504 Main by Holly Lefevre: Brussel Sprouts...You Know You Love Them!
twitter facebook instagram bloglovin google plus pinterest youtube

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Brussel Sprouts...You Know You Love Them!

I grew up eating corn and spinach from a can - at least that is what I remember. It was fancy to have frozen broccoli. I am not criticizing anyone or anything, but that is what I remember. We did grow carrots and other veggies from time to time. Needless to say my range of veggie eating for along time was pretty narrow. Back in teen years this changed...more fresh produce and when I moved out on my own fresh and some frozen produce was high on the list (of course I was a strict vegetarian then, so it made sense).

Even with that there were many veggies I had not tried, and might I even add a little afraid of...Brussel Sprouts was one of them! Last year Joe and I attended a Slow Food USA Eat In (I am not going into what they do, etc. here, just PLEASE check out the link !). I was thrilled with what we heard and saw at the community garden where the "Eat In" was held. After the very informative portion of the program, we were treated to a FANTASTIC potluck lunch. There were some really talented cooks there - everything was so fresh and yummy...I could eat that stuff all day.

To continue on with my ramblings...I really, really wanted Joe to try Brussel Sprouts...um, OK I really, really wanted to try Brussel Sprouts too! He had asked about them before and I was a little intimidated to make them - I had never personally done anything with them and all I could imagine was me spending hours in the kitchen to have Joe eat one (that's the rule - you must chew and swallow the "new" food before you get to say "yuck!") and walk away. 
 
He reluctantly ate one, and then looked at me and said "Those are good. Can I have more?" Seriously, if a kids asks for Brussel Sprouts or any vegetable run and grab more,
even if it is the last one.

So, I am not sure who brought the Magical Brussel Sprouts, but I thank her (or him)! Better yet, she (or he) brought a copy of the recipe - only one copy though! Luckily it is a simple recipe, and even more luckily (clearly not a grammatically correct term, but you get the picture), my friend Jenn and her family were there and she had her camera, so she snapped a photo of the recipe. Yipppeeeee! And now, I share it with you, with a big, humongous thanks to it's creator, whomever that may be (I have made some changes).

By the way...this is not complicated or fancy!

Magical Brussel Sprouts
(Oh, yeah, did I mention it is not real scientific or specific)

1.  Brussel Sprouts: Amount varies on size of group you are feeding. I started with 1 1/2 pounds.
2.  Olive Oil: Again, no measurement given.
     I drizzled about 1 Tablespoon over the sprouts, add more, sparingly, as needed.
3.  Fresh Ground Black Pepper: To taste.
4.  Salt: I used Kosher Flake Salt, sparingly
5.  Fresh Lemon Juice: again to taste. How much do you like lemony-flavor?

To Prepare:
  1. Blanch your Brussel Sprouts first - I find they cook way better....Blanch by boiling water; add the Brussel Sprouts and cook for 5 minutes; immediately remove the sprouts from the hot water and submerge in ice cold water until they are no longer warm.
  2. Preheat oven to 400.
  3. Slice Brussel Sprouts (or not). The first time I made this I had small sprouts, but this last time (see photo), they were huge so I quartered them. Put sprouts in a bowl and drizzle Olive Oil over them. Mix to coat the sprouts.
  4. Add pepper and salt, to taste.
  5. Spread sprouts evenly on a cookie sheet or roasting dish.
  6. Bake until fork tender...it didn't take long, maybe 20 minutes for the little ones....just keep checking!
  7. Remove from oven when ready, place in a serving bowl and toss with lemon juice (we used a lot of lemon juice...it is one of the magical liquids in our house!)
Option#1:  We also drizzle Balsamic Vinegar instead of lemon juice (Balsamic is the other magical liquid in our house).

Seriously good stuff..Joe asked for them again and again!
 
Let me know what you think? Do you have any other great Brussel Sprout ideas? Do you eat Brussel Sprouts?
Signature

P.S. As if you cannot figure it out, this is Jules above...Joe would not pose for me!  And that is a Baby Jules...so long ago it seems!
 
Think Tank Momma

15 comments:

  1. You know what? Seriously... I loved them as a child! LOL - my mom always used to brag to her friends that I would ask for "Bruckles Sprouts" :) Thanks for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Holly! Guess what?! We (hubs & I...kidlets had never had them because of our opinion of them) couldn't stand brussel sprouts growing up & admit we had not tried them again as adults (& both of us love a wide variety of veggies).

    Then I bought some on a stalk (had never seen them on a stalk or how they grow before) from Trader Joe's (I was fascinated...I'm easily fascinated, I know) for Thanksgiving.

    We did what we always do with a veggie if we don't have a clue how to cook it....we roast it (or grill it in warmer weather)! Do you have a Misto? Best invention Ever! We spray a little Olive Oil on them, crack some sea salt over the top and stick 'em in the oven...sounds similiar to what you do.

    Anyhow, its late & I'm rambling....WE LOVED THEM!!!! We've had them many times since (in the last month and a half). We've had lots more roasted, two nights ago, hubs cooked them up with onion & garlic, and tonight, he sauteed them with carrot, celery, onion, & garlic with a light sauce (have no idea what he used in that, but it was gluten & casein free!), served over brown rice and again, delish!

    We'll have to try lemon on them next time, thanks for the brussel sprouts bulliten...couldn't have come at a better time! :>

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:18 AM

    OMG I love roasted brussel sprouts! In fact, I roast every veggie I can - my kids will eat them that way. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I ate brussel sprouts once as I child and have never eaten them again! I think my Mom bought them frozen. I guess it is time to try them as an adult. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  5. There's not a veggie we don't like if it's roasted. :))

    ReplyDelete
  6. I ADORE Brussels sprouts, but I never knew it until I was an adult. My kiddos love them, too! This recipe from Williams-Sonoma is my absolute, tried and true fave... http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/brussels-sprouts-with-bacon-and-thyme.html

    I mean, how can you mess up when you add bacon? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. My husband will not eat brussel sprouts because he had some nasty frozen ones one time as a young adult that had been cooked to death. *sigh*

    You know what, I love them. I'm going to give these a whirl with fresh brussel sprout and quarter them. maybe he won't know what they are?

    Thanks for SHARING!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. B. sprout eaters here! My oldest loves them, but she's smart and knows that the best ones are from my friend's garden in the summer. And roasted like yours...yup. Pretty darn good.
    (As I recall from a billion years ago, any vegetable is good in a Bloody Mary too.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds incredibly YUM! I will have to make it a goal to try the recipe soon. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Okay, PERFECT! I am SO trying this. Thanks...

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've prepared them like this before too and it is my absolute favorite! My husban, on the other hand, likes them steamed to the point of mush. Gross. Like you, I grew up with canned vegetables too and thought frozen were for fancy people!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That recipe makes me want some now! Going to be trying this one!
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous11:21 PM

    I totally dont like brussel sprouts. But the hubs does, and I have never made them for him. Not once! Thanks for the easy recipe!! I MIGHT make them now. lol

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yum!! We love brussel sprouts - can't wait to try them with lemon juice!
    We usually roast them like this and then mix them with bacon. :)
    One year at Christmas we added Pomegranete Seeds - they were so pretty and Christmassy. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love brussel sprouts and I'm glad my family does too, I quarter them, and saute them on the stove :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation! I sure hope you come back for more!

blogger template