Search This Blog

19 March 2013

Recipe Time: Jerk-Spiced Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower and Chickpeas

I made quite a delicious meatless meal a couple of weeks ago;  this brussels sprout, chickpea, and cauliflower dish as well as cream-less cauliflower leek soup. I often cook veg at home, I just find it quicker. This dish is quite tasty; I adapted it from Food & Wine Mag.




  1. Recipe
  2.  3-4 Tablespoons of jerk seasoning (I like to find the most interesting and legit looking seasoning at the grocery.  Oftentimes it's easier to find if you look in the grocery stores specialty section.) 
  3. 1+ tablespoon of red pepper flakes ( I like to stir things with my spicy spoon [so says my friend] so if you don't like things quite so spicy don't add the flakes considering jerk seasoning tends to be spicy as is)
  4. 1/2 cup of olive oil (extra virgin or plain)
  5. One 15 oz can of chickpeas, drained and patter dry (It's important to get these dry.  The drier they are, the crispier they will get)
  6. 1 lb of small brussels sprouts, halved lengthwise
  7. 4 cups of cauliflower florets (or 1 heads worth)
  8. Salt
-Preheat the oven to 425.  Pour the jerk spice mix into a large pan that is oven safe.  Heat on the stove top at low heat for about 2 minutes shaking the pan constantly.  
- Add most of the oil to the pan (save a tablespoon or two for the cauliflower). Once it shimmers add the chickpeas to the pan and cook on medium to high heat for about 5 minutes or until the chickpeas are getting slightly crispy.  
-While the chickpeas are cooking take a baking sheet/ roasting pan and lightly oil.  Put the cauliflower on the sheet and then coat with a smidge of oil. Sprinkle with a bit of salt.  Put the pan into the oven.
-Add the brussels sprouts to the pan of chickpeas and mix in. Let cook for another 3-5 minutes, stirring once or twice.  You want the brussels to slightly brown.
-Once the brussels are slightly browned take the chickpea and brussels pan and put it in the oven next to the cauliflower pan. 
-Cook for 15 - 20 minutes stirring once. By this time the cauliflower should be slightly brown, the brussels cooked and browned, and the chickpeas are crispy. 
-Pull out of oven and mix the cauliflower in with the brussels sprouts and chickpeas. Add a bit of salt and some ground black pepper.  

You are good to go. Enjoy!

08 March 2013

My Kitchen Renovation

I told you about my bathroom renovation and showed you my plans so now I am showing you my kitchen plans.  Right now the glaciar white corian counter tops are on and the sink and faucet are in (check out the instagram photo on the side if you want to see them).  What isn't done is the butcher block counter top, microwave shelf, lighting, and tile. Oh and I'm going to get a new range at some point.  I wasn't planning on it, but with clean white counter tops my cheap Magic Chef range that has been in this house for who knows how long sort of looks like shit so I've decided to replace that too.  The tiny cabinet where the microwave sits is what will be butcher block and there will be a shelf for the microwave to sit giving me access to that counter top. In a kitchen as small as mine I need all the space I can get. Please don't be scared by all the crap junking up the kitchen.  It doesn't normally look that junk filled, but for some reason I decided to take picture after I had stocked the kitchen full of the items that will be used in the reno.  Also the tidy cats container contains dog food, not litter and I have cleared off the fridge completely since viewing how messy it appears in photos.  I hate my house being cluttery and these pictures make it seem like that is true.  Wait until the finished product.  Hopefully I'll have new pictures for you in 2 to 3 weeks.

Before:
Kitchen Before

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Before
My Kitchen Reno

07 March 2013

Bathroom reno redone and a bedroom contest

My bathroom renovation is starting in two weeks. Hurray!I changed up the plans a bit- hopefully for the better. I went with a glossy white floating vanity from Ikea since it seemed more structurally sound then the last one I picked. I also went with a cheaper and (I think) cooler light. A bit more industrial. I am very pumped about finally going ahead with this.

 Oh and I should tell you that my kitchen renovation has already begun. My new counter tops, sink, and faucet are in. I have to wait on tiling and some other stuff for another 2 weeks when the contractor and his crew come back and do the bathroom work. Things are rolling and I am quite pumped.

I should also throw out that my bedroom is in an Apartment Therapy bedroom contest. AT is a design blog and it's pretty exciting to actually make it on there, even if just for a contest. If you want to vote and I would love it if you did, here is the link: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/stephanies-original-details-bedroom-185669 . 

Here is the picture of what my bathroom looks like now.  Terrible, I know:
Bathroom before

And here is the plan:


My Bathroom Reno