Wednesday
Dec282011
Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Frizzled Ham
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 9:00AM 
We threw our Christmas tree out the front door on December 26th. Just 24 hours after all the presents were unwrapped, we were done. It may have had something to do with a comment made by Karen’s hair stylist who said he had heard you carry the karma of the previous year into the new year if you have your tree standing when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st.We’re not big believers in karma (or much else, for that matter), but we have no desire to repeat 2011. Karen said it best when she suggested 2011 deserved a punch in the face and a kick in the ass.
And that’s why our Christmas tree is lying naked in our front yard. Best not take chances, you know, given our recent history.
So. 2012. Onward. To bigger, happy things. To having our best year yet. To planting roots in a new place. To making new friends. To claiming our current situation as our own and making the absolute best of it. Better than what we thought. To holding our kids close. To laughing harder. To cooking with them. To putting an excessive amount of Hello Kitty bandages on scraped twin knees. To knowing the entire Star Wars history better than any person should because that is what makes the boy happy. To playing a game in which to win one must feed a plastic toy dog a series of neon yellow “treats,” only to expel these treats out the other end of the dog on to little plastic toy shovels,amidst howls of laughter from the kids. To silent moments of trips to the potty with each of the twins while they are sleeping so there are no accidents in the middle of the night, dancing them back to bed and telling them they are funny and smart and strong and can do whatever they want to do when they are older. To getting older with the most beautiful woman in the world, whose smile melts me because she puts up with my shenanigans and still loves me.
To being better. And stronger. And calmer. And peacefilled-er. And more of whatever else we need to be.
2012 sort of feels like it’s gonna be our year. No matter if it agrees with us or not. It’s gonna be better.
It has to be better.
;)
As I head up north to Indiana to visit my parents and brothers and their families, just me and the kids in the blue minivan and Tangled and How to Train Your Dragon on repeat, leaving Karen in Atlanta to have a break from all that 2011 was, we thought we’d share some love with you.
Before recent events, the National Pork Board asked us if we wanted to do a little giveaway with them. We said yes, because they’re swell people and kind and also, you know, bacon. They’ve got a great collection of recipes for celebrating, and knowing how much we like Brussels sprouts,they asked us to take their sprouts recipe created by Jill Silverman Hough for a spin and see what we thought.
And we liked it. We really, really liked it.
Brussels Sprouts with Frizzled Ham from Jill Silverman Hough and the National Pork Board
Frizzled ham. It’s our new favorite thing. Thinly sliced ham cut into fettucini-sized strips of porky
;)
goodness, dropped into sizzling hot oil. That popping sound of the pork as it browns in the pan...there’s no other word for it that “frizzled.” A pile of sliced sprouts (the food processor slicing blade is your friend), garlic, and a fresh and happy kick from the zest and juice of Clementine oranges (they’re the only citrus we had in the house, and they worked well). Tarragon vinegar for the final punch, and the buttery+nutty flavor of pine nuts. Topped with the frizzled ham and served steaming hot. This is a kicked up side, that while completely different than our SproutKraut, is just as satisfying. I’m making it for parents and brothers and their families this weekend while we celebrate a late Christmas together.
So Jill and the National Pork Board have a whole set of recipes for you to check out and devour. And one of you lucky readers was going to get a little bit of something fun to start the New Year right.
But. And I’m not saying we believe in karma.
But...
To start the New Year off even righter, one of you will win the entire thank you package the National Pork Board sent our way and the something fun originally planned. Here’s what the entire prize package now includes:
- Two Jill Silverman Hough cookbooks:
- An instant-read digital thermometer, perfect for getting a pork roast cooked just right.
- A four-piece serving set from Crate & Barrel. It is shiny.
- A very cool six-piece set of Martha Stewart melamine serving/mixing bowls. The nesting kind. Saves space. Looks cool.
- Oh. And $100 worth of American Express Gift Certificates. You know, to buy yourself something pretty.
Here’s how to enter:
- Check out the recipes from Jill Silverman Hough from the National Pork Board.
- Leave a comment below telling us your big wish for you and your loved ones for 2012. That’s it. It doesn’t have to involve pork (but most of our wishes do).
- Leave your comment by January 3, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.
- Please see the section below entitled “Here’s how to lose.” It contains the one thing you can say to automatically be disqualified.
- All qualified entries are entered to win the amazing awesomeness from the National Pork Board and the two of us.
- We will choose the winner randomly via random.org from all qualified entries and announce on January4, 2012.
If you tell us why throwing out our Christmas tree on December 26 is a bad idea and why you leave yours up through the first week of January, blah blah blah, you’re disqualified. I’m joking. Except I’m not. I’m sort of joking. But no, really, I’m not. You are totally disqualified.
Now, go read the sweet recipes from Jill Silverman Hough and the National Pork Board and download the PDF version for your files.
And go dream of a pork-filled year.
And something better soon.
Here’s to 2012.
Remember, leave your 2012 wish for you and your loved ones in the comments below. And don’t mention the Christmas tree.
tagged Brussels sprouts, Pork
Brussels sprouts, Pork 
Reader Comments (70)
My big wish for me and my loved ones for 2012:
Good health, happiness and success in the New Year
I wish for continued health and comfort for me and my husband. And lots of bacon.
I hate to sound maudlin, but my wish is for a graceful and peaceful passing for my father-in-law who is enduring lung cancer. He survived WWII and Korea, but not the smokes they sent in the rations.
My big wish for my newly formed little family? Our very own house. So we can stop renting the basement suite of my parents home. We've been scrimping and saving and struggling to keep our business alive in this crap economy, and we deserve the payoff. Our very own house.
All I wish for this coming year is NO CRISES. That's it. I don't expect to get it, but hope springs eternal....
I wish that I find myself in a place where I can roast a whole pig and be surrounded with people I love with whom to eat it.
My wish for my loved ones is peace in times of crisis and love always. And maybe some bacon.
i wish for better health for all
I wish you guys the very best, you deserve it!
This year, my wish is to finally own a home, hopefully with a kitchen big enough to have a home for all of my gadgets/plates/utencils.
I was rushed into the ER a couple of weeks before Christmas with pancreatitis, and had to have my gallbladder removed. The whole time I was there, ALL I wished for, was to be able to go home. HOME-HOME. NY-HOME. I even prayed for the first time in 15+ years. So my wish for the new year is to move back to the east coast, because I desperately need to be closer to my family (who all live in NY.) I want to be able to surprise my mom and dad with the news that we'll be closer, and they'll be able to see us more than the usual once-a-year. That's my wish. ...And maybe be able to start a family of my own.
My wish for 2012 is that my family and I start eating healthier... .but not really, because then we'd have to give up my greatest pork love ever.... BACON. But I do want to lose 20 pounds. Maybe I'll give up butter...but never bacon.
We drive around after January 1st and give out tickets, to those who leave their lights up after the New Year. The penalty increases every single week. If I could collect, I would be rich.
So I totally embrace the Christmas tree in the front yard.
And I hope for you and MrsdeWinter and the kids to have a good, easy, normal (what's that) year. You deserve it.
For me and my little family? More time together. There's never enough.
Love to you all, xoCathy
My wish is for my family, loved ones and I to spend lots of quality time together feasting on porky goodness in 2012.
My wish is that everyone in our little household would be kind to one another so that we know what peace and love should look like, and then we can share it with others. And, oh yeah, to have lots and lots of fun together. P.S. I always ditch all the Christmas stuff as fast as I can on Dec. 26, and this year, I wondered if anyone would mind if I got a headstart Sunday afternoon. I was able to control myself, but next year...
My wish is for a less stressful year - for myself, my husband, and all of our loved ones. Including my favorite bacon eating, world traveling, three-kids-having, blogging, superstar friends in Atlanta.
I know many others have said this or something similar but my wish for 2012 is health, happiness, and financial stability for my family and friends. This year has been rather rough on my family. My father lost both of his parents-six months and one week apart from each other, and a few other major events that kind of shook our family. Here is to hoping that next year is better...it has to be right??
My wish for 2012 is simple... I wish that this 6th baby of ours is a BOY!! And yes, i know, we already have a son, but he is 13, and our last three have been girls... so, for our last child, we REALLY Really want a boy! We need a break from pink, purple, Barbies, and baby dolls!! besides that, I am pretty sure my husband will run off and move to the cabin if we have more estrogen in this house! :)
I can only wish to become better with each new year. A better mother, a better wife, a better friend and a better person. Its slow progress, but progress indeed....
My wish for 2012 is that we find another pasture raised pig so we can truly "bring home the bacon". Travel safe. You have precious cargo.
After watching my employer file bankruptcy and shut its doors this year, I wish for new and better jobs for all my former co-workers. For my friends and family, I wish health, wealth, and for the non-vegans and gluten-tolerant, bacon and biscuits in abundance.
Does the smell of the ham overpower the smell of the brussels sprouts? Cause if it does, I'd eat this. There's just something about the smell of BS that squicks me out.
In other news, I want 2012 to bring an amazing new job where I actually practice law! And less stressful lives for my loved ones. Everyone needs to lighten up a bit, and you just can't do that with stress.
Now feed me pork.
I'd like a getaway with my husband for a few nights. Sounds simple, in theory...
It may sound boring...but, all I ever wish for is health and happiness for my loved ones. My Dad doesn't have great health, so I'm really hopeful for him. I hope your family is blessed with the same, too.
My wish for my family in 2012 is to see more of them together at one time. Around my table. Having the son 4rs away, and the daughter 18 hrs away, doesn't make for a lot of family dinners. So I'm wishing and hoping
As far as the Christmas tree goes... I fear we may be doomed. (Or I may have just lost.) We leave our (artificial) tree up with only white lights until February. Yes. February. When you live on the shores of Lake Michigan, come winter, you need all the merry & bright you can get for as long as you can get it.
By the way, love this recipe. Two of my favorite foods Brussel Sprouts & Ham in one delicious looking dish! Thanks a bunch!
My wish is for happiness and health to all my friends and family. And to also take the time to breathe and enjoy the little things in life.