Brussel Sprouts with Pine Nuts

Thank you Trader Joe's sample station again. These were delicious. My 3 year old devoured these faster than his spaghetti.

brussel sprouts
1/4 cup pine nuts (toasted) (or slivered almonds toasted)
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
4 tbsp olive oil (or grape seed oil)
2 Tbs Pomegranate juice (or cranberry juice)
2 Tbs balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper

Cut brussel sprouts in thirds. Saute in oil and juice. Toss with nuts and seeds.

Blueberry Muffins

These were made at a Kindergarten Mother's Day lunch last year. And I just had to make them again. I think next time I make them I will sprinkle a little bit of sugar on top to add an extra sweet and crunchy top. Perhaps a few drops of lemon juice too.

3 cups flour

1 Tbs bakin powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup plain yogurt (or buttermilk)

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup blueberries

Heat oven to 375.

Combine flour, powder, soda, salt.

Blend butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla.

Alternate mixing in the dry ingredients and the yogurt.

Fold in blueberries.

Cook for about 25 min. Undercooking by juuuust a bit is great. Preferably just barely lightly browned. And if you haven't tried using silicone muffin holders .. you ought to. Holy cow they come out soooo easy!

Onion Strings

Well I have found a new favorite side. Holy cow these are tasty. Soooo tasty, that I am doing all that I can NOT to eat more while they all sit boiling hot on the table and I sit here waiting for my husband to get home with my monkeys so we can all eat them together. I am posting this BEFORE I even eat all of them. So yes go ahead and plan it in your menu. And I cut it straight from The Pioneer Woman. Her verbage at the bottom of the instructions is ooooh so true. I just wish I had another onion so that I actually could eat the entire first batch.

1 whole Large Onion
2 cups Buttermilk
2 cups All-purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon (scant) Salt
¼ teaspoons (to 1/2 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper
1 quart (to 2 Quarts) Canola Oil
Black Pepper To Taste

Slice onion very thin. Place in a baking dish and cover with buttermilk. Soak at least an hour.
Combine dry ingredients and set aside.
Heat oil.
Grab a handful of onions, throw into the flour mixture, tap to shake off excess, and PLUNGE into hot oil. Fry for a few minutes and remove as soon as golden brown.
Repeat until onions are gone.
Eat before your family sees them.
Repeat with another onion, because they’ll be really mad they didn’t get any.