Fabulous Finds and Fresh Tastes...

While out shopping at Ross the other day I came across some Lenox China in the Butterfly Meadow pattern.  I got very excited, because I had been eyeing this china for some time.  I had put it on my "someday and a girl can dream" wish lists, because it was way, way out of my budget.  A three piece setting at one of the finer stores will cost about $72.00 and I needed place settings for four.  At that price it just wasn't going to happen.  Well, you can imagine just how excited I was when I saw them at Ross and at the price they were selling for I knew that I could definitely afford to get the setting pieces for four.  So, for way less than the price of one 3-piece place setting I was able to get service for 4.  I was doing a little happy dance inside of Ross.

Here is what I came away with,  4 cups, 4 pasta bowls and dinner plates.  I will look for the salad plates and soup bowls soon, but for now I am soooo happy with my fabulous find.

                                                 

Excited to try out my new dinnerware,  I planned a lovely dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and a veggie.  I had some brussel sprouts and wanted to try braising them with some of the boiled cider that I had made a few weeks earlier.  Making the boiled cider is super easy. See how I did it  here.  So I added them to the menu. Here is how I put it together.  

Braised Brussels Sprouts with Boiled Cider and Applewood Smoked Bacon

1 pound Brussels sprouts, washed and halved
2 slices of Applewood Smoked Bacon, diced
1 Granny Smith Apple, peeled, cored and cut into medium sized chunks**
1/4 cup boiled cider
2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
Salt and pepper to taste