Wednesday, January 4, 2012

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.

33 comments:

  1. Cocktail sauce...THAT's what it's called! I was having a 'brain moment' and was too lazy to google what the 'red sauce' for shrimp was called!
    Horror movies...THAT's what they're called. ahem...another brainfart I guess!
    I've never really tried brussel sprouts but the salad looks delicious.

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  2. Shrimp with Old Bay and cocktail sauce is pretty hard to beat, I will agree on that! Never been to the Container Store. It'd be my downfall for sure. And that salad--okay, I simply must try it. I became a brussels sprouts liker (not lover) about two years ago but have never eaten them raw. Here's to trying something new this year in the food dept.

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  3. Ok...so, Podunk, USA, doesn't have a Container Store. Sounds like I'm really missing out (or maybe my checkbook is grateful???).

    Hope you enjoy the rest of your week. I'm so glad that you can leisurely take your decorations down and that you have your daughter's help!

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  4. Would you believe that I took most of our Christmas decorations down on Christmas day? Terrible, I know. However, we left to go to South Carolina the day after Christmas and I didn't want to come home with all of that to face.

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  5. That salad does look great and I love those little sprouts. I really loved them oven roasted! I drove by my old childhood house once and was surprised how close the houses had become and how busy the street was. It was kind of sad, but the ball park was still there and so was a little piece of the woods.

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  6. Loved the 2012 kick off questions. I love shrimp to....just peeled and boiled....in Old Bay. I will have to pass on your beautiful salad. Brussel Sprouts don't like me....and I am not really fond of them either. Happy New Year!

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  7. Thanks again Joyce for the great questions and for having this! It is fantastic :)

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  8. I bet those Alps are gorgeous....and, as you say [only in my imagination]...they ARE fairy tale charmed!! Oh and that Brussel sprout salad looks deeeeeeelicious.

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  9. I hope to get back over here for the hodgepodge later- I wanted to post something for Breezy's birthday today! DoodleBug and I had almost the exact same salad today from Tasi! It was delicious!

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  10. I think this salad sounds delicious and definitely one I'm gonna check out. Oooo, roasted chicken for the entree sounds delightful,too. You're making me hungry. =D

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  11. Salad sounds delicious. Daughter #1 still home and I am loving it!

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  12. That salad looks so yummy! And roasted chicken ... I think I'll have to put that on my menu!

    I need to find a Container Store in this area ... all my Christmas decorations are in boxes, and the ornament box is starting to fall apart. :-(

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  13. I never thought about the water. I love to be by the ocean...so that probably should have been my answer.

    I wouldn't mind being in a ski town by the fire in a big chalet either, but I can't ski. lol

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  14. Don't ya just love the container store? haha It's wonderful...The salad sounds REALLY good, going to have to try that. Have a good day!

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  15. Have amazing childhood memories of playing barbies for hours on end. Brussel Sprouts not a fan but it looks so good and I trust your taste....might have to give it a try! I wish we had the container store here!! Have a wonderful day!

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  16. Okay, I could totally get into that salad! I love Brussel Sprouts and I guess it would be me that would have to peel them. Ugh!

    Sounds like we had much the same hide out as kids. Those were the days before electronic games consumed a child's life and I think that was a good thing indeed.

    Blessings for this day!

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  17. That does look good but in my experience, anything with bacon is going to be tasty!

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  18. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who drags out de-Christmasing the house! I'm like you, I enjoy the decorations more after Christmas is over...

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  19. I'm with you on the scary movies. I don't need any help. We watched signs a few years ago and it took a while before I wanted to go out back near the corn field at night by myself. :) That salad sounds amazing. I'm going to give it a try sometime.

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  20. That is a new take on salad - I'll give it a try. Looks yummy.

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  21. The water seems like a cool place to think :) and that salad looks really great!

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  22. That salad looks great! We had to un decorate the day after christmas, since our tree fell down!

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  23. That salad sounds amazing. I never would have thought of using brussel sprouts as a green. It will be going on my "to try" pile of recipes.

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  24. I love the photo of the alps. I spent 6 weeks in Kirchberg in Tirol, Austria when I was 20. It was summer, but that is just what it would look like in the snow.
    I will take your word for it on the salad, but I must admit it looks pretty good!
    Happy New Year!

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  25. Love the container store. Got my ornament storage boxes there a few years ago after Chrismtas, huge sale! Skiing in the Alps had to be magical. The salad sounds delicious.

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  26. I love love love the container store! Ha.

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  27. Do not like scary movies. Like shrimp when it is on sale, like a shrimp omelet with hot glazed fruit. Do not like brussel sprouts. Not familiar with container store. Took exterior Christmas lights down dec 31st. Still using tree as a nite lite.
    I hope 2012 is your best year ever.

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  28. that salad sounds interesting... I wish I had a container store close by.. Have a great night..

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  29. I think I would love the Container Store if I ever went to one! Actually, I think I did when we were in Texas, or at least it was something like it. I also enjoyed the picture of the Alps. It really does look magical!

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  30. I love the fresh mountain air too, but have never skiied. Now I have no desire to learn ;)

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  31. I think the salad looks delish...can't wait to try it.

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  32. I love a good salad, but I can't wrap my head around this one. I will take your word on it though:)

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  33. Printed out the salad. Will have to give it a try! Yum.

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