As you all know, family is incredibly important to me. I love the quote, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home” and we definitely try to live by that at our house. I love that Manwich has started, “A Case of the Mandays with Manwich”. It’s the idea that if we can just take one day a week, Monday and try to eat together and play together as a family we will create stronger bonds within our families, and ultimately stronger schools, citizens, communities and a a stronger society. Seriously.
Oh, and winning things also creates happier people. Make sure you scroll down to enter our giveaway. 
Are you Raising a Contributing Member of Society?
I’ve talked before about 6 ways to raise a happy and confidant child, and I truly believe that it’s not about being a perfect parent, but about raising our children in a way that they can become their best selves, feel confident without the need for outside flattery, and be honest, hardworking members of their community. In the end isn’t that what really need more of in the world today? This Marriage and Family Fact sheet has a ton of great statistics on why families are central to the success of the world.
Families That Play Together Stay Together
I realize that not everyone has children, and that this is something that I’m ultra passionate about, but I’m pretty sure that a stronger family unit never has had negative affects on anyone. Lately we’ve been trying to play together more as a family. Once a week we have a yummy dinner, a little family counsel (we’ll discuss this at another time since this is already so long) and play time together. Each member of our family gets to take a turn picking an activity and we all do it no matter what. P’s activity lately has been hide and go seek. I don’t think it’s the game as much as laughing about how excited Little C is to play. In fact, that hour or two that we do this is a real hoot for all of us. It’s fun to watch the kids help each other and everyone drop everything just to be with each other. And guess what? We’ve actually had less bickering between the little ones and more help around the house.
Are you Willing to Have Your Own “Manday”?
So, what do you think? Are you willing to take one night a week to just be together as a family? Unplug from your devices, turn off the tv, enjoy a delicious meal together and create a stronger family?
We were and for one of our nights we decided to let the kids pick dinner and then all of us work in the kitchen together. The girls picked grilled cheese sandwiches and we had an absolute blast building our “Ultimate Grilled Cheese”. I used the original Manwich to create and Italian sausage sauce and it was DELICIOUS!! We then chose more favorite ingredients from each family member, cheeses, guacamole, bacon, caramelized onions, sauteed peppers, mustards, mayonnaise, and salsa. YEAH. BUDDY. It turned out ridiculously amazing, and we had such a fun time.
By the end of the night we were stuffed to the brim, and happy as a clam.
Now you can win your own Manwich Survival Kit. Just enter below.
Sometimes you just need a night in with the family and comfort food. This is the ultimate grilled cheese loaded with everything you could ever want in a perfect sammy.
Ingredients
- Texas Style White Bread
- Bacon, Cooked
- Guacamole
- Caramelized Onions * see note
- Sauteed Peppers
- Colby Jack Cheese, sliced
- butter for grilling
- 1/2 Lb Mild Italian Sausage
- 1 Can Original Manwich
- 1 Clove of Garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Basil, chopped
Instructions
- In a large skillet, over medium high heat, add the Italian sausage and cook until browned and no longer raw, breaking up the meat as it cooks, about 6-10 minutes. Add the garlic and basil the last minute of cooking and cook for the remainder. Add the Manwich sauce and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Spread a layer of Manwich Italian Sausage sauce over one slice of bread. Top with caramelized onions, peppers, and guacamole. On another slice, place the cheese and bacon. Press the two halves together and butter the top of the sandwich.
- Heat a grill over medium heat and place the sandwich butter side down. Butter the new top of the sandwich and place a lid or second skillet over the sandwich to trap in the heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden and flip the sandwich replacing the lid once you've turned it over. Cook until golden and the cheese is melted, serve immediately.
Notes
Caramelizing onions is not hard. Just slice the onion, drizzle a little olive oil or butter in a pan over medium heat, add the onions and turn down to low. Let the onions slowly cook until golden.
*This is a sponsored post for Manwich, but the recipe, ideas and opinions are my own. I was provided the product and giveaway as well.
I'm Carrian, and my family and I love to cook, bake, and enjoy time together. We believe that with a little help and a point in the right direction everyone can be successful in the kitchen. At our house everyone is family, and we hope you'll join ours. Click 
I adore grilled cheese sandwiches – thanks for the great ideas!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
March 11th, 2013 at 8:56 am
Me too! They are just so comforting!
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THIS LOOKS AWESOME!!!!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Thank you! And it tastes just as awesome
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Who doesn’t love Grilled Cheese!!!! It’s the first thing I made on my own as a child!! (with mother’s supervision). That was many moons ago and I stll love making them!!!
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Nice grilled cheese!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 28th, 2013 at 10:44 am
Thanks, Kevin! We still have yet to meet. You better be coming to Austin!
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Best. grilled. cheese. ever. It’s definitely my favorite kind of comfort food yet!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 28th, 2013 at 10:45 am
I love grilled cheese. In fact, I think I’ll have it for lunch. Wish you were here!!!
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I want to make this today!! Looks so good!!
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I WOULD EAT THE shizz out of that. Sorry the half caps half uncaps.
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
hahahaa, I do that alllll the time!
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Wow those look SO good. Sometimes it’s nice to make something sinful!
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This is the coolest idea I have ever seen. We will definitely be doing these sandwiches in our house soon!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
Your kiddos are all at great ages to love this dinner too!
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This is a good post – I really thinking spending time together is so important. Some of my best memories of me and my mom in the kitchen! It really has created a special bond between us! You’re doing a great thing for your kids!
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That is THE greatest grilled cheese I’ve ever seen. Holy cheese!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
oh cheese, glorious cheese…
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Now that is a grilled cheese sandwich!!! We always eat dinner together every night as a family and have a movie and pizza night usually once a week. It is so important to us to build those family values and togetherness!!! I love that you had the kids in there creating with you…we usually just call the kids when dinner is ready!!! I need to let them create more often.
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
I’m totally adopting the pizza and movie night!
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I love this sandwich and I also love your philosophy about everyone playing together! We already always eat together, that’s one thing I didn’t really have growing up and always swore I’d have family dinner every night. That and a real Christmas tree every year
I definitely have to try harder with switching off electronics though…slaps hand!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Oh, I’m so wanting a real tree! I love the smell all Christmas long.
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This is seriously the ultimate of ultimate grilled cheeses!! And I need it. STAT.
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Love the emphasis on family dinners (and grilled cheese.)
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I pinned the grilled cheese ! http://pinterest.com/pin/516436282239942111/
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Oh my! Doesn’t this look delicious.
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That there has avocado??? I’m in, it totally IS the best grilled cheese ever.
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 26th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
isn’t avocado the greatest? I haven’t tried it in dessert yet though…
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Thanks for the fun recipe! Pinned it here: http://pinterest.com/pin/36028865741207804/
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my mouth is watering! My husband and I are lucky enough to work side by side and eat three meals a day together. Very old fashioned, but I love it!
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Aww I think your family stuff sounds amazing!
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I love grilled cheese sandwiches and I pinned it:
http://pinterest.com/pin/135389532520234517/
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
thanks, Cindy!! Grilled cheese never gets old huh!
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I like the idea of unplugging the tv and eating a grilled cheese sandwich. Okay, I’m on it.
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
It’s essential for me. I love just being a normal human being instead of always wearing my worker hat
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Holy yum. I pretty much just put this on my dinner menu for the week!!!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Yay! I hope you enjoy it. Probably better double the workout when you’re through though, this sucker is loaded!
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That looks so amazing Carrian!!! My Family is also my #1 I would be nowhere without their love support and constant encouragement.
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
so true. They bring so much more happiness than all the stuff in the world
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I am so in love with Manwich and this grilled cheese is just ridiculous! Love it!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Thanks, Karly!
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my mouth is watering just from longing at that sandwich!!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
mine too and I just finished lunch. I can seriously taste how yummy this was!
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Happy Monday! I love your idea for letting the kids pick whats for dinner one night and then everyone pitch in to making the perfect family dinner
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Thanks, Lauren!
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LOVE the ultimate grilled cheese, every, single part of it! But what sounds the best is the time you and your family had making it! I tend to shoo the kids out of the kitchen at dinner so I can get food on the table quicker, but it would be fun to have everyone contribute!
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Sweet Basil Reply:
February 25th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
I know, it’s so easy to say, go play for a bit and I’ll call you when it’s done. Sometimes we have to get crazy and let the kids in the kitchen with us
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