Warm and Cozy: Brussels Sprouts

When the temperatures dip a bit and all the beauty of autumn arrives, I crave warm and cozy dinners at home.  Yes, at home.  Normally I would do anything to eat out and not have to concoct something new and inventive that my family will eat.  But something about the refreshing cool air makes me want to fill the kitchen with warm and cozy scents.
NOTE: In an attempt to get my big girl to eat as many veggies as our little one, I have vowed to try a ton of new vegetable recipes this season.

Brussels Spouts are my new favorite side dish.  Yes, seriously, Brussels Sprouts.  I know, the word sprouts usually makes my stomach turn but these are so good.

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They are fabulous when baked in the oven.  Their nutty flavor combined with a splash of lemon juice satisfies the pallet like no other.

This dish was inspired by The Royal Chef.  I have attended a few of his classes in the past and always seem to turn back to his fancy English dishes for inspiration.

My Brussels Sprouts Recipe:

1 (16 oz) package of Brussels Sprouts (halved and root cut away)
1 medium white onion (chopped)
6 cloves of garlic (minced)
olive oil (enough to drizzle over all the sprouts and onions)
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place chopped sprouts, onions and garlic on a baking sheet and drizzle with enough olive oil to coat.  Season with salt and pepper.  Bake until tender (approximately 15 minutes).  Remove and add the juice of one lemon.  Serve warm.

Here is The Royal Chef's recipe:

(definitely very tasty and royal but the bacon adds quite a bit of fat for the everyday dinner at home)

1 pound of Brussels Sprouts

8 slices smoked bacon cut into 1/2 inch strips

2 medium onions -- peeled, halved and sliced

6 cloves garlic -- crushed and rough chopped

1 lemon -- juice only

1/2 cup olive oil

kosher salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice the Brussels Sprouts into 1/4 inch slices.  Sauté the bacon and garlic until the bacon starts to crisp in the frying pan.  Add the Brussels Sprouts, onions, salt and pepper and olive oil and toss together.  Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes until the sprouts and onion soften.  Transfer to a serving dish and pour the juice of one lemon just before serving.

*Makes 6 portions

Either recipe is great!  I hope you will enjoy this new veggie as much as I do!! :-)

It's here!

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Autumn has officially arrived!  Cool mornings, rusty colors, piles of crunchy leaves, fat pumpkins, a new spark of energy, excited children, warm scents, and cozy evenings await us in the coming months!  I hope you enjoy this wonderful time of year.

Just play...

Let's just play...

outside in our jammies (or lack thereof) long after we should be dressed,

the piano, even though we both don't really know what we are doing,

through the window when we are separated by glass,

dress up with lots of frills, high heels and a microphone for singing,

dress up while practicing a yoga pose,

an old accordion that Momma found at a garage sale while wearing leopard-print pj bottoms and no top (it was probably tossed aside after a daily breakfast spill),

in an old vintage dress,

 with your sister close by.

Monthly Organization Project 4: "Preschool Papers"

Project Time:  10 minutes
Project Supplies: 1-inch 3 ring binder, sheet protectors, sticky back paper, computer, printer, scissors

My big girl began preschool last week.  Already, many little projects and precious pieces of "art" have come home (my favorite are actually the little notes).  We always display what comes home on the fridge.  When new work comes home, it replaces the old work on the fridge and stack of  precious work begins to develop.  What to do with these sweet little pieces has quickly become important as I don't want to throw some of the little things that come home.

While I was at Target yesterday, I noticed that all their school supplies are 50-75% off.  I found some nice 3-ring binders and thought they'd make the perfect Preschool Work organizer.  This 1-inch binder was only .98 cents!

I got some sticky back paper (mine are actually shipping labels that I use when I ship) and printed a fun little label to go on the front.  I used "Giddy Up" font and found a cute image of a schoolhouse.

I trimmed up the label and stuck it to the front of the binder.

Viola!  Now we have a place for all the work of a budding and excited preschooler.  Now, I won't keep everything, just the things that mean the most to us.  

I also plan to use this binder to put class pictures in and any other preschool-related items we want to save.  A year of preschool in 1 binder!

On a side note, I use plastic sheet protectors inside to keep all the work in.  That way you don't have to ruin a masterpiece by punching holes in the sides.

Another first

Yesterday, we experienced another first.  This wasn't a first, first but it was a first.  My girls and I attended our local moms/babes program.  The children are taken care of while the moms visit and enjoy some type of speaker for a few hours.  Last year, the babe did NOT like going at all and cried like crazy.  Many a meeting, I was called to get her and we ended up going home early.  This early departure did not bode well with the big sister who began enjoying the time with friends in a school-like setting.

This year as we began our first day, I was filled with apprehension.  Would the babe cry again?  Should I even be doing this if we have to leave early every meeting because of my notorious babe that cries when I leave?

The babe did cry when I left her but the most loving and patient caregiver held her and comforted her until her tears ceased {the crying wailing lasted for 15 whole minutes}.  The big sister was a bit apprehensive about a new classroom and new teachers {that were not preschool related} but she did great after discovering all the fun play areas that didn't exist in her preschool classroom.

Thankfully, we all made it through the entire meeting.  This seemed like a first for the 3 of us!  Whew!

Sunrise

On a recent trip, I had the pleasure of seeing the sun rise.  I never see the sun rise.  Many days I am up before the sun, but I never see it rise.  Normally, I am too busy with little ones that require immediate attention in the early morning hours.

I read a quote some time ago that said something about every person should see the sun rise at least once a year...it is inspiring, soul-cleansing, etc.  I remember reading that and thinking what could be so magical about being up so early to actually see the sun's arrival in our sky.

I am not a morning person.  Yes, I can put on a happy face and demeanor in the early morning, but I am not a morning person.  My face is puffy, my eyes are droopy and the fog of not getting enough sleep consumes me in the morning.

Seeing the sun rise a couple weeks ago changed my thoughts about the morning.  There was something so peaceful and calming about seeing the bright orange rays peer into the purplish-blue sky.  It helped me start my day in a positive mood and I quickly forgot about the child that didn't sleep well and woke before the sun.

I haven't seen the sun rise again since this morning but I have vowed to make a point of seeing it more often.  Its calm and soothing effects have stuck with me through the busy days.

When was the last time you saw the sun rise?

That first, first day

Today was the first, first day of school for my girl.  We have been preparing for this day for many months.  The picture above was taken in June as my girl began demonstrating an interest in wearing her backpack and began pretending she was walking out the front door to go to school.

Today was filled with excitement that was tainted with bits of fear, anxiousness and happiness...for both of us.

The new outfit and shoes were happily put on.

The obligatory "first day" pictures were taken outside the front door.

The little sis' wanted to com,e and for once, that was ok.

The rain poured down and delayed the start by 2 hours.

But that didn't dampen this little girl's spirits as we figured out an exit strategy from the car in the soaked parking lot.

After dodging raindrops and downpours, we finally made it.  

A cubby was found and a nametag was proudly worn.

Goodbyes were short but happy as new Play-Doh occupied busy little hands.

Yes, Momma peeked in (even though she swore she would never be "that mother").

Even though Momma and the little one had a nice time together, we quickly found out that car rides, lunch and playtime were very quiet without our big girl.

That combined with the rain made us a little sad.

But those feelings were erased when we saw the big smile on the big sister's face when we picked her up and heard all about her happy first day!

We made it through the first of many "first days!"  

Here's hoping all the first days had by many little ones over the past few weeks have been super positive and great!