Beer 'n Brussels

It's logical, really. You have a beer or two — or a pyramid of them — and before you know it, hunger strikes. It was midnight, and all I could find was a bag of Brussels Sprouts rolling around in the crisper. It was clear what needed to be done. So after just a bit of slicing and braising and buttering, these gleaming morsels appeared.

The Miller Lite had arrived via bicycle messenger, an apparition in shiny blue. It would have been rude not to drink it. It turned out that its watery, Union-made flavor really complemented the petite cabbages.

You don't necessarily need cheap suds to make sudsy sprouts. But then again, you don't really need to make a pyramid of Miller Lite, either. Sometimes you just have to give in to the fact that it's Brussel Sprouts time.


Beer-Inspired Brussels Sprouts

1 large clove garlic, thinly sliced
splash of olive oil
some brussels sprouts — maybe a pound?
2 T butter

Cut the nobby ends off the sprouts, then halve them. If they're really big, cut them in thirds. Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat and throw in the garlic. Slowly saute it until golden; make sure not to let it burn. You can pick out the garlic chunks at this point, or you can leave them in, depending on how likely you are to go on a date/job interview within the next 24 hours. Toss in the trimmed sprouts and crank the heat to medium high. Add one tablespoon of butter and let them get a little browned. Then pour about 1/4 cup of water in the pan and cover. After five minutes, check to see if the vegetables are bright green and tender. If so, add the last tablespoon of butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, with beer.

Hyvee: More than just Frozen Pizzas

I've known for a long time that Hyvee sold more than lunch meats and frozen pizzas, but I've never made it beyond the produce aisle to see just what they sold. Apparently, the options are endless. At the Waterfront Hyvee (my area grocery store), an entire staff of loyal Hyveeans are waiting to serve customers fried chicken, Chinese food, and more potato and pasta salads worth mentioning. This week, I'll compare two of their choices: The fried chicken option and Chinese--which, if any, is worth purchasing?

Let's start with the disappointing. If chicken and rice counts as Chinese food, then the Chicken and rice soup needs to be moved into the "Foreign Cuisine" aisle. Just because you dip chicken pieces in some kind of sauce and throw it over steamed rice doesn't make it Chinese (they don't even serve it in a stereotypical, albeit standard, takeout box). I ordered the two entree dish because I couldn't decide between sweet and sour chicken and general's chicken (apparently, it's supposed to be spicy). I hurried home, threw in a movie, and popped open the plastic lid and started. Five minutes later, I gave more than half of the food to my roommate and made a bowl of cereal.

As I've stated in previous posts, I'm picky about my Chinese (or Japanese) food. Hyvee should just stop selling their variety. No, it wasn't expensive (about $6 for two entrees, rice, and an egg roll), but the quality wasn't worth it. Verdict: Skip it.

Now on to the more promising option. I've long been a fan of fried chicken, so I was a bit weary of ordering it from a grocery store. The three-piece dinner was $6.99 and came with two sides, but no drink. At first, I thought this a little expensive...until the woman took my order.

"What would you like?" she asks.

"The three piece meal," I respond.

"Okay," she says, then pauses. I wait, then she says, "Well, which three pieces would you like?"

As it turns out, you can choose any three pieces of chicken: If you're not a leg and wing type of guy, choose something else. At other restaurants, including KFC, you're almost always served one breast and a leg (or wing). At Hyvee, they'll gladly give you three breasts--if that's what you want. The meal also includes two sides. Because I had frozen corn at home, I decided on double mashed potatoes (my weakness). This day, I again went home, sat down, and started eating. And, for a second time, I couldn't finish my meal--but for entirely different reasons. While I didn't care to finish Hyvee's Chinese food, they had given me way too much of their fried chicken order. I saved half of it and finished it the next afternoon. VERDICT: WORTH IT


A quick note about the Waterfront Hyvee: If you're on a quest for chicken and beer (who isn't?), you might want to head to another location--their liquor department has been closed until the middle of May for (once again) selling booze to underage kids...

Grand Theft Auto IV made me poor. Let's go to Taco Bell.

This week's blog isn't very cool. Sorry. I can't afford to go try some new fancy schmancy restaurant this week, and here's why: I ordered Grand Theft Auto IV and a new pair of shoes (they're velcro!) within a week. Now rent and bills are due soon, so I have to really ration myself when it comes to spending. I could write about something I made at home, but most of the things I make either A) come out of a box or B) have already been written about in this blog (aka grilling). Luckily, something exciting has happened recently at Taco Bell.

The Bacon Club Chalupa is back, but only for a limited time. For those of you who have tried it, it's ok to shed a tear. For those of you who have not, stop wasting your life. It's delicious.

It's pretty much your standard chicken chalupa: lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and chicken. But then they throw a bunch of bacon in the mix along with a tasty sauce. Chicken, bacon, "tangy club sauce", other stuff. Awesome. The only problem is, it costs about $2.50, and in my eyes, that's pricey for T Bell.

Now for the best part. In honor of the Bacon Club Chalupa, Taco Bell has created the Big Bell Box Meal. Here's what you get for $5.00:
- 1 Bacon Club Chalupa
- 1 Crunchy Taco
- 1 Bean and Rice Burrito
- 1 order of Cinnamon Twists
- 1 large drink

The only problem is, the whole thing adds up to be about 1,150 calories plus the drink. A lot, I know, but what did you expect?

I know some people might be able to eat all of this in one sitting. I know I wouldn't, and that makes this an even better deal. Two meals for $5.00!

If you're on a budget and you don't feel like cooking or going to grocery shopping, go to Taco Bell for a couple of cheap meals. But you need to hurry! When the Bacon Club Chalupa disappears, so might this delicious deal.

Not your Grandmother's grocery store

The entrance to the New Pioneer Co-op is tiny and unassuming, a nondescript portal on a nondescript brick building. However, passing through the entrance is a feeling that I imagine is akin to what one feels upon discovering an ancient Egyptian tomb laden with opulent treasures, air thick with intriguing aromas, and staffed by cashiers with full-sleeve tattoos ('k... maybe not that last one).

"The co-op" as it is affectionately known by most who shop there (and justifiably so, as it is the only one in the area) has locations at 22 S. Van Buren St in Iowa City across from the city offices, and 1101 2nd St in Coralville (though i have never been to the newer Coralville location, it looks somewhat more upscale from the road).

I lived in Iowa City for a full year before I knew the co-op existed, and even then it was only brought to my attention by my vegan older sister, a former resident of Iowa City who has, shall we say, an eclectic palate (my dad routinely refers to her diet as "mulch"). True, the co-op does indeed cater to the vegan, vegetarian and organic-only crowd much more so than any other grocer in the area, but they also boast an impressive meat counter with fresh fish of all varieties, as well as hard to find meats such as venison, lamb, and ground buffalo, the latter of which makes a delicious burger. An entire aisle is devoted to their copious beer and wine selection, each carefully selected by their specialist, Tom.

The catch to shopping at the co-op, and the one thing which probably makes many students avoid it, is that you must either buy a membership, or pay an additional fee every time you shop there. However, the membership is a one-time payment of sixty dollars (no annual renewal required unlike Costco or Sam's Club) and, much like stock, you get this fee fully refunded upon resigning. Critics of shopping at cooperatives like this one cite excessive cost, but the co-op allows its members to volunteer and receive a discount on its products. For a mere nine hours a month, a member gets 30% off the first $200 worth of groceries that month, a savings of $60, almost the equivalent of being paid minimum wage. For those willing to put in a little work for the extra quality, your taste buds will thank you.