Trade Day, How I Love You

Cars line the roads as far as you can see in any direction. Vendors begin setting up long before sunrise (so they can sit and watch the crowds while they hold their double barrell shotguns; see above photo). You can smell the livestock area from the street. Oh, Collinsville Trade Day. An event that Mark and his family have been going to since he was a kid. I was initiated long ago, but with this last visit, I just had to share. Should you ever find yourself in Collinsville, Alabama on a Saturday morning, c'mon by. Here are just a smattering of the treasures you can find:

• A man named Daryl (I know that's his name because it was airbrushed on his shirt)
• A Peacock (that I was told "needed me as much as I needed him")
• A Horse with blue eyes
• 1 million roosters
• Used makeup
• Opened pill bottles and boxes
• 22-caliber rifle
• Children selling puppies out of a fish tank
• Army camo gortex jackets
• A baby pig the size of a wallet
• Tomatillos
• Justin Bieber tshirt
• Diamond Alabama earrings
• Corndogs dipped in mustard
• Turquoise snakeskin cowboy boots
• Cajun boiled peanuts
• A sign advertising creamed oppossum
• A billy goat
• A reindeer made out of firewood
• A Bootleg copy of Jillian Michaels work out video
• People lighting their cigarettes from a burn barrell
• Funeral flower arrangements
• Pleather Auburn purses
• A house flag with a giant picture of Bear Bryant's hat

Brussels?

This (last) week: Pan-Seared Tilapia with Citrus Vinaigrette, Almond Couscous, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Delish! Fish was great (Mark even cleaned his plate, which NEVER happens with fish. He's usually taking too long to uber-chew every little bite to ensure that he doesn't swallow a bone.) Found the key to the best Brussels sprouts ever...way more olive oil than I had been using. They were great. Also just found out that they are "Brussels sprouts" rather than "brussel spouts"...who knew? First time for pan-roasting nuts, too, and Rachael Ray is right! Your nose DOES let you know when they're done!

Triple Play

This week's new recipe(s): Potage Parmentier, Mini Hamburger Sliders, and Cuban Braised Beef with Peppers

A week full of new firsts...the year's first snow in Nashville, 3 recipes tried for the first time, and the first Alabama National Championship of my fan-hood. After watching Julie & Julia (which my husband surprisingly liked), I made Potage Parmentier (leek and potato soup; thanks, Andrea!) in honor of Julia Child (NOT Julie Powell) with French bread, a Romaine salad, and Chardonnay. I've decided that, for the new year, I would like to try to be more like Julia Child and less like Julie Powell (watch the movie and you'll see why; Julia is much more likeable). Oh-and we're just talking atittude-wise, not cooking-wise! The soup was simple and delicious. For the Alabama-Texas game, my husband insisted we eat some type of cow (to push the Tide toward beating the Longhorns), so we made my mom's recipe for White Castle sliders. Mark bought 80-20 ground beef, thinking that it would be better for burgers. He's right, but not if the meat is being cooked on a cookie sheet. Let's just say that there was a lot of grease-blotting after the meat came out of the oven! Next time we'll go leaner. But they were fantastic, and the whole lot of them were gone in a flash, despite us throwing away some of the beef because we just couldn't imagine how all of those sliders would get eaten. And lastly, while the snow fell, my lovely crockpot cooked braised beef for me. It was delicious!!!! Once again, the crockpot reigns supreme. Shredded lean beef in a sauce of red peppers, diced tomatoes, and spices, served over white rice with fresh cilantro and avocado slices (which really made the dish for me). And it was so pretty that I couldn't help taking a picture, which Mark laughed at for a good 10 minutes. Will definitely be enlisting my crock again for this one! Let It Snow, and ROLL TIDE!!