Friday, January 29, 2010

And the verdict is....

Thank you so much everyone for your great feedback on the sprouts! I have to tell you that I made them last night and they were delicious! The recipe I used was really good, so I'm including it in my post. They were sauteed with smoked bacon, orange rind, dry mustard and water chestnuts. I'm craving them while I write about it. I also made Eric's mom's fettucine alfredo recipe, which is delectable. It was a good combination.
My beautiful little sister Sasha and her husband James have been staying with us for a week, and it's been a lot of fun. Sasha and I have spent the week trying new, more daring recipes to broaden our horizons. If anyone has any suggestions for us, we'd love them!
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

1 tablespoon corn oil
5 slices smoked bacon
1 lb. fresh Brussels sprouts
1 orange
3 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons wholegrain mustard
1 can (4 oz) whole water chestnuts in water
salt and black pepper

Heat the corn oil in a frying pan, then dice the smoked bacon and fry it for 2-3 minutes until it turns golden brown. Rinse the Brussels sprouts, trim them if necessary, and cut in half. Wash any wax off the orange and grate the rind into the frying pan with the bacon and add the butter, mustard, and sprouts. Cook over a moderate heat for 5 minutes, stirring, until the sprouts are crisp. Meanwhile, drain and roughly chop the water chestnuts, stir them into the spouts, and cook them for 3-4 minutes until the sprouts are golden and the chestnuts are heated through. Add salt and black pepper to taste and serve.
Serves 4.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

On our way to the library

I hope she forgives me for doing this. After all, it is a little over-the-top! But I found these ribbons and just couldn't resist. It's one of my rights as a mother, anyway. After making me puke for two months straight, have low back pain for another seven months, etc, I claim my rights to put anything in her hair that I want.

Monday, January 25, 2010

I've never had brussels sprouts, but I'm making them for dinner this week (imagine me biting my fingernails right now). Wish me luck!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The four month project

I have a confession: sewing machines intimidate me. Big time. That's why, for years, I've been sewing things by hand. I mean things that were ridiculous to sew by hand. I made my sister a tote bag last year for Christmas, and how did it turn out? Puh-retty shabby.
My mom got me a sewing machine for Christmas, so I was able to sew some pillows I had been putting off for months. Low and behold! It was so much easier than doing things by hand! It took me a couple hours what would have taken me a couple weeks (on and off....). I did have a little problem with the needle, but it wasn't that bad, and I figured things out. Thanks, mom! We finally have pillows in the library!

Friday, January 1, 2010

We spent the last couple days in remote Cascade, Idaho. It snowed like crazy while we were there, so we decided to get out and play in it! We left the family cabin this morning and snowshoed our way around the lake and beyond. It was pretty magical: a white abyss facing toward the lake, and a frosted forest behind us.


We had almost left Cascade that morning to snowshoe at a state park, but we didn't want to chance the roads. Once we were out, Ami (Eric's mom) kept commenting on how glad she was we hadn't left; there was so much to see, right where we were.

It was pretty pathetic, actually: I couldn't stop snapping photos, no matter how hard I tried.

Here we were by the lake. I have never been on a frozen lake before, ever. It was a little nerve-wracking for me, but I was assured that we were safe. Plus it's hard to tell where the lake actually begins, anyway.
Aspen just wanted to eat the snow. She was quite the trooper!

Personally, snowshoeing is my kind of workout. If I could just do that everyday, I'd be set!


Now we're home in wet Meridian, Idaho. By wet I mean rainy. It was a fun little jaunt, up there in the mountains.