Part I
Does the following sound familiar to you: your meals this week are roughly the same as last week. Probably, huh. And not just because stuff with potatoes seems similar (up to a point) to other food with potatoes (ditto for rice, couscous and pasta). Naah, we also all get lazy and fall back on the easy-to-cook stuff. Possible escape routes: invite someone(s) over for dinner (pushes me to make a bit of an effort), or just buy something in the shop and see what you can make of it.
Part II
I was in the shop the other day, and brussels sprouts (spruitjes) were on offer. Now seriously: when is the last time you had some?? Not that you hate them (well, can’t speak for you, but I don’t), but it’s just that… well… they’re boring.
But, since it had been ages, I bought a pack. A kilo-pack at that… that was the one on offer. That gave me a new problem: I know one way to prepare them (boil, add potatoes and meat, sprinkle some nutmeg (nootmuskaat), and enjoy. No way on earth that you’re doing that more than once a week, if that much. (I did say “boring”, right? Should’ve said “booooooo-ring!” :). Luckily, the boss came up with a good suggestion: just stir-fry ’em with some onions, leek, bell-peppers, carrots, etc. and add rice. Sprinkle some curry powder to finish.
Seriously, you wouldn’t believe how yummy a sprout can be, if it is a tad crunchy. Yummy enough to have more than once a week — a good thing, because I managed to finish before they went bad on me :)
So here I am sitting, after a medium portion, wondering if I’ll have another round or not. Had you told me this 10 years ago, that I’d voluntarily cook spruitjes myself, and that I’d ponder seconds, I’d’ve laughed in your face.
I guess we all grow up — a bit at least ;-)