The Ultimate Brussel Sprouts!

I am off for a few days and so I thought I would treat my children to some Gourmet Mom's Cooking - and after yesterday's pig fest I decided to make another delicious meal.

I roasted a Semi Boneless Leg O Lamb (Thank you so much Aussies!) that I slathered with a paste of Garlic, Rosemary, Marjoram, Thyme and Salt & Pepper. I also put some slits in the meat and forced the paste in... roasted potatoes in the pan - YUM! But the true star of tonight's meal was my Brussels Sprouts. I grew up eating BS and frankly - I was never a huge fan, but waxing nostalgic - Missing my Mom a lot at the holidays - I found myself actually craving them. Also I figured I could get the kids to eat them by telling them I shrunk the cabbages into tiny little heads... LOL THAT did not work!

But here is a recipe that is GUARANTEED to get anyone to eat Brussels Sprouts!

2 pints Brussels Sprouts - halved
1/2 lb Bacon (diced)
1 Small Sweet Onion (sliced)
1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar
S&P to taste

Bring pot of water to boil, add some salt, Blanch Brussels Sprouts in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, drain and then cool in cold water - transfer to bowl.

Fry bacon till cooked add sliced onion, fry till bacon is crisp. Remove bacon to bowl - put Brussels Sprouts in frying pan with bacon grease, dash of salt and pepper, keep moving. When BS are heated through return bacon to pan and pour Red Wine Vinegar into pan - heat for 1 minute stirring constantly, when liquid is nearly all gone - remove all to serving bowl and watch them disappear! No kidding - I had NONE left after dinner tonight. The kids (especially EBB) ate them all!

Yesterday's culinary feat was also successful - my addition of Dried Cranberries to the Sweet Potato Casserole (NO Marshmallows or Sugar!) was a huge hit and the pecan topping was great! I think I might like it this was even better than the traditional candied yams. I used just a hint of Maple Syrup (real) when I mashed the sweet potatoes then beat the eggs with a little vanilla. The topping is pretty sweet so I thought adding sugar to the mash was just too much and I am glad I decided that. I was supposed to have both pecans and hazelnuts - but the less said about that the better.

Tomorrow - I am making a turkey, dressing, gravy and who knows maybe more Brussels Sprouts!

EFP and I made a pumpkin pie today - BUT, we made it in a graham cracker crust! Great idea! She had so much fun - for some reason she wanted a "homey Mommy" day - I wasn't sure what that meant - but I think we had one anyway. We stayed in DH and EBB cleaned the garage and me and EFP cuddled, baked and she helped me prepare dinner (even handed me the BS!) and was very proud of herself in general. She just needed some Mom and EFP time - and so I abandoned my other plans for the day to hang out and watch Monsters, Inc. very funny! Pictures tomorrow I promise... the camera is downstairs and I am just too taired to go get it!

Tagged!

Thanks Italia! Here are my answers:

8 Favorite TV Shows: Ace of Cakes, Iron Chef, Mystery, House, Grey's Anatomy, Today, Leno, ER.

8 Things I did Yesterday: Made breakfast, Made lunch, Made Dinner, Drew cats, drew dinosaurs, wrote emails, read emails, bought some presents for the holidays.

8 Things I look forward to: My son's first Christmas, My son's first (6th) Birthday party (ever!), My daughter's 4th birthday party, donating my hair (I have wanted to do this forever! But they didn't used to allow colored hair - now they do - nuff said!) Our mini-vacation between Christams and New Year's, Getting 2 kittens, Our Christmas Eve gathering, the new Administration!!

8 Favorite Restaurants: Ginos, Milk & Sugar, Legal Seafood, Happy Dragon, Pollo Rico, PJs Lobster Pot, Carrabba's, Ben Benson's.

8 Things on My Wish List: World Peace, An End to Hunger everywhere, To adopt a little girl aged 4 to 6, an end to the financial crisis, for everyone to be home for the holidays - whatever that means to each person, for both my children to have magical Christamases, to make a difference in someone's life, to write the book(s) that have been begging to be written.

8 People to Tag: First 8 people to stop by - you know who you are!

Commissioned Watercolor Portrait GIVEAWAY!!!!

Commissioned Watercolor Portrait GIVEAWAY!!!!

Some answers to stupid questions:

1. No - I did NOT order a matching set. (Seriously?)
2. YES - They are brother and sister - if you doubt it, come by when one of them gets a new toy.
3. No, it is MY LUCK. (No, really).
4. Why do you ask?
5. Don't you think there are some questions that are just to personal to ask of strangers - no matter how cute the kid?
6. Yes, they BOTH know they are adopted. HELL -OO!
7. Yes, they also know their sibling was adopted. (DUH!)
8. Yes, I am sure they WILL be good at Math... and Reading, and Social Studies, Science, Music, Art and lots of other things as well. (Ya gotta be kidding me, right?)
9. No, I just wanted to be a Mom.
10. THAT information is private - but yes, it is possible to adopt a male child from China.(Obviously!)

I just can't thank you people enough - for making my job as a Mom (in the grovery store, home goods store, gas station, library, book store and pediatrician's office) even more enjoyable. Thanks for asking insensitive questions IN FRONT of my children - as if they can not hear or understand what you say. Thanks too, for putting YOUR expectations of what a family is, what a child will be good at, what world issues YOU are familiar with and YOUR OWN VALUES on my situation - with no information whatsoever. Thanks also for pointing out that difference is its own reward with personal questions, assumptions, stereotypes and a few unproven anecdotes to formulate what has got to be the litany of silly, inappropriate and far too personal questions - the answers which, change nothing, embarrass my children and frankly reveal YOU to be the narrow minded archetype I know you to be!!!!!

To the people who merely complimented my children on good manners and adorable selves - Thank you, I needed that!

Tricks or Treats!

The Queen Mum & Purple Plum Pixie Fairy Princess

The Empress as Purple Plum Pixie Fairy Princess

One Happy PPPFP!


Hmmm.... a toad or a newt? Let me think.....

My Smiley girl!

My pirate in the Parade - along with Classmates.

Auntie, Uncle, Niece & Nephew

Ahoy Me hearties! My Boy with his K Teacher!

*Shortly after this pic was taken the big top tooth fell out. EBB still doesn't really "get" the Tooth Fairy - but he does think it is funny that presents show up! You think that is great - try explaining a big fat guy in a red suit that sticks a bike under a tree in the house in the dead of winter for no reason! I dare ya!

Daddy & A Pirate in Parade

My Boy! Had no idea what was going on but had a blast anyway!