He thought I was being mean

Confession.
In 21 years of marriage I have never made Brussels sprouts.
We eat a LOT OF vegetables but the mini cabbages never made it into my kitchen. I had never eaten them all that often growing up. Not sure why other than, well, they're Brussels sprouts.

I once asked a friend what she thought of them and she replied that she craved them. CRAVED THEM. I was incredulous. What on earth made these things crave worthy?

Flash forward a few years and I read an article about them. The photo and the write up made me think that this was a dish that I needed to make. Like NOW. Off I went to the store and picked up a little bundle. The recipe was fairly straight forward and it had the added bonus of onion and bacon. As we all know, caramelized onions and bacon will make just about anything taste good.

When my husband came home from work and saw what I was making he asked why I was being mean. What had he done? I showed him the bacon and onions and he conceded that given those ingredients they would most likely be tasty.

 Pot Stuck Brussels Sprouts  is what they were called. The recipe is from Food 52 and through that recipe we became converts. OK, convert might be a strong word. We liked them, we would make them again, but we were not evangelistic about the sprouts. Certainly, we did not crave them. That, would come soon though.

Enter, this recipe. Warm Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Asian Citrus Dressing. I was browsing for a Thanksgiving side dish and ran across this recipe. I liked that it was prepared a little differently, the sprouts are shaved thin then roasted until they get a little caramelized and frizzled on the edges then while still warm tossed with a very flavorful punchy dressing. These are sprouts worth telling the world about.

I served them with seared scallops dressed with Ponzu sauce. They went together perfectly and while I won't say that I crave Brussels sprouts, I do look forward to eating them again. And my husband? He no longer thinks I'm mean if he sees a little bag of Brussels sprouts in the crisper.

Warm Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Asian Citrus Dressing
adapted from Nom Nom Paleo
For the slaw:
2 1/4 pounds Brussels sprouts trimmed
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
For the dressing:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh ginger
1 small shallot minced
2 cloves of garlic minced
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
For the garnish:
2 green onions thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Preheat your oven to 450. Line a sheet pan or large baking dish with parchment paper.
Very thinly slice the sprouts with a knife or with the slicing blade of a food processor. Toss them with the olive oil and salt. Evenly spread on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes. Every 10 minutes remove them from the oven and stir them. Cooking times may vary, you want the Brussels sprouts to be browned and a little frizzled in spots.
While the sprouts are roasting away, mix together the dressing ingredients and set aside.
When the Brussels sprouts have finished cooking, pull them from the oven and immediately pour the dressing over and toss them well.
Place the warm slaw on a platter and sprinkle evenly with the green onions, cilantro, and sesame seeds.

Snow Day Cookies

School was cancelled this morning due to snow. The decision was made early on to knock out some Christmas cookies to give to the neighbors. I'm not ashamed to say that before 10am, the girls and I went through 2 pounds of butter.

I KNOW!

We made Butter Pecan Cookies

Which were so good you'll notice that one is already missing in the photo. Make them. Add a cup of mini chocolate chips and a cup of Heath toffee chips to the dough. You're welcome.

And then we made Red Velvet Shortbread

The original recipe used pistachios for the green which makes for a pretty cookie but I had green sprinkles on hand. I have a thing for sprinkles.
Sprinkles make me happy.

And then because, why not......Sugar Cookies
It is the first day of Christmas Break after all!

And yes, that would be an Ugly Christmas Sweater cookie on the left. We had a lot of fun decorating those. We didn't break out the piping bags or gel food colors, we just went with what we had on hand.

It was a perfect day with my girls. The snow was falling, we had a fire crackling away, and Holiday movies playing. I am most grateful for this snow day. It was a perfect start to the break.

Cookie Exchange

I have a childhood friend who is THE Hostess with the Mostest.

Seriously.

She hosts these ridiculously cute Valentines dinners, and sweet Christmas brunches. I always wished that I could go. In the past I've wistfully looked at the pictures posted on Facebook and longed to join in the merriment. But this year since I live in the same time zone I got to go!

Sweet friend hosted a housewarming (she has new digs) and Christmas Cookie Exchange.
I knew immediately which cookie I would make. It's one of my favorites. It is filled to the brim with one of my favorite ingredients.....Not chocolate.

No. Not Red Vines either.

Ginger!

I love that peppery bite. I like to nibble on crystallized ginger. I am probably the only person who buys the ginger flavored Altoids.

Triple Ginger Cookies. Cookies with fresh, ground, and crystallized ginger. Yum. Why three kinds of ginger? Well, there is the go big or go home factor. But, really the three forms bring different tastes to the cookie. Fresh has a bright citrusy notes and then that zesty peppery kick that sneaks up on you. Ground is the most pungent and carries the biggest hit of flavor. Crystallized is like chewy, sticky bits of ginger candy. You don't really notice them in a baked good unless you bite into a piece and then you get a pop of spice and a little heat.

These cookies are really nice the first day once they cool. They have that distinctive spiciness of ginger, a little pepper on the finish, and just a little heat. The next day they really mellow, and the crispy edges give way to chewy middles.

They are addictive and a little different than the usual Molasses Spice Cookie found this time of year.

Triple Ginger Cookies
straight up from Epicurious

Two things I changed about this cookie: I rolled them in coarse sugar to add a little more crunch to the edges and I used all dark brown sugar. Other than that I left them as is.

Makes 3 dozen cookies

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup minced crystallized ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter at room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg room temperature
1/4 cup light (mild flavored) molasses
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated, fresh, peeled ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup coarse ground sugar such as Sugar in the Raw for rolling

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl whisk together the flour, crystallized ginger, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Place the butter in a medium size mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until it is light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. Add the brown sugar and beat another 3 minutes or until the mixture is lighter in color and very fluffy.
Add the egg, molasses, fresh and ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves.Beat well to combine.
Add the flour mixture and mix well on low speed to combine.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Place the 1/2 cup of coarse sugar into a bowl. Take approximately 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball between your hands. Roll the dough in the sugar and then place on the prepared baking sheet. Space the cookies 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart.
Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until the tops crackle, the edges are firm, and the center is soft.
Cool completely.

Procrastiblogging and Pie

Procrastiblogging: a verb meaning that life has taken over and if you have to chose between remembering to pick your child up from school, or blog, you fetch your child from school.
Nothing to worry about, the ride has been sweet.

In no particular order the past 5 months consisted of:
New career for Andy
New job for me
Repatriation (fancy word for moving home)
High school graduation for one kid
Sold a house
Bought a house
Sent younger kid off to camp for the summer
Sent said graduated child off to university (Sniff)
Enrolled the younger one in local high school
Taught younger child to drive (She is a really good driver. I am a terrible, shrieking, sure of certain death passenger. I'm very unhelpful in this process.)
Unpacked 110 boxes of stuff
Wondered why we would move a flattened soccer ball, half used bottles of nail polish, a can of silly string, and a small box of used tea lights from Africa to the United States.

I could go on but I think you get the gist.

And now it is Thanksgiving Day. As I look over that list and flesh out all the details of the past year, there is much to be ON MY KNEES thankful for.
Not the least of which is spending this day with my family. We have spent so many years thinking of them on this day that now I'm pinching myself that we are actually sitting around the same table together.

Can't put off the thanks! To to all we love who are near or far, we are thankful to you for every gift, every blessing, every touch, every word, every comfort—it is all grace!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This pie was the dessert I made for Thanksgiving our first year overseas. It seemed fitting to make it again for our first Thanksgiving back home.

Deep Dish Caramel Apple Pie
Adapted from Epicurious

One recipe of dough for a single pie crust
Streusel:
3/4 cup all purpose flour
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter cut into small pieces
Filling:
8 apples (I used a mix of Granny Smith and Jonagold) peeled, cored, and sliced
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 375.
In a small mixing bowl combine the 3/4 cup flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture makes pea sized clumps. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl stir together the apples, flour, and ground spices. Set aside. Place 1 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Let sugar dissolve over the heat, do not stir. Keep a careful eye on the caramel. Once the sugar has dissolved and starts to turn golden give the pan a few swirls now and again (about 5-8 minutes). Once the caramel reaches a deep amber color turn off the heat and add the butter. Stir well to combine. Do not walk away from the caramel. Trust me. Do not walk away.
Roll out pie dough and transfer to a deep pie dish (91/2 inch diameter, 1 3/4 inch deep)
Crimp edges decoratively.
Spoon the apples into the pie crust and then pour the caramel over. Place on a parchment lined sheet pan and then press the streusel topping evenly over the top of the pie.
Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes. This is great on it's own, but it is transcendent (that might be a slight exaggeration) with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Happy Trails and Happy Birthdays

This has been a big year, our 10th year overseas. When we left all those years ago my youngest daughter was still learning how to write her last name. When signing her passport, she confused the D with a B, and then soon lost interest in writing the rest. Her signature was a slumpy, jumble of fat letters. Three passports later, and with a solid grasp on how to write her last name, she is 16! Today is her birthday and gosh I'm proud of her. She is kind and funny, has a huge faith, and she still lets me hold her hand in public. IN PUBLIC!

I was anticipating what she might want in a Sweet Sixteen Birthday Cake. In the pantry I've been stashing away a few things: almond extract and almond paste (no vanilla for her), sprinkles, pretty cupcake wrappers, candles. I was looking at recipes, plotting and planning when her request came in.

Pancakes please.

Seriously?

Yes. Pancakes please.

Sigh.

You may recall when my older daughter turned sixteen. I found the most perfectly decadent chocolate cake to make for her. She then asked for a Funfetti from a box cake with the frosting from the can to go with.

I should have seen the pancakes coming.

Perfect Diner Pancakes from A Spicy Perspective

So we had pancakes for dinner, and breakfast for dinner happens to make the birthday girl very happy. And honestly, it made me happy because our house looks a little like this.

No we weren't robbed. We're moving. And with the entire house packed out (kitchen included) I wasn't sure how to pull off a birthday cake.

In one week we will be moving back to the Seattle area. We are very excited! While returning home is filled with nostalgia and the familiar, there will be plenty of new and exciting trails to blaze!

But what I really want to say is

I had a blog post planned about what has been going on in our family. I wanted to talk about plans and dreams, and people getting their braces off, and about having your blog mojo go missing.

But then there's Boston*. If you're a praying person I hope you'll join me. I think there are a lot of moms and dads and sisters and brothers who need us to do that. I think there are a lot of doctors and nurses and social workers and chaplains who need us to help them. People are tired and hurting, in pain and scared, at the end of their physical, and emotional and spiritual limits. We can help carry that.

So that's what I wanted to say.

Boston Cream Pie from Serious Eats

* Highlighting what occurred in Boston in no way diminishes pain and suffering in other parts of the world. There was an earthquake in Iran today, strife in the horn of Africa, slavery in India. I could go on. Just today, Boston was on my mind.

Run in with an Avocado

Fruit can be dangerous. We found this out recently when my daughter was attempting to remove the pit from an avocado. The knife slipped off the edge of the pit and slid into the palm of her hand. We took her to a local emergency clinic for what I assumed would just be a few stitches. The reality of the situation was more along the lines of: 2 severed nerves, 1 emergency surgery, and 0 basketball tournaments. A basketball tournament in Barcelona Spain that was going to begin in 2 days time. It's her senior year. Ouch.

Side bar: Being a nurse, my plan, had I found a suture kit in my box of supplies, was to give her a shot of tequila and throw in the 3 stitches needed to close the original wound.

Yes, really I had thought about it. Yes, I think we're all glad that I didn't have a suture kit.

We still went to Barcelona, she cheered on the team, it was really hard, but good. Good in the way that one day you'll look back and see that you learned a lot but at the moment this really sucks and you need your mom to buy you churros and dark chocolate and shirts from H&M.

I'm still needed. So grateful for that.

You're probably wondering about the picture of the avocados. You're probably thinking that it's pretty insensitive of me to post that photo or maybe even have large bowls of avocados in my kitchen. You're probably right. But in my defense, avocados are just so darn good.

And so for my avocado loving daughter who needs a little balm not only for her hand, but for her heart that is a little disappointed, I give you this.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding. I have to say when we tried this I wasn't sure what to think. It was good, but I was hoping that I could say it did not taste like avocados. But it does. That's not a bad thing, unless you end up in the emergency clinic while trying to make this dessert.

I used some melted dark chocolate along with cocoa powder to give a deep chocolate flavor, some dark brown sugar underscores it even more. Most recipes only use honey or agave nectar to sweeten the pudding, so feel free to leave out the brown sugar if you want to. My feelings won't be hurt in the least.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding
4 ripe avocados
1/4 cup coconut milk
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 ounces of dark chocolate 70% or higher, melted and slightly cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Pit and peel the avocados and place in the bowl of a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and puree until very smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Taste, season as you would like, more sweetener, more vanilla.....process again for 2 minutes until the pudding is very smooth.

Serves 4. Refrigerate until ready to serve.