Brussels Sprouts, Fried Rice, And a Hot Computer

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I'm not having a good day.

If my day were Brussels Sprouts it would look like this:

It all started yesterday.  I went happily off to do the shopping, but in a different store/town then I usually go to.  I had to pick up medicine for Sedi.  She's becoming incontinent (see prior post on carpets) and takes meds to help control it.

The store I went to, which I normally like, was out of half  the stuff on my list - including, if you can believe it, Coca Cola Light.  (Yes, I admit it, but I'm down to one a day!).

I decided to view it as an opportunity to be creative for the week.

This morning, big plans for the day, lots to accomplish, I've recovered from the shopping debacle and am busily working away on my computer when my nose finally got through to my brain.  I'd noticed it last night but just chalked it up to the fireplace, but now there was definitely a smell of something 'hot'.

After crawling around the floor, sniffing everything, spending a brief holiday in denial, I finally conceded defeat and admitted it: the smell was coming from my computer.

Now the decision: Do back-ups?  Take it apart and try to fix it? 

Naturally, being a methodical, careful person, I opt for taking it apart. 

Could be dirty. (see prior post on dogs)

I took the cover off and vacuumed.  Then I decided that just Hoovering was hardly adequate, so I took it out to the shop to have mon mari attack it with the air compressor. After the first blast sent us running for the door for air, we decided that, yes, it was dirty.

Once thoroughly blown out I took it inside, put it back together and turned it on.  It worked!  And, WOW, was it ever quiet.  Hmmm, maybe should have cleaned it sooner.

As long as it was working I decided to do some back-ups.  While the back-ups were running I went out and exercised, did a few chores, etc.  Finally decided it was time for lunch (4:00 pm) and put some soup on to heat.  Went to the computer to wrap up the whole process and discovered that the last bit had failed, making the whole thing useless.  After 30 minutes of slapping my head, banging my fist, and other, equally effective maneuvers, trying to force it into compliance, I gave it up for another, calmer day.

I went down to get my lunch and it was all over the cook top.  There was enough left for a taste in the pan, but the rest had boiled over. 

It's now 5:30 and I have accomplished nothing. 

I had a humorous, witty post to write, but my wit tends to get vicious rather than funny in the present mood...so I took it out on those defenseless little green orbs: Brussels Sprouts!  Some would say they deserve it!

Okay, that's better! 

How about some more Brussels Sprouts?

I went to the World's Healthiest Food site to learn more about these baby cabbage-like veggies and was overwhelmed! They are so loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants; well, just go read about them! The one paragraph that really jumped out, though, described a study in which a diet high in Brussels Sprouts showed a measured decrease in DNA damage. (DNA mutations are thought to allow cancerous growths.)

This first Weekend Herb Blogging of 2008 is back home with the lovely Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen. In her honor I'm submitting 2 recipes for the little green darlings:

Sautéed Sliced Brussels Sprouts and Shallots

12 - 15 medium Brussels sprouts
2 shallots, medium (1.5 - 2 oz each, 45gr)
1 tbs olive oil
2 tsp soy sauce

Peel and slice shallots. Slice off stem end of sprouts and remove any wilted or damaged leaves. Cut each sprout in half through the stem and, then slice each half in thirds, also through stem end. Heat oil in medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender and starting to brown. Add sprouts and sauté until crisp-tender, about 7 minutes, stirring often. Add soy sauce, stir well to combine, reduce heat and sauté for 3 - 5 minutes longer. Serve.

And to go with the Red Sauced Shrimp:

Fried Rice with Brussels Sprouts

1/2 cup Basmati rice
1 cup chicken stock
1 - 2 green onions or 2 tbs regular onion, chopped
8 - 12 Brussels sprouts
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp olive oil
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs sherry
1 tbs sesame seeds

Cook rice in stock until done. Remove from heat and uncover. Trim Brussels sprouts, removing any damaged or discolored leaves and slicing off the root end. Set sprout on root end and cut into 3 or 4 slices. Slice green onions into 1/4" (.75cm) long pieces. Heat oils in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sprouts and sauté until crisp tender, turning once. They should start to brown. Add onions and sauté 5 minutes longer. Turn the heat up to medium high and add rice, soy sauce and sherry. Stir well to combine. Stir-fry for 3 - 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, stir once or twice and serve.

Oh, and the stat counter on my website quit working today, too.

Bon Weekend!

Comments

[núria]

Hola Katie! Even when you are not pretending to be funny... you are! You made me laugh again, Thanks!
Definitevely I'm going for The Search of the Sprout (Great title for a movie!) I just love them and seeing them in combination with rice makes my mouth water... too bad they have side effects... if you know what I mean ;-)

[núria]

Don't know what happened, but I sent you a comment and it doesn't show... Well I just wanted to cheer you up and tell you that even when you don't pretend to be funny, you make me laugh, and that is always a great thing.

Also your brussel sprout combined with rice look delicious to me... too bad that sometimes brussel sprout have side effects! ;-)

[núria]

Sorryyyyyyyy, all of a sudden the two of them show!!!! I'm hiding my face under my arm... sorry!

[Ashley]

Yikes glad your computer was okay! It's pretty traumatic for it to crash and lose everything. Make sure you back your stuff up! I don't often eat brussel sprouts but should try to eat them more often, thanks for reminding me. :)

[Katie]

Sorina, because we are all too busy with our mouths full?!? And thank you!

Truffle, after blasting a 4 kilos of dust out of the power supply I seem to be back in business. Can't imaging why that should make a diffrence....

Michelle, computers and I go way back...so far they're still winning...

Sugarlaws, I try... The one time I can't kick the habit is in the car. I need a coke to drive...

Jeni, oh dear...books and reading. For some obscure reason mon mari thinks one can have too many books. Silly man! Challenge accepted!

Swirlingnotions, happy to oblige! My computer was almost hot enough to cook on it...

Toni, it's a little known fact that most electronic equipment can be fixed with a vertical drop in excess of 4 feet.

Lynn, kick-boxing could be good; very good. Try'em; you'll like'em

Hola, Nuria! Don't you hate it when that happens? We all do it, though... How about "Search for the Evil Sprout"?

Ashley, it is, and I know. I did proper back-ups once I got it all sorted - Day late and a dollar short; closing the barn aftr the horses escaped; and all that. I DO no better... Go, eat sprouts!

[The Cooking Ninja]

I love fried rice with bean sprouts. Next time try it with freshly sliced (very thin) cucumber. Delicious.

[Nupur]

Ah, both recipes sounds easy and delicious! I am bookmarking these.

[ejm]

Mmmmm, brussels sprouts! Both ways look fabulous.

-Elizabeth

P.S. I cannot believe that I used to loathe brussels sprouts!

[Katie]

Cooking Ninja, I never see bean sprouts down here in farm country. Cucumber would be good - next summer!

Thanks Nupur, and thanks for commenting!

ejm, sometimes we just grow into new foods...sometimes we finally get to taste them cooked correctly....

[Susan G]

Just finished dinner, inspired by you and the sprouts in the fridge. I made brown rice with barley, used the soy sauce (and cheap port) to marinate mushrooms and tofu, added them drained to the sauteed sprouts, then the rice and liquid, then the scallions. Inside out, upside down, but it was your recipe and delicious! Now I wonder if the problems with our computer might be from dust. You may have saved it...

[Nupur]

Your fried rice with brussels sprouts is so simple and just so delicious! We enjoyed it for dinner last night. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

[Katie]

Susan, that sounds fantastic! I saw tofu at my store the other day - for the first time!

Nupur, I am so glad you liked it - thanks!

[Mithila]

I tried out the Fried Rice with Brussels Sprouts. A really simple and nice recipe! Other than over-cooked rice (as a result of microwaving and then leaving it in the container with the lid on), the result was a refreshing new rice dish. Thanks, Katie!