One of my most favorite vegetables is definitely Brussels sprouts. Anyone who has had them and doesn't like them is clearly a victim of boiled Brussels sprouts. The key to really good sprouts is for them to not be bitter, and to be soft with flavor. This recipe is one of our staples during Thanksgiving but I had to make them last night for a veggie tasting at Girl Scouts (oh yes, that's me, the almost 17-year old Girl Scout).
Best Ever Brussels Sprouts
All you need is....
Roughly three cups of Brussels sprouts, cut into quarters
Half an onion, diced
4-6 strips of cooked bacon, chopped
4 tbsp. of butter
1 tsp of olive oil (not really necessary, it's up to you)
4 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar (we had none on hand, so I used cooking sherry)
salt and pepper to taste
Makes about 4 servings
Step One: Cut Brussels Sprouts into quarters. Steam to make softer by nuking them in the microwave for about 4 minutes with about a cup of water.
Step Two: While the sprouts are steaming, dice onion and chop bacon.
Step Three: Add butter and onions to griddle that's 350 degrees. Allow butter to melt and absorb onion flavor.
Step Four: Add bacon and Brussels Sprouts (make sure to drain the water from the steamed sprouts!), salt and pepper, and balsamic vinegar. Let simmer with the lid on, mixing occasionally.
Step Five: Once Brussels Sprouts have started to brown, allow them to cook for only a few more minutes. Take off heat, let cool, and enjoy!
You will be surprised by how there no longer bitter, but soft and flavorful! It's definitely the butter and bacon;)
The most miraculous thing happened last night. IT SNOWED. It hasn't snowed at all this winter! (Ok, it's snowed maybe 4 times, but only just a little, nothing big). The flakes were huge, and the roads were a sheet of ice this morning (it took me 30 minutes to get school vs. the usual 7! Kids were getting stuck and rear-ending each other everywhere!)
The snow, however, gave me opportunities... to wear my Hunters, to listen to Christmas music again (always appropriate when it snows!), to wear my knitted headband, to take some pictures.
Today, I'm taking a whack at 'fashion blogging'. Ok, not really, more like me posting pictures of what I wore (not that it was anything special), somewhere other than the mirror in my bedroom.
One day, I'd love to incorporate fashion as a main part of this blog. I love fashion blogs- some of my favorites are The Pink Peonies, Cardigan Empire, La Vie Petite, and From My Grey Desk. For now, I'll just stick to blogging about the tidbits of my life, fashion one of them occasionally. :)
Don't mind the messy hair!
Headband// gifted
Peacoat // Gap
Jeans// Citizens of Humanity
Scarf// Target
Sweater// American Eagle
Legwarmers// made by me!
Boots// Hunter
After taking these pictures I had two things: wayyy more respect for fashion bloggers (taking pictures of yourself is not only difficult (even with a tripod and clicker), but awkward!) and frozen toes. Time to get some Wellies socks!
For the past three weeks, I've been having this constant headache. It's dull and achey and then, at times will spike and is completely wretched. Ibproufen doesn't really help, so I've tried a few other natural remedies, such as...
massaging peppermint oil on my temples
adding more magnesium and feverfew to my daily vitamin regimen (I already take a multivitamin, biotin, iron, calcium, zinc, fish oil, and riboflavin)
earlier bedtimes and less screen time
hot showers
more caffeine
lots and lots of water (I drink around 5-6 Camelbacks a day)
However, my latest remedy was a ginger orange "tea". Ginger is especially helpful to reducing headaches.
This is a simple, yummy hot drink that alleviates pain, and is great to drink when 'cleansing'. It's got a light, simple taste, that is refreshing and clean.
Orange Ginger "Tea"
All you need is...
one mug of hot water
half an orange, sliced
a knob of ginger
honey/agave nectar
1/4 tsp of cinnamon sugar
Step 1) Peel ginger. Press/crush into hot water. If you have a pestle, you can use that by placing the ginger at the bottom of the mug, and crushing it to release the flavor and 'juice'. I used a garlic press and it worked wonders to get out every last bit of ginger 'juice'!
Step 2) Squeeze in however much orange you want. I used two slices, it's all about how much you want.
Step 3) Top off with just a dash of cinnamon sugar, and some honey or agave nectar if you like a sweeter drink (I do!) Stir and enjoy!
Every January, our school has a winter version of homecoming week, leading up to the Winter Formal. This year, we're having Wish Week.
We are granting the wish of a little girl who lives in our town, Malana. She is a 6-year old with leukemia who's wish to the Make a Wish Foundation is to go on a Disney Cruise. Our goal is to raise $8,000, but I hope we raise more. A nearby high school holds the record for money raised ($40,000) and I totally think our school could beat them. (I'm slightly competitive)
Each day is a dress up day, with fun after-school events, such as Open Mic Night and the Unified basketball game. I'm really excited for the dance, I just love to dress up and dance like a fool with my friends!
Winter Dance 2012- our hot date, Larry the Cable Guy
Last night was Sierra's birthday party (post coming soon!) and man alive, it was a blast. Delicious dinner, lots of laughter, playing childhood games, the fun stuff.
During one of our deep late night discussions (I think it was only me, Mackenzie, and Jessica still awake) we talked about how we were really going to go our separate ways one day. Not forever separate, but we won't always have one another right then and there. In less than a year and a half, we'll be going to college (AHH!). We'll go to different states, make new friends, start life in the 'real world'. It's just so hard to grasp that we have to make new friends, and not have the same seven of us always together, with such a comfort level where we talk about anything from clusters and secretion to the logistics of certain things. It's hard to grasp that we'll grow up, start jobs, get married, have families... it seems so far away but it's only within the next ten to fifteen years.
I don't really want to grow up. I just want to stay sixteen forever, with my six best friends, where we drink Icees, drive around with the music loud, eat the usual skittles/starbursts/mini m&ms/cheese pretzels/popcorn, play Just Dance, read Jessica's stories, laugh and scream and sing, talk about boys, be ourselves.
Sure, when we grow up, we'll have our reunions, dinners, vacations and even sleepovers. But for it to only be once or twice a year? It seems so wrong. These are the girls I am with Monday through Friday, from 7:30 to 3, and usually more on the weekends. Making the transition from all to not enough will be tough.
But growing up, it's inevitable. So for now, I'll just take in every ounce of time I do get with my best friends 5ever. Because when we're together is far better than when we're apart. Even if we only have a moment with each and everyone of us there, it's a rare and special one.
And this is why I feel like a darn lucky girl.
To have these these crazy, loud, loyal people in my life, whom I share some of my favorite memories with.
And anyways, that's why we're best friends 5ever. Because 5ever is longer than 4ever.
xo
Hannah
PS: This video just makes me laugh. It's one of those memories you want to hold onto for as long as you can. After all, it is the the small things that complete your life.
