Brussels Brunch

Get ready for your new breakfast best friend.  May I introduce you to Brussels Sprouts Hash...

I love Brussels Sprouts. If I could figure out a way to have them for every meal, I would.  Plus, it's generally a good way to sneak bacon into a meal...and nobody is complaining about that.

I had the task today to bring a dish for a  morning potluck with my small group--so off went the alarm bright and early to whip this up before dashing off to lots of tasty treats!  With little prep and cooking time, this was a great recipe to pull together at the last minute and left me with plenty of time to still get some beauty sleep.

First, I cut some thick sliced bacon from our pork guys, Tollefson Family Pork.  We like to know our farmers and believe me, when you have this bacon, you will know why.

Cutting it into half-inch strips, I threw it into a pan on medium heat to begin cooking the bacon.

Then, sliced up a small onion.

I then cut up a red yam. First peeling then slicing into round disks and then chunks, I quickly learned that yams (and I'm speculating all of those in the potato family) do not like to be cut when raw.  But raw it was.  And therefore, bravely I whacked at it with a (probably too dull) knife.

I am not entirely sure if this was, in fact, a yam or something weird.  As it was white in color when I cut it, and tasted more like a starchy potato---I was left perplexed.  However, it worked perfectly with the other flavors! Feel free to make this with a sweet potato for adding more color and flavor!

Once the bacon has browned and fat rendered, I scooped out the bacon and set on a paper towel to absorb the extra fat.  Then in the remaining fat in the pan, I added the cut yam and onion to cook.  About 7-8 minutes, or until the sides begin to brown and texture begins to cook more tender than starchy.

Taking about 20 good-sized Brussels sprouts and cutting off the bottom and slicing in half, I washed and tossed the green ombre rounds in the pan with their new friends.

Adding the bacon back into the mix, it is always the best part to watch the Brussels sprouts turn to a more vibrant green! The smells were delectable and I could not wait to start digging in...

Throwing this into a hotdish and wrapping it up in a dish towel, I was proud to officially feel like a true church-basement lady ready for potluck.  It paired wonderfully with a table boasting of eggbake, baked french toast, yogurt and granola, fruit, and wonderful fellowship.

So the next time you are planning a breakfast potluck, don't be afraid to be the gal showing up with the veggies!!

I'm now off to hop on a plane, jetting across the country to visit my sister in BC, Canada.  Yahoo! See you in a bit, America.

Cheers,

Alissa

An Orange Twist on a Classic

With Christmas comes the pleasures of calorie-free cookies and sweets...or so we like to think. But my favorite is the traditional Scandinavian treat of krumkake.  It it a delightful cone-shaped cookie that boasts of a light cardamom flavor that never gets old...even your fifth cookie in.  This year I wanted to gift some cookies so I thought I would try a new recipe with orange zest and dipped in dark chocolate!

If only I could post what these smelled like while baking...

To think my grandma would always grind her own cardamom seeds...it was quite the work out to get the seeds to be a fine grind but the smells were already intoxicating the kitchen.

Seems simple enough, right?

Creaming the butter, sugar, and eggs...

Then combining the flour, cardamom, cloves, orange peel...

Throwing them all together with the milk...

Just a small dollop on the beautifully decorated waffle-like iron press...

And after about 1 minute...

You have some beautifully golden brown disks!

Now, to be rolled around the wooden cone while still hot...

Then, off to melt some chocolate.

They say a watched pot never boils.  Well, the same goes for melting chocolate.

It didn't seem runny enough and the chocolate ended up being seized, or in layman's terms, utterly useless.  Onto a fresh batch of chocolate melting...

Now we are cookin' (sometimes, I cannot be helped).

After cooking, rolling, and dipping over 60 cookies, we are done with the batch and ready to pack them up! But first, I think I may have to taste one...you know, just to be sure.

Success. And now off to the party!

On a chilly Christmas evening, there is nothing better than gathering with friends and celebrating this wonderful season! It was a perfect night of singing carols around the piano and mingling with friends old and new. "For unto us a child is born..." so let us make a joyful noise!

Uffda. Not the best light at the Minnapolis Club but those gorgeous hardwood floors make up for it, right?

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Cheers,

Alissa

Drive-by Delight

Sometimes you find yourself driving through the city, hankering for a little bite to eat, and suddenly stumble upon someplace wonderful.  That happened tonight.

Mom and I were looking for a place to stop and saw a clump of patrons leaving the Lynn on Bryant and asked how it was...they said it was a place we shouldn't pass up! In that case, let's get in there!  The attention to detail in this place was beautiful and after speaking with the owner/chef, they put the greatest care into creating the perfect ambiance.

A window into the small kitchen to watch your dish be made. And if you can't clearly see, the walls were painted a fire-engine red with wood planks atop so the red could peak through. Added just enough color without overwhelming the dining area.

The table and menu remained simple but pleasant with a number of terribly tempting options. Their design is to create plates that bring their patrons closer to the farmers, meaning, they source their food locally. Quite the trend in restaurants these days.  Minneapolitans love their local food...about as much as those in the Pacific Northwest.  If you have seen Portlandia, you ought to be chuckling to yourself.

The food was tasty.  We had a few suggestions for the chef (along the lines of dense grass-fed beef...he took them gratefully) but with exceptional atmosphere and service, we knew we would be back to try different plates from the menu.

To add light in the dim, back dinning room, the owner/chef of Lynn on Bryant had an artist create this lit wall.  Instead of adding more light fixtures, they stayed within their design concept to keep a continuous atmosphere throughout the whole place. The more costly Edison bulbs were also a beautiful touch. By mixing different shapes of bulbs throughout the restaurant, they kept a whimsical feel throughout.

And the finishing touch? A wall of hooks made from tree branches.  That's when you know you're in Minnesota.  Well, that, or a wind curtain made of velvet....but that's a story for another day.

Cheers,

Alissa

The Illustrious

We have now all heard of the cro-nut, right? Or dough-ssant? Whatever take on the mystical bakery item, I decided I need to run a taste test. Gluten and all.

This little item is from Angel Food Bakery in downtown Minneapolis. It is aptly named as it is right above the well-known Hell's Kitchen and boasts of the tastiest treats around.

We were doing an install for a wedding at Hell's Kitchen (yes, it was quite interesting to say the least) so what better way to get sidetracked than to stop for a quick indulgence. We popped in to grab this doughnut/croissant combo only to find out they were long sold out...and generally are sold out by 10 am at the latest.  Whoa. Talk about hot crossed buns.

We would be returning the next day to remove our installation and thought second time's the charm.  Arriving at the crack of dawn was the way to go; however, they limit the quantity to two per customer! As part of our well-rounded breakfast of coffee and carbs (ugh, I groan just thinking of it....), it was a fun treat to try!  Will I be returning again?

I will say Angel Food does in fact have some wonderful products to boast about...this unfortunately wasn't wholly worth the hassle. The French Meadow Bakery version at the Great Minnesota Get-Together?! That is another story.  But then again, everything is better at the State Fair. 

Until next time, folks.  And I promise I don't really eat gluten every day....I just happen to blog about every time I do. Oops!

Cheers,

Alissa

Sunday in the Park

You're singing the classic rock hit by Chicago right now, aren't you? I knew it.  That's what today felt like.  All the makings of a classic hit.  It was a perfect day in more ways than one:

Minnesota summers cannot be beat, the tastiest of gluten-free banana-nut waffles, and strolling around parks marveling at the outstanding beauty of God's creation.  And all this shared with one of my sweet sisters?!  All that would've made it better is if I had both sisters here. Next time, Jen!

As if French Meadow didn't serve up the greatest of dishes, add to it the perfect outdoor seating.  As it is necessary to soak this beautiful weather up in Minnesota...this will always be one of my number one ways of doing so: patio seating.  Hurrah.

Hi, my name is Alissa and I love mushrooms.  My family can attest to as much and I was delighted to find the perfect mushy clinging to a log.

Lake life and parks are a must in Minnesota and therefore the Bird Sanctuary next to the beautiful Rose Garden and Lake Harriet is a winning combination. It is great to go for a quick nature walk right in the middle of the city! Then take a spin through the Tranquil Peace Garden...

A neat sculpture in the middle of the garden had every stage of how to fold an origami paper crane.

Until the next lush adventure,

Cheers,

Alissa

Glamdoll in Action

Spotted: The most adorable classic pink car on 94.

And even better? The girls were sporting a throwback vibe themselves with winged liner, victory rolls, and some vintage threads.

I thought, how funny and cute and wouldn't that be oh-so-fitting for the quaint doughnut shop, Glamdoll Donuts? I felt inspired, so mom and I ventured to Eat Street to visit and told them about the cutest car I had  just seen on 94...

 Guess what?? It was Glamdoll's car!!

The owners had purchased it just outside of town and use it as a "shop mascot" to have parked outside the storefront. The car makes visiting this place an experience....and their doughnuts make visiting this place necessary.

Maple frosted with bacon was a fun melding of flavors but dwarfed the tea-sized plates it was served on.  This doughnut destination is the new kid on the block and working out some kinks, I guess.  But from their late-night hours, throwback style, and sweet treats, it is a place you don't want to miss!

Even better? We know the wonderfully talented graphic designer that created their logo, etc!! Now you really cannot pass this up, eh?!

Cheers,

Alissa

Gluten Goodness

I have been living a (mostly) gluten-free life since the age of 17.  By the end of high school, we were unsure what was contributing to some very disruptive symptoms and finally landed on a gluten intolerance.  I am usually quite good about it all but come holidays I become weak and find ways to "be bad."

This Christmas, I told mom, "we are going to go to isle bun the day after Christmas." I figured if I ate a cookie or two on Christmas, I might as well go wild and eat a whole cinnamon roll.

Enter Isles Bun.

If you are a local in the Minneapolis area, I hope you have had the chance to indulge in this wonderful place. If you haven't, it is a must to add to your "to do in 2013." Because we all have those, right?

Well, all I can say is that it was worth it. The stomach ache I foresee in my future will all have been worth this lovely indulgence.  So you may all understand: they offer a vat of frosting so each patron can smother their own warm bun with sugary goodness. Therefore, you all may agree that I made the right choice... 

Till next time, love!

Cheers,

Alissa