Brussel sprouts are bomb.com IMO. They are super easy to roast, a total crowd pleaser, and so damn good for ya. It's always nice to bring a brussel sprout dish rather than your customary green bean side dish I think. We have roasted brussel sprouts pretty regularly in our household, so when making them for company it's nice to give your usual recipe a little boost.
This recipe definitely accomplishes that. With a fresh, bright flavor and a bit of a tang, these are for sure not your average sprouts. With just a few extra steps, you'll have an updated brussel sprout dish in no time.
Lemon Thyme Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Bag (or two) or Brussel sprouts, quartered
Juice from half a lemon
2 tbs olive oil
1/4 tbs dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Toss all ingredients well on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 for about 20 minutes, or until browned. These are also good cold the following day, and are really excellent tossed into a salad if you have leftovers.
Showing posts with label brussel sprouts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brussel sprouts. Show all posts
Monday, October 6, 2014
Friday, May 2, 2014
Busy Week Eats- Paleo Garbage Salad, Chicken Hearts and Brussel Sprouts
We had a fairly normal week chez GFG. Normal meaning crazed, chaotic, frantic, and maybe a little bipolar. But that's ok! It's Friday, and the forecast looks positively delicious. You know what else is delicious? Garbage salads. So satisfying and yummy, but also a fantastic way to clean out the fridge/pantry.
Garbage salads never contain the exact same ingredients but do always contain a few key items- two kinds of protein to keep you full, flavorful greens, some roasted veggies, and a simple dressing of EVOO and red wine vinegar. This week's salad was arugula, shrimp, pepperoni, black olives, avocado, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke, and cucumber. If I have some laying around, I like to throw in a little broccoli too. I will usually go for arugula because I find it lasts longer in the fridge and I really prefer the taste to plain old lettuce.
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Garbage salads never contain the exact same ingredients but do always contain a few key items- two kinds of protein to keep you full, flavorful greens, some roasted veggies, and a simple dressing of EVOO and red wine vinegar. This week's salad was arugula, shrimp, pepperoni, black olives, avocado, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke, and cucumber. If I have some laying around, I like to throw in a little broccoli too. I will usually go for arugula because I find it lasts longer in the fridge and I really prefer the taste to plain old lettuce.
Some other great ideas for your big ol' pile o' garbage salad-
- Hard boiled eggs
- cauli
- sweet potatoes
- green onions
- tomato
- roasted eggplant
- carrots
- salami
- chicken
- spinach
- nuts (if you aren't allergic, obvy)
- basil, or other fresh herbs
- asparagus
- zucchini
- kale
And the list goes on. The secret to having a garbage salad at the ready at any time is all about what's in your pantry. Yes fresh veggies FTW always but sometimes you just aren't that prepared. So I like to keep olives, artichokes, red peppers, and capers around as much as possible. With a protein or two and some greens you are good to go! I have a feeling as summer approaches this will become more and more a part of our weekly menu.
We also had a quick meal of chicken hearts and brussel sprouts. I know- chicken hearts EWWWWW I can hear you all collectively saying. But don't knock it til you try it. They are really good and cook up in a flash. They have a taste slightly reminiscent of chicken liver but nowhere near as overpowering. They are leaner and more muscly so won't make you feel full in 2.4 seconds like liver. The best part is I roasted everything, the hearts and quartered brussel sprouts all together on one baking sheet at 425. No messy pots and pans to deal with. Just some olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper and you are good to go. Chicken hearts are dirt cheap and crazy good for you. You can buy enough for two or three people for like, $2. Keep 'em in the freezer for emergency protein. You'll thank me some day!
In other news, we are planning a little weekend getaway to Santa Fe, NM in October. Anyone have hotel recommendations? What else.... oh yeah... we are getting ready for a very large, and depressing purchase... a minivan... Please excuse me while I go vomit/sob in the corner. So some car shopping will probably take place this weekend. After doing some exhaustive research on SUVs with a third row, I came to the conclusion that we really have no choice but to get a minivan. We take quite a few road trips with the dog, and once you've got the stroller in, and the dog, and the luggage, and the kiddos, well- you get the picture. So yeah. Wish us luck!
Have a great weekend GFGs! xoxo
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thanksgiving Recap, Detox Update, and Tangy Bacon Brussel Sprouts
How was everyone's Thanksgiving? Now that we are almost a week out- what were your successes and downfalls? Any amazing recipes? Any not so amazing recipes? Hopefully regardless of the food you all spent a happy, healthy, wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. I had quite the week, with my twin 3 year old nephews in town, Thanksgiving, and a quick trip to Chicago for a bachelorette party, it was definitely an eventful few days!
Before the food, just a few updates.
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I got a gel manicure the day before Thanksgiving. I believe the brand is CND Shellac? Here is a pic a week later. I don't think I would do it again- for one, it's pretty expensive. And yes, I appreciate the no chip and I do like that it stays shiny, but the thought of wearing it for another week is a little tiresome. Plus, by then the rest of my nailbeds are going to be prettttty worked. Ew. I have had a few little chips here and there, but nothing like what my normal manicure would be looking like by now. I also really loved that it was totally dry by the time you left the salon. But unless you are absolutely in love with your color, and your salon has a really good selection, you will probably be dunzo with your mani before it's done with you. But hey, if you are a nurse/cook or use your hands a ton and can't deal with chipping manicures and have the extra $$$, go for it!
Detox Update:
I have 3 more days before I finish my sweetener/sugar detox and move on to Whole30. Since giving up sweeteners, treats, and cutting out most starches, my blood sugar has been consistently lower. I thought for awhile it might be due to my off-week on birth control pills as hormones can raise your blood sugar, but that ended over a week ago now. While my sugars weren't necessarily out of control before, it's definitely been interesting to watch them go down. The only modification I have made is cutting out sweeteners and eating minimal starches. And my A1C was even lower, 4.9! Crazy! Are sweetener the devil? No, not necessarily. I still have the Whole30 to get through before I can even think about using them again. But lower blood sugars are great. And I really don't miss the treats too terribly much. The one time I did, was over the weekend at my cousins bach party when everyone was eating tons of crap and candy. But I got over it. Have I snuck a few tastes of things here and there? Yup. I have. I'm not perfect. Am I totally in love with unsweetened coffee and tea? Not really. But we'll just have to see what happens after Whole30. I will be cutting out cheese, all legumes including peanuts, anything with "gums" in them, and continuing to abstain from sweeteners, any kind of fruit, starches, treats, and anything else not Whole30 approved. Looking forward to it!
Thanksgiving was strangegoodbadfun. I loved having some time off work. I spent some quality time with my super cute little nephews, and S had a great time playing with her COUSINS all week. I enjoyed some great QT with me, myself, and I on Wednesday, and went on a date with MKG. I slept in once or twice and we had great weather. It was nice! I also had a very strange doctors appointment, where I learned more about my 57 autoimmune diseases, and was two hours late (due to said doctors appointment) for family pics with my in-laws. Thanksgiving day was kind of weird. I was home by myself most of the day cooking and packing for my trip, which is kind of an odd way to spend T-Day! I got to my in-laws in the afternoonish. I know I am picky and have a modified diet and yes I guess I am a bit of a snob when it comes to food, but seriously- if you are ever going to bring out the big guns and put 100% into your food, put your heart, soul, and complete effort into it, it should be Thanksgiving right? If you aren't going to do that, then you should really leave the cooking to someone else. That's my honest opinion. No one wants to eat an afterthought. Or a a table full of afterthoughts. Ick. Ok, that's off my chest. I made a couple items- Kale salad which I may or may not post, pumpkin bars which were good but just your run of the mill paleo pumpkin bars which you can surely make on your own, and a DELISH brussel sprout dish, which I share below.
2 shallots, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 T red wine vinegar
1 T dijon mustard
8 ounces bacon, chopped into lardons
EVOO
Roast your quartered sprouts in some EVOO, salt and pepper in a 450 degree oven until they are nice and browned. 20 min or so. Remove and transfer to a large bowl. In a saute pan, fry up your bacon lardons, and remove lardons when crispy. Cook shallots in the bacon fat until translucent and starting to caramelize. Add in your garlic and cook for a few more minutes. Add your mustard and red wine vinegar and cook for just another minute until well incorporated. When ready to serve, toss your sprouts with the dressing. This is best served warm but it's still quite good at room temp!
The morning after T-day I was on a plane, Chicago-bound for my cousins spa bachelorette party in Lake Geneva, WI. We stayed at the Grand Geneva and all enjoyed some amaze spa treatments. If you are ever in that neck of the woods, I definitely recommend it! Lake Geneva is a quaint, sweet old resort town just an hour and a half outside Chicago. The six of us had a blast, and I even was able to squeeze in a haircut! And I'd like to mention, that if someone wanted to build me a steamroom, I probably wouldn't say no. #justsayin
Ok folks. Hope you have all recovered from T-day. I am happy to report I seem to have made it through the detox. Now, on to Whole30! Who's with me????
Before the food, just a few updates.
I got a gel manicure the day before Thanksgiving. I believe the brand is CND Shellac? Here is a pic a week later. I don't think I would do it again- for one, it's pretty expensive. And yes, I appreciate the no chip and I do like that it stays shiny, but the thought of wearing it for another week is a little tiresome. Plus, by then the rest of my nailbeds are going to be prettttty worked. Ew. I have had a few little chips here and there, but nothing like what my normal manicure would be looking like by now. I also really loved that it was totally dry by the time you left the salon. But unless you are absolutely in love with your color, and your salon has a really good selection, you will probably be dunzo with your mani before it's done with you. But hey, if you are a nurse/cook or use your hands a ton and can't deal with chipping manicures and have the extra $$$, go for it! Detox Update:
I have 3 more days before I finish my sweetener/sugar detox and move on to Whole30. Since giving up sweeteners, treats, and cutting out most starches, my blood sugar has been consistently lower. I thought for awhile it might be due to my off-week on birth control pills as hormones can raise your blood sugar, but that ended over a week ago now. While my sugars weren't necessarily out of control before, it's definitely been interesting to watch them go down. The only modification I have made is cutting out sweeteners and eating minimal starches. And my A1C was even lower, 4.9! Crazy! Are sweetener the devil? No, not necessarily. I still have the Whole30 to get through before I can even think about using them again. But lower blood sugars are great. And I really don't miss the treats too terribly much. The one time I did, was over the weekend at my cousins bach party when everyone was eating tons of crap and candy. But I got over it. Have I snuck a few tastes of things here and there? Yup. I have. I'm not perfect. Am I totally in love with unsweetened coffee and tea? Not really. But we'll just have to see what happens after Whole30. I will be cutting out cheese, all legumes including peanuts, anything with "gums" in them, and continuing to abstain from sweeteners, any kind of fruit, starches, treats, and anything else not Whole30 approved. Looking forward to it!
Thanksgiving was strangegoodbadfun. I loved having some time off work. I spent some quality time with my super cute little nephews, and S had a great time playing with her COUSINS all week. I enjoyed some great QT with me, myself, and I on Wednesday, and went on a date with MKG. I slept in once or twice and we had great weather. It was nice! I also had a very strange doctors appointment, where I learned more about my 57 autoimmune diseases, and was two hours late (due to said doctors appointment) for family pics with my in-laws. Thanksgiving day was kind of weird. I was home by myself most of the day cooking and packing for my trip, which is kind of an odd way to spend T-Day! I got to my in-laws in the afternoonish. I know I am picky and have a modified diet and yes I guess I am a bit of a snob when it comes to food, but seriously- if you are ever going to bring out the big guns and put 100% into your food, put your heart, soul, and complete effort into it, it should be Thanksgiving right? If you aren't going to do that, then you should really leave the cooking to someone else. That's my honest opinion. No one wants to eat an afterthought. Or a a table full of afterthoughts. Ick. Ok, that's off my chest. I made a couple items- Kale salad which I may or may not post, pumpkin bars which were good but just your run of the mill paleo pumpkin bars which you can surely make on your own, and a DELISH brussel sprout dish, which I share below.
Tangy Bacon Brussel Sprouts
2 lbs brussel sprouts, trimmed and quartered2 shallots, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 T red wine vinegar
1 T dijon mustard
8 ounces bacon, chopped into lardons
EVOO
Roast your quartered sprouts in some EVOO, salt and pepper in a 450 degree oven until they are nice and browned. 20 min or so. Remove and transfer to a large bowl. In a saute pan, fry up your bacon lardons, and remove lardons when crispy. Cook shallots in the bacon fat until translucent and starting to caramelize. Add in your garlic and cook for a few more minutes. Add your mustard and red wine vinegar and cook for just another minute until well incorporated. When ready to serve, toss your sprouts with the dressing. This is best served warm but it's still quite good at room temp!
The morning after T-day I was on a plane, Chicago-bound for my cousins spa bachelorette party in Lake Geneva, WI. We stayed at the Grand Geneva and all enjoyed some amaze spa treatments. If you are ever in that neck of the woods, I definitely recommend it! Lake Geneva is a quaint, sweet old resort town just an hour and a half outside Chicago. The six of us had a blast, and I even was able to squeeze in a haircut! And I'd like to mention, that if someone wanted to build me a steamroom, I probably wouldn't say no. #justsayin
Ok folks. Hope you have all recovered from T-day. I am happy to report I seem to have made it through the detox. Now, on to Whole30! Who's with me????
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