Craving Brussels Sprouts… What!?

When I asked you guys about foods you used to hate but you now love a couple of days ago, Brussels sprouts were mentioned and a craving was born. (Oh my gosh, did I really just say I was craving Brussels sprouts? I give you permission to hate me.)

Brussels Sprouts

I’ve only ever enjoyed Brussels sprouts after tossing them with olive oil, salt and pepper and roasting them. I love the crunchy lil’ leaves too much to try them any other way. If anyone out there has other Brussels sprout recipe recommendations, feel free to send ’em my way.

Gettin' My Greens

Ryan and I enjoyed the veggie with Bantry Bay mussels in a tomato and garlic sauce. We bought these mussels when they were on sale (buy one get one free!) and we have been so impressed with how tasty these lil’ babie are. You’d never know they’ve been frozen.

Muscles

To keep the seafoodie theme goin’, Ryan and I also slurped down a hot bowl of light New England clam chowder.

Chowdah

Delish dinn-ah!

Gourmet Caramel Apple Free Sample

Click here to receive a free sample of an Ivan Mog gourmet caramel apple.

Ivan Mog's Walnut Cranberry Caramel Apple

You may select from a variety of topping/flavors ranging from the classic peanut-topped caramel apple to the pistachio turtle dark (my choice) caramel apple.

Gotta love freebies! 😀

Seafoodie Feast

In keeping with my promise to avoid the grocery store this week, dinner came in the form of a can and two boxes of frozen food from the freezer!

Is your mouth watering yet?

Our seafoodie dinner included:

• Campbell’s Healthy Request New England Clam Chowder
• Bantry Bay Mussels
• Green Giant Immunity Vegetable Mix

Mussels

This was our first time trying Bantry Bay frozen mussels and they were g-o-o-d!

Mussels in a Garlic Butter Sauce

Immunity Blend Veggies

Broccoli, Peppers and Carrots

The veggies were okay. Ryan was a big fan, but I like the Healthy Vision blend of the Green Giant veggies better.

Creamy Clam Chowder

Soup Talk

New England clam chowder (the creamy kind, not the tomato-based chowder) is my absolute favorite soup. Ryan is a broccoli cheese soup lover.

What’s your favorite kind of soup?

Though clam chowder is my fav, I also have a soft spot for my mom’s homemade chicken noodle soup. It’s beyond delicious.

Wanna know just how delicious her homemade chicken noodle soup is? Then come along on this little journey back to the spring of 2003, won’t you?

My family was in the process of moving from Illinois to Florida because my dad was offered an amazing job opportunity. Though my senior year of high school was over, I was still extremely upset about moving away from my friends and high school boyfriend and refused to pack up my room. (Yes, I was a brat.) I sat in my room amid my unpacked belongings and sobbed and sobbed. My mom called me down for breakfast and I refused to eat (Wow, I really am a brat). Several hours later she told me lunch was ready but I refused to come downstairs.

Then my mom honed in on her amazing mother-knowledge and brought up a tray loaded with the day’s lunch. She had made her homemade chicken noodle soup. I’ll never forget the soft knock on my door. “Honey, I thought you might want some soup. I’m just going to leave a little tray out here for you.”

Chicken Noodle Soup

Initially my approach was to remain firm. I would stay in my room pouting and wallowing in my sorrow.

Then the smell hit me. Hoooooly deliciousness. I had to have a bite. I opened my door just a crack to look at the soup and make sure no one was around. I took a slurp. Wow. It was phenomenal. I moved the tray into my room and polished off the bowl of soup before putting the tray back outside my door.

Then I heard it: laughter. Apparently this was quite funny to my family. Apparently my inability to remain strong and resist homemade chicken noodle soup is humorous. I then felt stupid for letting my taste buds get the best of me.

I continued to refuse to pack up my room and so when all of the boxes from our old house were unloaded into our new house, and my sister’s were neatly labeled “desk supplies,” “clothes,” “bathroom supplies,” my boxes were a mess and were simply labeled “Julie’s Junk” by the movers.

It took my sister about a week to unpack everything. It took me the entire summer.