EDIT: This is my 500th post!!!!! Time flies when you’re having fun!!!
A quick hair update: It is no longer PURPLE! Thanks for all of your hair disaster advice. After placing that awkward phone call yesterday morning, the salon scheduled me in to get things fixed. Sixty minutes of bleaching later, it was much improved. Not back to normal, but I don’t look like Barney…a small big victory!
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Apparently I’m just full of grocery store stories, because I’ve got another one for ya.
When I was oogling over the king crab legs this weekend, I also found LIVE mussels for $4.99/3 lbs!!! Holy good deal on seafood…sold! The lady at the seafood counter put the mussels in a bad and told me to leave it open so they could breathe. She instructed me to place them on ice in a bowl, in the fridge when I got home and to eat them within 48 hours. Okay, cool.
So then I’m checking out at the grocery store and my mussels didn’t have a price tag. The checker asked the bag boy (a young teenage guy) to run back to the seafood department and get a price. He grabbed the bag, cutting off air flow to the mussels. When he got to the seafood department he was quickly scolded with a, “Open that bag!! Let them BREATHE!!!” Very confused, the teen quickly put 2 and 2 together — the seafood in his hands was ALIVE.
He got the price and returned to the check out line with a disgusted look on his face. “You do know these things are ALIVE, right?” he says to me. I smile, very aware of the living creatures I want to take home, steam, and enjoy 😀 The poor kid turned a faint shade of green and I’m a bit surprised he didn’t throw up right then and there. Hilarious.
His loss. Mussels are amazing! 😀
However, I had never steamed live mussels myself. [Thank goodness they don’t scream like lobsters when you drop them in boiling water. The animal lover in me wouldn’t handle that very well…that much I know.]
Mussels show no signs of life until you tap the slightly opened ones on the counter to see if they close completely. If they close, obviously they’re alive. If they’re open and don’t close with a tap, they’re dead and should not be eaten. Easy enough, and talk about entertaining. ::tap tap tap::
Dead:
ALIVE:
Note: 1 out of every 8-10 mussels were dead — not too many.
White Wine Steamed Mussels
1 cup white wine
2 Tbsp Smart Balance Light
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2-3 lbs live mussels, or more
Directions:
Discard any opened mussels. Scrub mussels to remove dirt, sand, etc. In a large pot, combine the wine, butter, and garlic. Bring to a boil. Put mussels into pot and cover with a lid. Steam over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes or until mussels open. Serve immediately.
Nutrition information (approximate): Mussels are ~14 calories/ea.; 0.3 g. fat; 1.9 g. protein
Result: Just as good as in Italy! Maybe even better 😉 I’ll admit to be intimidated by steaming live mussels but this was CAKE! Mr. Prevention was totally impressed and even asked, “Were they hard to make?” Far from…ready in 10 minutes from start to finish! They are a great protein addition to a more intricate side dish. And healthy!
(Random) Question: What’s your favorite animal?
I LOVE penguins! Bulldogs are cute, too…but they’re sure demanding 😉
I’ll share the delicious side dish I served with those stunning mussels tomorrow… 😉
Mussel up,
Love your hilarious grocery store story!! 🙂 I am SO impressed that you cooked mussels – I confess I’ve come close to purchasing them in the store several times but have always been too intimidated! Thank you for sharing your experience – now I know I’ll have the confidence to follow your recipe (especially since it includes SmartBalance Light – YAY! :-)) and give mussels at home a try! 🙂
Elephants!! I saw penguins in the flesh in Australia. It was pretty awesome.
Mussels are a lot of work, but they are SO good! That was one of my favorite dishes, pre-veg 🙂
Favorite animal…that’s a tough one!! Bears kind of crack me up…which is weird, I know.
hhmmmm…….depeneds on the day. today my kitties are my favorite animals. well all days they are but some days i do have a distinct liking for dogs or giraffes.
dragonflis give the kitties a run for their money….but then again they are insects so maybe they don’t qualify 😉
Steamed Mussels are probably one of my favourite foods.
It’s making want to go to a Belgian restaurant where I can have imported beer and all different kinds of mussels.
I’ve always wanted to like mussels…it seems like something people go nuts over. But since I don’t do garlic, they’re out. I’ve never seen them prepared without it.
Lol- love the grocery story! Here in New Orleans, we have crawfish boils regularly (during crawfish season) and are quite familiar with cooking live seafood.
I LOVE steamed mussels!!! But I’ve never cooked them at home. This recipe looks not only delish but also pretty simple. I can’t wait to try it out. Thanks for sharing 🙂
yes, steaming mussels is a very easy and quick dinner, paired with a really good baugette for dipping into the sauce….ooooo….it’s heaven really! What I don’t like about making them, is pulling off the beard. It looks like maybe someone had already done that for you! 🙂 lucky!
My favorite animal, hands down used to be kitties, but since I now own a dog and a cat, I am very fond of both of them. My dog is my baby! 🙂
Haha! What a great grocery store story!!!
Oh geez. I looove steamed mussels but I’m not sure I have the guts to take them home live and try it myself! Your recipe looks and sounds fantastic though 🙂
They look awesome!! What a hilarious story about your experience buying them!
How funny that the kid got so grossed out by the live mussels. It they don’t move then I don’t mind is they’re alive. Can’t wait to read about your side!
Ive never had mussels, but I have an issue with seafood. I cant say for sure that I dont like it, but I decided long ago that I WONT like it so I havent bothered proving myself wrong. 🙂
Haha! That poor bagger boy. He didn’t expect that. I love mussels, but have only ever had them while at the beach and out to eat with family.
I have never made mussels before. You make them sound so easy. Maybe I should give them a try :))
That is too funny! I’ve never tried my hand at mussels, I was always intimidated! Thanks for sharing the recipe, it absolutely sounds manageable!
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NICOLE I LOVE YOU!
So happy you got the hair situation fixed, I still didn’t think it looked too bad though!
Eww…mussels – not a fan, but they always looks so pretty in a bowl!
I love steamed mussels. I’ve never made them at home though.
My favorite animal is a dog. I also have always liked manatees. Random, huh?
Glad to know your hair turned out finally!!!