New Year New Hodgepodge-Vol 60

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge...so glad you joined the fun in this brand new year. Be sure to add your link at the end of my post and then hop around and see what everyone else is saying. Here are my answers-

1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2011?

hard

swift

full

Hmmm. I don't think I'll expound right at the moment but I'm thinking there's a blog post brewing in there somewhere.

2. Do you like shrimp? What's your favorite way to have it prepared?

I love shrimp and am not particular about how its prepared...my favorite is probably steamed in Old Bay seasoning with spicy cocktail sauce for dipping. Peel and eat shrimp eaten at a picnic table beside the water on a sunny summer day is pretty close to perfection in my book.

3. Is your house de-Christmased? If so, when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?

It's getting there. Daughter2 and I hit The Container Store yesterday for help with some re-organizing. I outgrew my holiday storage bins about two Christmases ago and have been stashing decorations here, there and everywhere...it was past time for more boxes. Plus, who doesn't love The Container Store? Something about that place makes me ridiculously happy and daughter2 would say the same.

Hubs took the outdoor lights and wreaths down on Sunday and we got the indoor garlands and bows down on Monday. The trees will be undecorated and back in the basement by Friday. I really enjoy my trees in the week between Christmas and New Years Day when life is quieter and there's plenty of time for being still.

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?

Not anything that falls into the horror category but I do love a good mystery. I have an extremely vivid imagination and don't really need anything to add fuel to the fire.

5. ice skating~sledding~ skiing~snowboarding...of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?

Definitely not snowboarding. I lack whatever form of coordination is required for that sport. I'm going with skiing...I love the mountains, fresh air, and ski towns...

...especially those nestled into the Alps with their honest to goodness fairy tale charm.

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.

Not a hideout per se but my younger sister and I spent a lot of time setting up Barbies under the great big tree in the corner of our backyard. Actually I think the tree was on our neighbors property but this was back in the day before everyone seemed to have fences so it was sort of a communal corner. The tree branches were high and leafy and made a perfect canopy for playing house, dolls, or dress ups.

7. What's a place or space that motivates you?

The water...I do my best thinking there.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We tried a new salad last night and I have to say it might be the best salad I've ever eaten. I found the recipe on a blog called Just Cook Already. Apparently this recipe is an adapted version of the original served in an Arizona restaurant called Chelsea's Kitchen.

The 'leaves' are brussel sprouts that have been peeled so you don't use the hard bitter core. Before you haters turn up your noses you really should give it a try. The leaves are combined with dried cranberries, dried blueberries, crumbled bacon, almonds, and shaved Parmesan and then topped with a light citrusy mustard vinaigrette. The only bit that's a little time consuming is peeling the sprouts.

It helps to have a daughter in the kitchen acting as sous chef.

This salad is so fresh and pretty and positively scrumptious. I served this as a side to roast chicken but will definitely fix it as a main for a light meal some evening. Click here to get the recipe.