What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Warm gloves for working in the yard

When I went to the hardware store to get a long hose sprayer, I asked the clerk about warm gloves for working in the yard. I’d been raking leaves and my hands got so cold when I was wearing my regular garden gloves.

We hunted through everything. Finally, we found a pair for about $10.

I tried them out today when I cleaned the gutters. It was great to have warm hands for winter yard work.

My worst: Too many Brussels sprouts

When I went to the food co-op the day before Thanksgiving, I wasn’t certain if I’d be going to Bellingham due to road conditions or having dinner here with friends.

Chef Bobby Flay, of Food Network fame, served deep-fried Brussels sprouts, rather than potatoes, for a Thanksgiving meal he prepared for a throwdown. So I thought I’d try a Brussels sprouts recipe I found with dried cranberries.

However, I didn’t think my Olympia friends would like Brussels sprouts, so I also bought two pounds of green beans.

Road conditions were bad. I decided to stay home. The Green Beans With Slivered Almonds were great.

However, now I have two pounds of Brussels sprouts to prepare. On the bright side, I’ll enjoy them once they’re cooked.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Comments

[Lisa]

Will you try the recipe you found?

[Rita]

Hi Lisa,

Yes, I'd planned to use the recipe -- dried cranberries, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. However, you are supposed to add these to the steamed Brussels sprouts and put it all in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

I cooked the Brussels sprouts for 20 minutes, and they got pretty soft. It also was late, so I just age some and put them in the refrigerator.

I think I'll mix up the items and saute them a bit -- like on the Food Network -- and add them to the Brussels sprouts.

Yum, yum. They were tasty.

Rita

[Alicia]

I too experience getting my hands cold when I work my garden. I didn't know there's such a thing as warm gloves. I thought they were all, well, cold :) Let me go ahead and get me some warm gloves too. Thanks for the information.

[Rita]

It took some hunting through the glove selections at our local Ace Hardware store, but I found some. I really liked having them the next time I worked outside in the cold raking leaves.

Rita