Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts
I'd like to think that if there was a Youtube video of me frying these Brussels sprouts, it would have great potential of going viral.
Imagine a short clip of me trying to take pictures of this recipe in my kitchen. You'd see me set the camera down and then slowly place Brussels sprouts in the hot bubbling oil. You'd immediately laugh at the look on my face when I realize sprouts are prone to making the oil splatter ALL OVER MY KITCHEN. I shout out a few expletives and then I do some stealthy maneuver into my kitchen island to get the oil splatter shield. Then I run like a maniac into the pantry to grab my apron while slipping on the oily kitchen floor. In the last few seconds of the video, I step back, watch the frying process and laugh at myself for this absolutely ridiculous moment. It's really a shame that this video doesn't exist. It really could have been the next Chocolate Rain.
Say hello to one of the best things that came out of my kitchen in 2011. I know that's kind of a bold claim, but I can't remember the last time I've been so smitten with something I've made. I've ordered fried Brussels sprouts in restaurants several times, but never thought to make them on my own. No longer will I be shelling out $8-10 for a teeny side dish of Brussels sprouts. Nope! The sweet/spicy citrus dressing on this sprouts is TO DIE for! The outside of the sprouts are crunchy while the insides are super tender. If Casey wasn't home when I made them, I could have easily polished off this entire batch. Truth!
White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels
I dropped Cooper off at preschool yesterday and immediately headed to the post office to mail packages & pick up stamps for the holiday cards I have yet to send out. The line at the post office went smoothly and the lady who helped me was an absolute dream. Hooray for excellent customer service! Then I went to pick up a few groceries and just when I was ready to tackle another item on my TO-DO list, my car wouldn't start! For the first time in my life, I ran out of gas. I KNEW I should have stopped at the gas station before I got groceries but I felt like I've been pushing EVERYTHING in my life to the limit lately, I assumed my car would push too. Thank God for husbands who come to the rescue!
Emails piled up in my inbox, clean laundry overflowed in baskets on my living room floor and then one of my cats puked on my stairs (which I stepped in!). To combat the stress, I took a break and went out to lunch with Casey. We went to get fancy sandwiches and fresh air but after THREE attempts at making my sandwich without mayo and over an hour of my limited time wasted, I felt like throwing in the towel. It just wasn't my day!
Instead of tackling my TO-DO lists when I got back from the sandwich fail, I made these white chocolate peppermint pretzels instead. Getting lost in dipping pretzels into creamy melted white chocolate, studding them with cracked candy canes and lining the rods (haha, rods!) up into organized rows, made me happy. And then... I got a call from preschool telling me that Cooper needed to be picked up ASAP because he contracted pinkeye. It's a good thing I got at least one solid thing done that day...
What's my point? There's no doubt that the holidays can be stressful. These little obstacles in life are only as big as we make them.The pressure we put on ourselves this time of year has the power to erase the holiday spirit we're supposed to give & receive. Relax!
If you're stressing out because the clock is ticking and you haven't figured out what to make for the holidays, just make these easy white chocolate peppermint dipped pretzels. They're therapeutic and they pose as little reminders of how sweet, savory & crunchy life can be.
Remember: Make things simple and give yourself permission to slow down!
Pasta Fagioli Soup
I'd like to introduce you to my mom's famous (to our family) Pasta Fagioli soup. During the winter, my mom makes this soup like it's going out of style. Over the years, she's learned a few things while making this soup: always make a double batch & it's nice to add more pancetta. The double batch thing is important because she can pull some out of the freezer on a whim for my dad or she can be prepared for when my brother comes home from New York and raids her fridge (he inhales this soup, even when it's cold!).
For years I was reluctant to try this soup; I don't know why. I guess have weird issues with hot tomatoes and the thought having beans with pasta kinda weirded me. I dunno!
One day last year I was hanging out at my parents house and my mom convinced me to some. Let me tell you I how dumb I felt for wasting many years of my eating career without this soup. It was AH-MAZING. I am a changed woman.
This is one of those recipes that instantly becomes a staple in your life. You'll go on auto pilot when you're grocery shopping and always buy the ingredients so you're never too far from a batch of this soup. Heck! You might even have some stocked in your freezer for a moment's notice like my mom.
It's hearty, comforting and pleases all the men in my life; I like that in a soup.
Homemade Amaretto
Remember when we had to do those Science Fair projects that required foam-core board, photos and colored construction paper? I'll never forget those! It stresses me out to think of all of the times our printer stopped working the night before my project was due. My brothers totally sabotaged one of my experiments when I was in 7th grade and I still haven't forgotten about it. I'll spare you the drama.
If I was to do a Science Fair project as a grownup, I'd enter with this Homemade Amaretto.
Imagine this: my foam-core board is a very dark gray (of course it is!) and all the fancy lettering is white with yellow construction paper. It's totally eye-catching (I always put more work into what my project looked like than the actual project. Figures, right?). There could be a few silver stars pasted on for extra appeal. Who knows!
On the left hand side you'll find this:
And then I show the judges a step by step pictorial of my project:
Homemade Limoncello
JACKPOT!
(what someone blurts out when they get a bottle of homemade limoncello as a present for Christmas)
Have you had limoncello before? Oh man, it's good! If you've never had it, it's a sweet Italian lemon liqueur that comes from the Amalfi coast and it's abso-fricking delightful. It's pretty much the nectar of the gods, if you ask me. I love adding it to sparkling water, drizzling it on top of vanilla ice cream, mixing it with cranberry juice or sipping it from a fancy cordial glass. Limoncello is heavenly when served directly from the freezer where it remains cold, syrupy and viscous. Think maple syrup but lemony & boozy!
If you're trying to figure out what to make for the holidays, might I suggest this? You need about 8 days from start to finish and it lasts up to 3 months in the freezer. The hardest part is giving it away! Now, tell me what are you waiting for! There are people to impress...
Maple Bourbon Cider
12 tips for surviving the holiday season:
1. Mistletoe. Stay away from it & you'll avoid close to 80% of all holiday awkwardness.
2. Bring booze to a party. The party can start once you arrive.
3. Drink a glass of water for every boozy drink you drink. You just have to.
4. When your mother asks you AGAIN when you're having another baby, distract her with booze.
5. Drink booze when you find out you did not get a Christmas bonus.
6. If you DO get a Christmas bonus, buy a nice bottle of booze. Buy one for your boss too. You both deserve it.
7. Gift cards are awesome. Whoever said they weren't thoughtful, clearly doesn't get it.
8. If you ate too many cookies don't feel bad. Just eat salad for the next few meals. Also, inhale kale.
9. Keep tabs on who's around you when you open presents. This is important information for future re-gifting.
10. If you plan on wearing an ironic/bedazzled Christmas sweater, avoid open flames.
11. Whenever there's awkwardness in a conversation, blurt out the word YULE LOG.
12. Host a Christmas party and make Maple Bourbon Cider. Make some cheese straws while you're at it.
Coconut Lime Bars
I think you've heard me confess in some other post that I am not a big chocolate lover. Yeah, I said it! I like chocolate, I just don't LOOOVE it like I love desserts starring coconut, citrus, nuts, cinnamon, or fruit. When Christmas rolls around, I have a bunch of chocolate related gifts from people and what do I do with them? I pass them off to my husband, who happily devours anything sweet in nature.
If you were to give me any type of homemade treat for Christmas, I'd happily enjoy a little package of these Coconut Lime Bars. Let me tell you why! Imagine two outrageously chewy cookies (one coconut & one macadamia nut lime) placed on top of each other & smooshed together in bar form. That's what these bars taste like. The bite is AMAZING and that crunch from the macadamia nut? I die.
So when you're thinking of homemade gifts, consider your friends (like me!) who don't go gaga for chocolate. These will certainly do the trick! Besides, your bars will stand out in a crowd and you know how much we want that ;)
Grape Cucumber Pear Juice
I get the feeling that everyone who owns a juicer is juicing this week. Am I right or am I right? I was toying with the idea of doing another 3-day juice cleanse this week, but my head's not there yet. I've got have a whole box of crackers in the pantry and a few coconut lime bars (recipe soon!) to eat through first. I did however, juice til dinner on Saturday and that felt pretty great.
In the 3 Day Cleanse book, they describe this juice as being "very clean tasting." After my eat week, that was all I needed. The grapes are sweet & juicy. The pear & cucumber are both pleasantly mellow and the ginger is a nice kick in the pants. This what I like to call a spa juice. Put some cucumber slices on your eyes, wrap a towel around your head and drink away. Clothing is totally optional.
