Garlic Brussel Sprouts

One of my closest friends recently commented on a post asking to get the recipe for some Brussel Sprouts that were pictured. I love comments so please keep 'em coming! :)

I've been making the Brussel Spouts for awhile now and am shocked to find out how many people really like the lil green suckers. I thought most people hated the mini cabbage looking vegetables, but I'm learning otherwise. For those who don't like (ahem or haven't had good ones...) please give them one last try and eat them prepared this way. They turn golden and have a little nutty flavor when cooked just right.

Here's how to make these super simple, yet amazingly delicious Brussel Spouts. 

The Goods!

Olive Oil, Butter (Not Pictured because I'm a moron), 

Parmesan Cheese, Brussel Sprouts, Garlic, Salt and Pepper

Wash the Brussel Sprouts

Chop each one in half lengthwise.

Melt a lil bit of butter.

Add some olive oil and the garlic. 

After a few minutes add all the Brussel Sprout - cut side down.

Cook them over medium heat.

The once towards the middle will start to brown first, 

so move to the edge pushing the less cooked ones to the center. 

Perfectly cooked and almost done!

Cover with a very generous portion of shredded Parmesan Cheese.

Let the cheese melt completely.

Serve and ENJOY!!!

These make a wonderful side dish, 

but can also be a great addition to a salad, 

or eaten just by themselves! 

Happy 30th Birthday Brother!

Today - Monday, March 19th, 2012 is my older brother's 30th Birthday! 

While I'm not in Arizona to celebrate with him today...

I thought I'd wish him a Happy Birthday on my blog!

My older brother is the BEST. 

He's an amazing guy with many talents. 

I look to him for inspiration and guidance. 

He's not only my brother, but one of my closest friends. 

I hope he has a wonderful 30th Birthday! 

He deserves to be celebrated. 

I love you VERY much Randy!

Happy Birthday Big Brother!!!  

P.S. We did have a SURPRISE PARTY for him in the Mountains recently and I'll post more about that soon!!

Garden Progress

In my most recent Garden post, I mentioned that I'd planted Snap Peas and Cat Grass seeds. I've grown both before, but I was very excited for what was to come! 

I was on vacation last weekend and when I returned early last week, I had a few tiny little sprouts coming out of the soil in my Snap Pea container. I decided to let them grow a few days and by the end of the week there were TONS of little Snap Pea shoots starting to grow! I cannot wait for them to vine up and grow delicious and sweet pea pods! 

The Cat Grass was actually a lot further along than the Snap Peas when I came back from vacation, but I gave that a few days to fill out as well. It's super full and thriving now and my cats can't wait to devour it!

I'm going to be adding a few more things to my garden in the coming weeks, but I don't know if I'll be as much of a green thumb this Spring and Summer. It's a lot of work and can get very frustrating if bugs infest your crops! We will just have to see though, so check back soon for more garden updates and progress!!!

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries!!!

I recently ran across pictures of some homemade Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries that looked absolutely AMAZING! I knew I had to try them as soon as I saw them, so I did a quick search online and found a recipe that couldn't be more simple! 

I knew it wouldn't be very easy to get the strawberries hollowed out, so I bought a Strawberry Huller from Williams Sonoma. I didn't try to make them before, but using the huller made the process VERY easy!

The Goods:

Cream Cheese

Vanilla Extract

Powdered Sugar

Graham Crackers 

(I used Cinnamon because that's what I had...)

Large Fresh Strawberries 

Crush the Graham Crackers into crumbs.

Mix Cream Cheese, Powder Sugar and Vanilla...

Until it's a creamy - almost frosting like consistancy.

Put the cream cheese mixture into a zipper bag.

Store in the fridge until ready to fill strawberries.

Hull all the strawberries you're going to fill.

Cut the tip off one end of the zipper bag and fill strawberries.

Dip each strawberry into Graham Cracker crumbs.

And done!

Now time to ENJOY!

These were seriously so simple and I plan to make them again soon. They'd be a great dessert or nice brunch treat. You can make as many or as few as you'd like at at time - just adjust the measurements accordingly.

Homemade Soup: Broccoli Cheese Soup

I'm really love soup, but I've never been a hugh fan of Broccoli Soup. That changed when I ran across a Broccoli-Cheese Soup on The Pioneer Woman's website. I wanted to make it and eat it as soon as I saw it and I never have that reaction from Broccoli Soup. Maybe it was the cheese that was drawing me in...

Not too long after spotting the recipe, I decided I would make it to eat and share with a couple friends.  This was my first attempt at a soup that you puree/blend so I was a little nervous, but I went to town making it anyway.

The Goods:

Broccoli, Milk, Half & Half, Chopped Onions, 

Shredded Cheese, Nutmeg, Butter, Flour, Salt and Pepper!

Melt butter in large stockpot.

Add onions and sauté. 

Add flour and stir around to combine. 

Let the butter, onion, flour mixture cook for a minute or so.

Then slowly add the Milk and Half & Half. 

Season with Nutmeg, Salt and Pepper. 

Now it's time for the broccoli! 

Cover the pot and simmer for about 30 minutes. 

The broccoli should now be nice and tender. 

Add the yummy cheese.

And stir it in!

Transfer the soup to a blender.

And blend until it's the the consistency you desire. 

Now pour the soup back into the stock pot to keep warm. 

Serve with delicious crusty Garlic Bread. 

Fried Fish Tacos

One of my best friends went to Maui last summer and fell in love with Taco Tuesday's at Fred's Mexican Cafe. She especially loved their Chipotle Mayo and told me about it more than once! Recently she invited me over to try to make the Mayo and fry our own fish to make delicious tacos. In fact, they were so good I don't know if delicious is a good enough word to describe them!

We didn't take pictures, so I just HAD to make them again to show all my wonderful readers how to make these amazing tacos! I made them last weekend and devoured them with a friend. I wanted them again while editing the pictures a few days later. Oh and I'm sure I'll want them yet again before I'm done writing this blog! 

Now onto the fun part - showing you how to make the tacos.

The Goods!

Corn Tortillas, Vegetable Oil, Tilapia, Panko and Bread Crumb Mixture,

Limes, Avocado, Homemade Chipotle Mayo, Shredded Cabbage & Red Onion

Cover the Tilapia with the Panko and Bread Crumb Mixture.

I forgot to photograph this step - I'm sorry!

Heat oil in a large stock pot. 

Test the oil temperature with a tiny piece of Corn Tortilla.

Then do a final test with one piece of fish.

Once you know the oil is at the right temperature,

throw in (gently place really) the rest of the fish! 

Turn them after about 2 or 3 minutes. 

Cook a few more minutes - until they're golden and crispy.

Finally, take out one piece to make sure the fish is cooked through.

NOTE: Be careful folks - the oil is VERY hot and will probably start to pop at some point. 

Don't be like me and burn yourself...

Please be smarter and more safe than I was!

Nom nom fried Tilapia! 

Put the Mayo and Toppings on!

Now time to enjoy the amazingness.

And if you're nice - share the yummy tacos with someone else! 

A Long Overdue Garden Update!

It's been FOREVER since I've really mentioned my garden on my blog. That's mostly because I didn't plant any Fall/Winter crops this, but I should have still posted a little more often. I'm sorry folks. I'll try to do better.

To make up for the absence, I have A LOT to update you on. This isn't a post about one thing in my garden, it's not even a post about two things in my garden. Nope it's about the ENTIRE garden! :)

Like usual, my garden is always changing. I'm very excited about what I currently have going, but also excited about what's to come in the future!

The Plant Corner

Empty Planter WILL BE Cat Grass soon!

My Geraniums.

Something was attacking them when I first planted them, 

but now they're being left alone and are THRIVING!

One of my the newest additions - Yellow Tulips in the Windowbox.

I love Tulips and I never thought to put them in that planter before.

Sadly, I lost the one lone Pink Tulip I had though. 

The Santa Ana Winds claimed the pretty pink petals towards the end of last week.

My Pretty Purple Pansies in my Hanging Planter.

(Say THAT Three times fast!)

 Over the last year or so, I've had many things in this planter, 

but I'm pretty sure I like these best!

My Elephant Foot Plant and lil Tucan.

My Christmas Tree from TWO Christmas ago! (Hi Kahn!!!)

It was SO tiny when I first got it and now it's a few feet tall.

It survived the LA heat last Summer, so I'm hoping it makes it this year too.

This corner is slowly becoming my succulant corner. 

The big one on the right is massive and is going to take over one day!

And look - Kahn made an appearance again. 

I think he wanted to be part of the update.

Rosemary and Thyme.

The Thyme looks like it's about to die, but it's not.

It's actually starting to really spread out and I hope it keeps going.

I want to use it without feeling like I'm depleting my entire stash!

Flat Leaf Parsley, Sage and a tiny Jalapeno Plant!

Bring on the new crops!!!

And a closer look at those three...

Flat Leaf Parsley

Sage

Baby Jalapeno Plant!

A long box of soil - great Robyn...

Yes, it LOOKS like it's just soil, but it's not.

There are Snap Pea seeds buried underneath just waiting to sprout!

I can't tell you how excited I am to grow Snap Peas again.

Last but NOT least - My AMAZING lime tree!!! 

Look at that beauty and all the amazing blossoms.

C'mon baby limes!

This lil sucker was SUPPOSED to be a Dwarf tree, but I don't think it is!

I love it none the less and hope it doesn't get soooooo big that I have to get rid of it!