Oct

Can you guess what food this is?

Brussels sprouts on the stalk.

I don’t see Brussels sprouts on the stalk very often but I often see them at this time of year – even though the Belgian sprouts are available from October to April. They look so pretty with their stalks on. I think they could even make a lovely table centre-piece.

Brussels Sprouts: Do you love them or hate them?

I despised Brussels sprouts when I was a kid. My Mom tells a hilarious Brussels sprouts story of when she and her siblings were kids. They found a knot in the hard wood floor below their dining table. For a couple of days they would sneak those strong-flavoured morsels down the hole. Then my Grandfather found them in a tumble in the basement a couple of days later. He was none to pleased. To this day, this story makes me smile. 

Although, I despised them as a child and into adulthood (yes, even enough to shove them down a floor board if I could have). I have really grown to love this relative of cabbage. The key: Don’t over cook them. From the minute I tasted a tender but still firm and bright green Brussels sprout I had a serious change of heart. It’s simply because when you overcook Brussels sprouts they become bitter and pungent-flavoured.

Here are two of my favourite Brussels Sprouts recipes that are sure to convert any skeptic:

http://food.chatelaine.com/Recipes/View/Brussels_sprout_and_apricot_saut#at

http://food.chatelaine.com/Recipes/View/Brussels-sprouts-in-parmesan-cream#at

My Brussels sprout tip:

In the Kitchen