Brussel Sprouts Salad- a Roundup

We start this week with a new salad recipe-Brussel Sprouts Salad with Bacon and Pear. V easy and needed nothing much actually. I’m not sure what made it so popular. Probably the same reason- it was easy and didn’t need much effort. 🙂

It’s definitely tasty and a healthier choice though there might be a debate about healthier salads available.

While reviewing our Youtube channel and website blogs on what did really well this year- this recipe was highlighted as a missing little gem worthy of a permanent place here.

Who might need to read this post?

Here’s a profile of the people we are talking about- please do not go by the physical form. Excuse my inability to capture accurately. Making them “look more attractive” makes people more “positively inclined”. Unfortunately, their mind and behavior towards women haven’t changed.

A Meal Plan that needs a Shake Up

This comes at a time when there was disturbing news about a rape of a young girl in UP, 11th wedding anniversary for me and my husband, a death of one of my mother’s friends, one of my close childhood friend’s birthdays and lots of things to be done before Year end.

Who is unlikely to be bothered about pains or miseries involved in accomplishing a few regular everyday tasks? Like baking a cake or making a salad. Some may not even have an oven to bake that cake.

I see that authenticity takes a backseat every time there’s “family honor and respect” being spoken of by the investor profile we just highlighted.

A mixed bag of emotions, yes definitely lots happening around us! But I am focusing on the work meant for this website for now.

Easy Brussel Sprouts Salad Recipe – a surprise choice

That’s actually very different from most of our traditional nostalgic classic foods and recipes here in India. Salads are not very popular with many. And really small servings like this are also not very popular. However, there are a few people who prefer to have several small plates or frequent meals in smaller portions through the day.

This recipe would be quite useful for them. If you wish to make it on a bigger scale for large gatherings in an oven- that’s also possible.

It’s not super high on protein quotient- so let’s say it’s more of a tasty snack or starter rather than a main course recipe.

Here’s some more details from our website posts where preferences are a little different.

Before I share the recipe-here are a few things which we did in collaboration with other people. Part of my life goals and that of quite a few of my collaborative friends and family members.

Brussel Sprouts Salad with Books we Read

I struggled to read books. Reading requires some free dedicated time and quiet space. It happened more when I travelled or had some waiting time. None of the books were focused on salads or for that matter food.

I forgot them easily- they were mostly light reads and randomly picked. We have enough horror stories all across the different media options today.

Some of the choices were guided by mothers who were perhaps going through something in their lives that resonated with that book. And maybe their understanding or intuition of what I might like.

Unfortunately, I get impacted or immersed momentarily. None of the books left a clear lasting impression- mostly I could relate to a few characters or situations here and there.

I also reread an old book which was gifted in 2017 on my birthday. I am not sure I can still see the light, and it’s been 8 years since I got that book.

When your family is no more- all you have are miserable replicas and people who left you alone most of the time to grieve alone, to struggle alone and be painfully anxious or angry alone. Even the joys are lost- the heroic deeds of others played up for their own peace and happiness.

Your own emotions were questioned and mocked by your loved ones. Did you do the same in your weakest moments?

Yes, I did. That’s the truth that I can see all around.

Garden with no Brussel Sprouts Salad Ingredients

I have struggled to grow plants earlier. I had this in my bucket list forever- to have a little garden and grow a few vegetables and herbs as well in my own home. We don’t own this house I live and work in- a rented apartment actually. But it is my temporary home for sure.

Here’s what I managed to do- again with the help of a few friends, neighbours and collaborators who guided.

• Last I counted, there are 43 plants alive and 3 dead.
• A few more died over the last 2 years- I don’t have a count. But definitely more survived.
• Out of these- 7 came with the house when I moved in.
• I gave 36 plants a little space and home. They give me a lot of joy, anxieties and pains in return.
• The tomato and the chili plant have borne fruits. And the flowering plants help intermittently.
• Special mention for rose plants– I have really struggled to keep those alive. 🙂

Travel Meals with no Brussel Sprouts Salad

Psst! That’s not entirely true. 🙂 I did make something with Brussel Sprouts during my travels, but it wasn’t a salad.

Most of my travel this year involved a mix of different kinds of cuisine. Both home-cooked meals and eating out. I didn’t have much of a say there as I was mostly hosted by others.

Travel was to developed nations of the world and mostly to be with friends or family members who are in a niche of high-income families. Hence, the data related maybe skewed- there’s a fair degree of learning and unlearning involved here.

Food was great- not complaining. 🙂 Just that diet and meal timings were not always the primary area of focus. Here’s what I did manage to learn during my travels about food, cooking, meal planning and recipe choices- fairly “Motherhood statements“.

1. Food is still the primary language of love for mothers
2. Home cooked meals vs Street Food or snacks remains the struggle
3. Balancing Health and Taste preferences is next to impossible in most households
4. Regional, fast food and local food preferences remains a topic of interest
5. Children or teens are more comfortable being given money to make their own choices
6. Most often the choices are regulated by their friends’ circles or something being heavily promoted on their choice of media
7. Health concerns are strong biases within food choices for adults
8. Extended travel and long work hours maybe detrimental to emotional or physical health and impact food choices for many
9. Balancing ambitious growth plans with all these concerns is impossible without support
10. Support goes to those who do minimum work but make mothers feel good

I am unable to make mothers feel good somehow despite several attempts.

Return Gifts for Brussel Sprouts Salad Lovers

In lieu of daily struggle- compromises are made by adults or by children. Depending upon the number of members in the family or the extended friend’s circle. Eating out or ordering in is preferred for guests usually and also for meetups or catching up.

“Cooking when you travel” or “Fresh food during holidays” seems to be a very small particular niche. Somehow, I personally enjoy that a lot- a clear bias. 🙂

Sorry, can’t sing Isn’t it Ironic– have a really bad singing voice. Networks are all difficult to sustain with such a convoluted circular logic. I am somewhat caught in the middle between the extremes of the spectrum in a developing nation with visible inequality.

Do you wish to see the list of tasks dumped on me now?

Art Therapy which took up a lot of Head and Heart Space

These are all upcycled pieces of art. Coming from people who disposed off – mostly after the death of a few members of the family.

Some died silently cursing and never spoke up.

Others died speaking up but nobody cared.

And a few others died smugly having abused and taking advantage of others.

The bottom-line is that they all died. People said do not speak badly of the dead- I say never mind. I have my own mind.

I drafted a rather long fanciful bucket list in my early 30s before I got married. I had a look at it again recently and laughed my head off at a few items. What struck me was the impossible naivety behind some of them. 🙂 Some I ticked off as done and dusted. Some I kept as a reminder of work yet to be done. And I am declaring a few extreme unfulfilled dreams dead now.

So yes, I am not the same person I was back then- definitely older, more practical and wiser. Wiser to tricky people for instance- that’s gender and age neutral. Just saying.

I stay away from people who impart their assumptions about who I am or what I am supposed to do. Feedback on my work is important- that helps.

Working with Temporary Interns- a few learnings

Dumping your ideas on others for them to follow you in a leadership position is something that every teenager wants without the adequate experience in life. Boosted by the support of elderly parents and grandparents who wish to tell them they have a much brighter future.

Loading them with their unfulfilled ambitions in life and self-projecting their worldview upon others with a gracious or condescending smile of having seen so much more in life.

Frankly, I bow out of that space because I have no pretensions to being able to guide on that front.

I like to work with people who have a bit more of maturity, faith and loyalty. And definitely clearer communication.

A Shop that doesn’t have Brussel Sprouts Salad 🙂

I’m unfortunately outside the spectrum of online delivery of “Fresh Brussel Sprouts Salad” having no childcare support from other abusive managerial cadre.

Some of their dreams were nipped in the bud by many rounds of Budweiser drinking sessions and bitching with those who were ready to give them a willing ear. Sometimes beer progresses to whiskey and then to wine. But let’s not be too concerned about those inebriated whines.

Alternately there are more expensive forms of therapy as projected by those who wish to avoid their own responsibilities and dump their worldviews again upon others.

My solutions are usually simpler but the path to get to it, seems a bit more complicated than meets the eye.

Currently our little shop is testing products with 7-14 days delivery cycle and every day we learn of a new problem to solve. Not always fun! 😛

No Shark Fin Soup- thank you very much

Have you avoided bosses who were abusive? Only to land up with friends, employees or family who were abusive and bossy. Well, here’s a silent apology for the pain you have gone through- I am in the same boat.

Here’s an illustrious son who apparently needs a blanket while daughter/daughter in law is thrown to the streets. I don’t know which world we are living in these days. And also a small sample of cakes I made and shared for him and his illustrious friends and family.

Let’s try for silently doing our work without any complaints. (Huh?)

And silently be a party to abuse from others. (Huh?)

And silently be a bowing victim to those who bow bow harder. (Huh?)

Ok- serious question again. Who let these dogs out?

Here’s another simpler dessert option for those who want something sweet and in a small portion size. Sadly, this one is without chocolate – it’s healthier. 🙂

Ingredients required for Brussel Sprouts Salad

We will stop this one-sided casting of aspersions on one person by entire brigade of matriarchy and patriarchy for the moment. Bullies are really people who are insecure and scared themselves. In case you didn’t know that- do observe for longer.

Let’s review the recipe instead. Perhaps that helps those who are worried about positivity and then ignoring the negativity all around.

Are people trying to tell me there are no problems in this world to be solved? Seriously? Excuse me while I take a moment to mourn the death of logic here.

And are you emotionally numb or dumb – unable to speak out clearly what you see?

Kids told me- this looks like tiny little cabbage. I said- yes, exactly. And they told me cabbage causes gas. And I said- Bingo!

So? Do we not eat cabbage or Brussel sprouts?

Hmmm. (Problem statement?)

Sometimes, you have to take a meal outside to have a little breather with adults.

Brussel Sprouts salad, Kimchi or Sauerkraut?

Let’s review again some more merits/demerits of these tiny little agents of giggly childish squirms. These are also what we call sometimes- negative calorie foods. Do search more online.

Ignoring these unhelpful Nazi warrior questions for now. Do your own calculations and search online. 🙂

This little baby doesn’t have that strong cabbage flavour. It is crisper, fresher and tastes delicious when seared with a flavourful fat like bacon fat.

For fruits- pears are in season and go very well with bacon. But you can try other fresh crunchy fruits too like apples?

Adding berries are up to you- your choice. Anything goes really.

Now, if you are not in favour of bacon (for whatever reasons), try salted butter or ghee instead. The crispy bacon bits can be replaced by your choice of crispy little savoury topping like “chips”. Not the same, mind you. But it can still taste good. 🙂

The sauce is the key as I always point out- use your own favourite dressing.

I’m adding tamarind dates chutney as a reminder of the much-loved street food snack of chaat or paapri chaat which usually has a dollop of this sweet, sour and spicy spoonful of wicked good yumminess.

Brussel Sprouts Salad brings memories of my 20s

Oh, that brings me to this delightful memory of Sarafa Bazaar in Indore where I had an interesting snack called Bhutte ka kees and Garadu with masala on top. This was really the place to visit during winter months for a quick round with any visiting family members, friends or colleagues in the evening.

I liked Bhutte ka kees. Garadu was too salty for my taste. Both are quaintly local in a very exotic way for those who are unfamiliar with it.

Garadu is a winter root vegetable– a kind of yam. Bhutta is another name for corn- again quite popular roasted as a snack. Both high carb foods- suitable for winters especially for people who need to bulk up.

I’m guessing many kids are probably avoiding that now to go to more upscale, cleaner and safer malls. These nostalgic trips with meals and memories are perhaps good for comforting creatures with weird winter habits. Winter is really very different across the different lives touched by you or touching your life in return.

You want more positivity- here are two questions first.

Why are some kids avoiding these little lanes or by lanes?

Do you wish to find out more?

Footnote

Romancing Pork Long Thentuk

Here’s a friend who works with children and with elderly adults

Many of them are unable to work with their hands

A problem perhaps for many after reading online Ayn Rands

Atlas Shrugged gave you the cover story

But did it actually work to help others’ battle scars?

And there was a time I looked for something less gory

I still avoid because it is painful

But life is not always meant for the disdainful

Living a fuller truth embraces the experiences

Of all who have touched your heart and senses

I am trying to reach out to others who have the time

To do some good with more than a dash of lime

Life threw us lemons galore and I said hello

That’s what it takes to be a kind sister or fellow

Most days I find people sleepwalking

How many days of your life can you count

Where you remember something significant happened

To YOU and yet there was nobody else talking

I can take them silently to my grave or funeral pyre

Or I can share with whoever wants to read or care.

Melting Lemon Drop 07. 12. 2025

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