Cider-Cinnamon Brussels Sprouts Recipe

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I was able to share it with my loving family and boyfriend. It was a beautiful day and, as always, we had enough leftovers to feed Occupy Wall Street. 

This year, I upgraded from sous-chef to executive chef in the kitchen. I made some mean mashed sweet potatoes and I stuffed my first turkey. It was magical. But, the one dish I'm most proud of is my cider-cinnamon brussels sprouts. These aren't the mushy brussels sprouts that haunt your childhood memories. No, these little guys are the A-team of sprouts and pack a flavorful punch. 

I've never had brussels sprouts until today. Raw, they taste like broccoli. Cider-Cinnamon-y, they taste like a choir of angels singing Hallelujah in my mouth.

I just got an iPhone, so I will be illustrating my post with step-by-step pictures instead of words. I'm too stuffed to type about food and the pictures are clear as crystal and bootyful. Below is a snapshot of the recipe. Enjoy!

Happy BLACK Friday!

Simple Saturday Apple Dumpling Recipe

It's Saturday and I feel like doing anything besides school work. I need to be productive, but for some reason I'm not feeling it. The weather is cold, overcast, and lazy, and sigh, my mood is mimicking the weather. I wouldn't mind curling up in bed and watching Bridesmaids. But, sadly, I don't own Bridesmaids, so my next procrastination option is to bake. Early this week, I made my Twist on an Egg Salad and thought to myself...hmm, this tortilla shell would be even more perfect if  filled with a gooey hot cinnamon apple filling. 

Hark, the apple dumpling was born.

         What you'll need:

• Apple (I used a Gala because they're yummy)
• Large wheat tortilla
• Plain apple sauce
• Cinnamon
• Small glass bowl
• Vanilla ice cream/Kool-Whip

Form the tortilla to the glass bowl to create a shell. Add a 1/2 cup of apple sauce and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cut up the apple into small chunks and mix into the applesauce. This will make a simple filling. 


Tip: to make the shell more dumpling-esque, fold over the edges and secure together with toothpick.

Preheat the oven to 350 and cook dumpling for about 20 minutes but watch carefully to avoid a burnt and sad dumpling. Those are the worst kind. Bake until the tortilla is crispy and apples are soft. 

Warning: the applesauce mixture will be hot post oven so let cool before you dig in face-first.

Bam. 

Top off with some vanilla ice cream or Kool-Whip, and you have yourself a sweet and healthy treat that'll satisfy your pre-Thanksgiving sweet tooth!

 Enjoy!