
Honestly, if you are feeling down or even feeling a little bad for yourself (it happens to all of us), you should write out all of the things you ARE actually thankful for. Look at the positives. It feels SOO GOOD.
Oh my gosh, you guys?? Do you think I should quit cooking and become a therapist?!?! I mean wow, I feel like that was some really good advice up there. I didn’t know that could all come out me. Whoa!
But ummm…..BIG NO on the therapist thing. That would just never be for me. I am the one who probably needs to go see a therapist. I mean, sometimes I spend an hour (or more!) plating food. That’s kind of weird.
And what else. Yeah right, this big popper hot buffalo chicken and bacon grilled cheese!
Like I said, I am so excited about it. It’s a jalapeno popper and buffalo chicken marriage… and it’s beyond awesome! It’s also perfect for that big Super Bowl Game coming up. And speaking of the Super Bowl? I hope you’re ready for some good game day eats. I sort of went a little crazy this year, all next week there is going to be some serious football food. So all you guy readers out there, I really hope you decide to check in next week, because it’s going to be “guys week” for sure.
But these sammies. They are loaded with an herb cream cheese mix, fire roasted jalapenos (which means broiled), spicy homemade buffalo chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and blue cheese. You see, I got a little carried away and since it’s Thursday, which means it’s practically Friday, this grilled cheese is totally acceptable. Sorry to all the dieters out there, this is not really healthy January food (this is a good alternative though for you!).
My brothers made me, so blame them (way to accept responsibility, huh!).
Or thank them?
Big Popper Hot Buffalo Chicken and Bacon Grilled Cheese.
Servings: 4 GRILLED CHEESES + EXTRA BUFFALO CHICKEN
Calories Per Serving: 1028 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Buffalo Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast tenders
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup self rising flour
- canola oil for frying
- 1 cup buffalo sauce * my favorite recipe is in the notes
The Grilled Cheese
- 6 jalapenos
- 4-6 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 green onions finely chopped
- 1/3 cup cilantro chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced or grated*
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese sliced
- 6 slices cooked bacon
- 4 ounces blue cheese crumbled
- 4 slices thick cut bread I used whole grain sourdough
- butter for bread
- ranch and french fries for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil to 350 degrees F. in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot. Do not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil.
- Season the chicken with a little seasoned salt. Add the self rising flour to a shallow bowl or pie plate. In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs together.
- Dip the seasoned chicken in the egg mixture, and then coat well in the flour. Place the chicken in the preheated oil and fry the chicken in the oil until brown and crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Drain on a paper towel lined cookie sheet. Then dip the chicken through the buffalo sauce
- Once cool enough to handle, slice the chicken into strips.
- To make the sandwiches, preheat the broiler to high. Place the jalapeños on a baking sheet (line with foil if desired) and broil the jalapeños until charred all over. Once charred, remove from the oven, allow to cool and then peel away a little of the charred skin (I like to leave some of the charred pieces on mine, I think it adds flavor). Seed the jalapeños if desired (or seed some and leave the rest with seeds). Chop the jalapeños. In a bowl, combine the chopped jalapeños, softened cream cheese, green onions, cilantro and garlic until smooth and creamy.
- Butter the outside of each piece of bread. Spread the insides of each piece of bread with the cream cheese mixture. Top half the slices of bread with a slice or two of cheddar cheese. Top with sliced buffalo chicken + a drizzle of buffalo sauce, bacon and another slice of cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with blue cheese and then sandwich with the top half piece of bread. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add a pat of butter and 1-2 sandwiches, cook for 3-5 minutes per side or until the cheese is melted and bread is crispy. Serve right away with ranch for dipping and fries for snacking!!
Notes
*To quickly make you own buffalo sauce, mix 1/2 cup Franks Hot Sauce, 1/4-1/2 cup melted, salted butter and 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt. *If you have time, or already have some roasted, I think that roasted garlic would be pretty amazing in this!
Ahh yeah, thank them for sure!
What is accomying this sandwich.
Thanks!!
What!?
I will look at the food you make and think “I can’t imagine how much work went into that! Does she ever just take a Tieghan day?” We all know how hard you work because we can see it!
Anyways, this sandwich looks so good and cheesy and spicy. Cheesy and spicy are two things that I have to have in my life pretty much every day. Super.
Oh wow, THANK YOU! Everyones making me smiler tonight! 🙂
I know that pretty much any blogger can expect hate comments at one time or another, but I just had to say, Tieghan, that you are amazing!!! Seriously, I really don’t know how you do it. I thought I had a crazy-busy life with no free time, and I don’t have a food blog or do half the things you do! I keep telling my family, “Oh, and Tieghan *also* does XYZ…she is totally a Supergirl!” Definitely a real job and no slacker! You are an inspiration! Thank you also for the reminder to be thankful for what we do have. 🙂
Oh, yum, this looks so delectable! My brother and I were both swooning over it, mouths watering over your creative and delicious combo…love the idea…thanks for posting!
No way!! I am NOT supergirl, but I know how you feel. I think that so many other other supergirls and I just fall flat. I think it’s human nature for us girls to feel like everyone is better, but the truth is everyones got their own issues, ups and down. You know?
THANK YOU for all the beyond kind words, you totally put a big smile on my face
Oh my God 1) I have no words for how crazy, insane, awesome this grilled cheese is and 2) I cannot BELIEVE that guy’s comment! ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS? – He’s just jealous he doesn’t have as cool a job as you and that he would never be able to create such jaw droppingly delicious dishes (and photographs!) I agree with thinking about all the things you have to be happy about, it’s amazing that you’ve found your calling at a young age – means we have more years of seeing your dishes!
Haha!! Thank you so much, Annie! Hoping you are having a great week and happy almost Friday!!
This looks delicious! Perhaps hard to get my mouth around but I’d be willing to give it a try 🙂 Thanks for posting – and your photography is beautiful!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Holy sandwich! Keep doing what you do, girl, because you do it so well! xo
Thanks so much, Stephanie! Hope you are having a great week!
Sandwich looks amazing! And those fries are the perfect ones for malt vinegar…yum! I always tell my young daughter…anyone who is a bully or says things that are for shock value, etc., inevitably has unresolved issues within themselves that have absolutely nothing to do with her. Glad you’re ignoring it and moving on. If you feel any emotion at all when these things happen, it shouldn’t be devastation but instead sympathy for the person who likely needs some type of support.
Thanks so much and I could not agree with you more. Thanks for the kind words!
Well now I know what I’m making for the Super Bowl. 🙂
Yeah!! Thanks so much, Jennifer!
I am drooling just looking at the pic of this sandwich! I cannot wait to make this over the weekend!
Thank you so much!! Happy almost Friday!! 🙂
I’m always thinking to myself when I open your daily blog sent to me, which by the way, I’m thrilled to find when I come to work each day, because I realize behind it is a hard working gal. I find when people make mean comments, it is jealousy that drives the comment. Be kind to yourself and remember you are making a lot of people very happy not to mention building a career that is one of the hardest in the industry to crack. I find for someone your age to be so creative and hard working to be the norm of a lot of young people today, more people should realize this rather than make comments that the young are spoiled and only look for the easy way in life. I’m way over 60 and enjoy your blog more than any others for the energy behind it! Keep smiling as my dad would say, then nobody knows wheat your thinking!
Nancy, thank you so much for these kind and encouraging words. Your comments means so much and put a smile on my fave, thank you!!!
Hope you are having a great week and happy almost Friday! 🙂
I have come to the same conclusion this week. After some disappointing news, I finally decided that letting myself feel bitter even a little bit is beneath me and regardless of if we are able to adapt our very special home that we love, but are bursting out at the seams or not, I have too many blessings to feel anything but gratitude for the gifts of my life. To paraphrase Victor Frankl “They can take everything away from me, but they can’t take my positive attitude” Good for you for you for your positive attitude of gratitude. Amazing how it can change things, isn’t it? At least it’s really comforting me.
Thank you so much, Bridey!! Your comment is so encouraging! 🙂
Awww! Tieghan, you need a big hug for having someone say something like that! And then for you to be so cool about it just astounds me! I am daily amazed by the work you do, and I mean WORK! I spend my fair share of time in the kitchen and I know what it takes. I can’t imagine how much effort you put into every post.
Okay, now let me say how stinkin’ bad I want to eat that sandwich! It may be your best yet and that is definitely saying something! Pinning!
AWE! Thank you so much, Tori! You are so sweet! 🙂
Gosh, I think this the best grilled cheese I’ve seen in a while! Gorgeous job!
So sorry to hear about that nasty comment. I never understood people who actually take their precious time and write out something negative. Why on earth do hey do that? (I really hope it makes them happy!) And I’m so proud how you handled it. You go girl!
Thanks Shinee!! 🙂
Sorry for the mean comment but you’re an amazing blogger and so inspiring! I love every bits and bites of your story and recipe. And I feel bad for that person. Like TS says, let’s just shake it off. And this grilled cheese is sooo bomb dot com! I’m just a regular fan of grilled cheese and I’m dying to try this one.
HAHA!! I was just saying that TS song was perfect for this mean comment. HA!
Thanks Linda!
You can get carried away all you want, m’dear – these grilled cheesessss look amazing! Play them on repeat for Super Bowl Sunday, puh-lease and thank you!
Thanks Julia!!!