Sunday, December 1, 2013

Suffer The Little Children


While I'm dying to write a post about the Christmas decorations in the yard right across the street from me, I'll play nice.

Not one word about the flashing mailbox with the letter that goes in and out (rather like Gus) or the light up ferris wheel with different stuffed animals in every seat, nor will anything about the musical Christmas trees pass these lips, the deer, the train, the penguins, the ginormous blow up Frosty the snowman with a snow globe of Santa and the North Pole in his stomach, you'll never hear a peep from me on these subjects.

As I was in the middle of the merriment, madly snapping photos for Instagram, tripping over extension cords and cables, one of the children asked me which one was my favorite. This gave me pause. She said she liked the train the best, it's so colorful. And then they were swaying and dancing to the music.

I put my phone away, danced with them for a minute and went home.

They're not doing this to drive me crazy. They're doing it for the children.  I like it better already.

It's only for a month.

And Thanksgiving you ask me?  It was just lovely.

When a front door is opened by a sari wearing hostess, I'm happy.

What a treat to graze at an extensive buffet neither prepared by nor cleaned up by me. I adore being a guest.

Anytime you need a chair filled and a side dish give me a holler.

I could bring the Brussel sprouts.


 I used 3 stalks of sprouts from Trader Joes. This gave me about 16 cups of vegetable. Enough for dinner for 20 and a container packed and ready to go for our shared lunch at work on Friday.

































I have a co-worker who does not enjoy sweet and savory combined. At least she didn't until she ate these. Highest recommendation I can offer.

But don't take her word for it.Give me a holler :-)


21 comments:

  1. These sound like Brussels Sprouts that I may like. You see, Brussels Sprouts are, to date, the only food that I cannot find a way to like. I try them over and over prepared all different ways, and I cannot find them appetizing. Your recipe sounds like a good one, and I plan o give it a go. (Glad you had a good Thanksgiving!)

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  2. Sounds yummy. Too bad that elementary school cafeterias ruined Brussels sprouts for so many of us.

    Glad the kid in you is (now) enjoying the decorations across the street. Perhaps you could provide hot chocolate one evening? xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Cause all those kids need are some more energy! Maybe I'll bake them cookies...they are too cute.

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  3. Do you have a large blow-up Sponge-Bob-with-a-santa-hat next door to you? I do! And a light up display playing creepy/carnival-like Christmas music all night long, across the street? Sounds like we could be in the same neighborhood! Trying to make the best of it, and the kids are cute! Glad you have such a great perspective... and those brussel sprouts looked amazing. Happy belated Thanksgiving!

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    1. Happy belated to you too. God, your neighborhood sounds just as bad. Lucky for us the kids are so cute. rather, lucky for them!

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  4. When we lived in Brooklyn I loved going to the Italian neighborhoods to see the over the top holiday decorations. These days I feel like a renegade because I use colored lights.

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  5. Your dish look delicious. I got a chuckle from your description of your neighbours house. You are kind in seeing the light at the end of the tunnel

    Have a great week

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    1. I'd have to be blind not to see the light(s) :-)

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  6. I love exuberant Christmas decorations...tacky, if you will. They make me giggle.

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    1. Better come and visit then, it's a veritable laugh riot down here.

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  7. Kudos to the hardy souls who construct those over-the-top Christmas displays. A trip to see the holiday displays around town is a tradition for many. Your Brussels sprouts look wonderful, but they don't like me :(

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    1. They're not that over the top, but then again, they've only just begun....

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  8. I love the sweet and savory combination. Raisins w/ Brussels seems an awesome idea. Thanks! Regarding the yard across the street, I hope you have a sleeping mask...

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  9. Dear Jane... so happy that your Thanksgiving was happy! The joy the yard display will bring to the little ones is priceless... and even to the adults who worked to put it together. Sometimes we must endure our blessings! The brussel sprouts look yummy... they always remind me of teeny tiny cabbages! Enjoy your December... with any luck, your neighbors will dismantle the Christmas display before Valentine's Day! Smiles..Susan

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  10. Sorry to break the sugary response mode, but I would move. By the way, in many towns, the all-night music and
    lights are illegal. Those are gutsy, tasteful towns. The whoke thing has gotten blown-up, pardon the pun, out of proportion & its all about $$$ for
    Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Lowe 's et al. Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry to be a Cyber Grinch but someone had to speak up for Reality. Their neighbors are entitled to some holiday peace & quiet. And that includes you

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  11. In the next town over there's a house with a small front yard and wall to wall inflatable christmas decorations, loads and loads of lights and plastic pointsiettas, absolutely hideous. You would think nothing else would fit except that every year they seem to add the latest inflatable thing. Worse yet...when Christmas is over, for them that's February, they let everything deflate, don't turn on the lights but just leave it all there until it's time to decorate again next year. Lucky me it's the next town over. Haven't made brussel sprouts in years, these may bring me back.

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  12. I love brussel sprouts. These look delish!

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  13. Over-the-top lights are fun, so long as they aren't in your vicinity, I reckon! At least they aren't a year-long thing (unlike my unpleasant neighbours' security light... grrrr.....)

    I love sprouts, espec. cooked, rapidly cooled in ice water, pureed with double cream, nutmeg and black pepper, to transform into a light fluffy rather sophisticated pale green mash. Try it - even kids love it!

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