Brussel Sprouts adventure

There are many ways to cook, season and prepare foods. I have come to learn that one should not be prejudiced against a certain food because it was prepared badly once. So, in my resolve to fairly treat all foods, I set out to reconstruct my opinion on brussel sprouts.

I was conditioned from a young age to hate brussel sprouts. They were constantly the brunt of a joke in my family and were really only eaten once. My dad came home one day and announced that we were having a "food experience" that night. He bought some frozen brussel sprouts and had my mom boil them for dinner. He precluded the meal with the announcement that everyone HAD to try one and then tell him if they didn't taste "like rubber balls soaked in gasoline". Of course, that's exactly what we expected and exactly what we tasted. Besides, what kid would dare challenge that and risk the teasing by all their sibling for years to come because they actually liked them! Well, this is exactly what I did today.

Will I still get teased by my family? you bet. It's ok, I can take it. Because, guess what! Brussel sprouts can be GOOD!!!!

I tried 2 different recipes (just in case one didn't really turn out), compliments from SimplyRecipes.com. They were the "Roasted Brussel Sprouts" and "Hashed Brussel Sprouts with Lemon". Happily, I liked them both! So did my 2 other dinner guests/trusty-taste-testers (who also were not brussel sprout fans before). The secret? Same as with any other vegetable...don't overcook, add extra flavor, and don't boil them!

I will definitely be making these again!

isn't it unfair little boys have longer eyelashes than big girls?

Sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands.

Sometimes we go a bit too far

Soprano

So...after years and years of thinking and talking about it, I finally arranged to take voice lessons. Yes, I have sung my entire life, mostly in choirs and such, but never took private lessons. I just started 2 weeks ago. It has been fun and very eye opening to some things I have done wrong for a long while. My teacher informed me yesterday that I am definitely a natural soprano! What?!? Why have I always been partial to the Alto part? Well partly, I'm sure, because I was very good at hearing and sight reading harmony. Singing high hasn't necessarily been my forte either-but I'm learning why. So watch out, high notes! here I come! I even have my first performance next week at a recital!

"Altos are only Sopranos that used to smoke" --Bishop Bettinson

World Cup

Ben and I went to some World Cup Skiing events this weekend. We got to see the mogul and aerials competitions. It was a blast! I even stayed warm (thanks to my new down coat, ugg boots and hand warmers). The skiers were amazing!! The speed and the jumps just blew my mind. There was some incredible talent there. It made me doubly excited to see them at the Olympics next month!

Random Photo Captions

No one likes to be hug-deprived. Right daddy?

New Years Dinner

So, I got a bunch of new and exciting spices, and several flavor books, for Christmas! I'm addicted to the Flavor Bible and the Cook's encyclopedia. I've been studying and imagining up all sorts of creative foods to make ever since then. If you thought I had adventurous tastes before....beware!

I started out the new year with a fun dinner, inviting my parents and Rachel n' Jeff to be my guests for the "food experience" (a term that has come to mean almost anything Emily makes because I will always challenge you to get out of your food comfort zone). I made up each dish on my very own (down to the dressing) and was very proud of the result.

Here was the menu:

Drink: Lemon and cucumber water

Appetizer: Bruschetta with brie and blueberries/cardamom-spiced pears

Salad: Spring greens w/red onion, feta, cayenne-caramelized pecans and cherry dressing

Main Course: Rosemary, mushroom and apricot stuffed pork loin

Saffron risotto with Spanish paprika

Dessert: lemon-coconut creme brulee

Although all very tasty, the surprise hit of the night: cayenne-caramelized pecans. I can't wait to make those again.

Recap of 2009

Highlights of 2009

• meeting and dating Ben
• performing in an opera
• hot air balloon ride
• wake surfing
• first paid professional speaking gig (ADEU conference)
• getting a real piano in my house
• new Mac laptop
• buying an iphone
• rock climbing course
• seeing Wicked in Denver
• cherry blossom festival in D.C.
• 3 new nieces
• new creme brulee torch
• St. George trip and hikes
• rafting in Moab
• flying with my dad in his plane
• seeing my brother get sealed to his adopted baby girl
• Carmina Burana live (performed by my parent's choir)

pretty cool year when you look back on it all. Hope to make 2010 even better!!