Brussels Sprouts

SO......
Apparently I've been spelling it wrong my entire life... but they are call Brussels Sprouts, not brussel sprouts... which probably would have made sense if I ever took the time to think of it...  But this recipe is something I learned from my friend Shannon!

WHAT YOU NEED:
Brussels Sprouts
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
SPICES

SPICES: Garlic, Pepper, TJ everyday seasoning

*for garlic... I usually just buy a nice jar of the stuff that is already minced... it is so flavorful and takes SO much less time...

To get started, cut the brussels sprouts in half then cut ONLY the stem of the sprout halves in half (like the picture on the left).  Mix up brussels spouts, and nice splash of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and all the spices! Let is sit and marinate for about 10-20 minutes. Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes and stir them up once or twice.

Top with another grind of spices, mix in with something, or sprinkle on some bacon!

Sweet Potato Fries

Sauce on bottom right is a goat cheese and sriracha blend

One of my favorites. So easy to make.

Ingredients:

Sweet Potato

Olive Oil

Spices
--spoonful of cornmeal if you have it...

Recommended Spices: Garlic!!!! Rosemary, red pepper flakes, tj every day spices, thyme, old bay, chili power, pepper, I usually like to put some hot sauce in too... the more the better

Your friends won't be able to resist!!! Right Mary, Corinne, and Shannon?

Cut up sweet potato into equally sized fries.  You can peel it beforehand... but you don't have to!  Mix the raw potato in with a generous splash of olive oil and go HEAVY on the spices.  No regrets.



Mix all the potatoes up so they are covered in olive oil and spices, then put them on a pan and bake for 20-30 minutes in a 450 degree oven.  Stir them once or twice so they can brown up (or caramelize) on different sides.  When they are done, eat em right away.  They are best straight out of the oven!

SHARE WITH FRIENDS!!!!!

Saucy Ideas: goat cheese and sriracha, ketchup and sriracha, honey mustard... 

The sandwich that makes me believe...

Ok.  This sandwich makes the world a better place.  It's the meal I want when I'm crabby, happy, hungry, mungry, tired, giddy, trollish... every time of the day.

Even if you're having the best day of your life... this sandwich has the power to make it even better.

Some people can go to the GW Deli to get this rare beauty, but they don't have gluten free bread, so I suck it up and make it myself.

WHAT YOU NEED:
-Passion for this sandwich
-Gluten free bread (I like the whole foods GF bread with all the seeds)- only losers eat real bread
-Bacon Bits (I buy fully cooked REAL bacon bits.. I know its a splurge the but value of already made      
      REAL bacon is unbeatable... Try the "Wellshire" brand
-AVOCADO
-Egg

Simple as this.  Cut up half an avocado. Mush is up a bit.... smuck it on toast with bacon bits and an egg (I like fried... but you do you).

I like to dip it in steak sauce or hot sauce.  I advise you do the same.

NUGGS

Homemade Chicken Nuggets.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Chicken Breast

Cornflakes

Olive Oil

Spices

Parmesan 

SPICES

RECOMMENDED SPICES:  THYME, sage, garlic powder, pepper, trader joe's everyday seasoning, rosemary, red pepper flakes, fajita seasoning

-like always, get creative... the spices you use can really amp up the chicken nuggets 

WEAPONS OF CHOICE:  cornflake crushing device.  I use my immersion blender (as always) but anything would work... or even buy crushed cornflakes to save time!

Off to the races: 

Cut up the chicken breast (Raw chicken freaks me out.  It's gross and foul looking.  Make faces and pretend you are a surgeon... it makes it more fun).  Cut them into about equal sized/nugget pieces.

Coat the raw chicken breast pieces in olive oil and dip them into the cornflake parm mix. Cover or toss each chicken piece individually and put them on a lightly olive oiled pan.  Bake at 425 for about 8 minutes then flip all the pieces over.  Bake for another 8 minutes and take the nuggets out of the oven. Cut one of the bigger pieces open to make sure it is fully cooked!  Salmonella isn't sexy. 

Mix ketchup and sriracha. Live your dreams.