Brussels Sprouts! Yikes!
I know, I can't believe it either. Nor could the rest of my family when I put them on the table. They were all "what's that?" "ewww, gross!" "I don't like brussel sprouts" (b/c kids always know when they don't like something, even before they try it.)First let me say...if you are not a vegetable fan (which, sadly, I am not) you should ONE - roast your veggies and TWO - pour a balsamic vinegar reduction all over them. Makes pretty much anything edible.
A couple of food bloggers out there, much healthier than I, have blogged about the cute little brussels sprouts. (They look like mini cabbages, and kind of smell that way too.) And my interest was peaked. I knew I should try this little veggie. Maybe it was delicious. However, since my mom stated she was not crazy about brussels and she LOVES vegetables, I knew the chances of me falling in love with the sprouts was pretty slim. But - I was not discouraged. Especially after seeing this post from Pioneer Woman. She made these veggies look and sound delish. I bought a bag from Sam's club and cooked those babies up.
The verdict? Not terrible. Not delicious either, but not terrible. And the balsamic vinegar reduction was good enough to pour on just about anything. Definitely made these babies mo'betta!
The kids didn't eat them, but did give them a try (except for Mr. Three of course). The hubs ate them, which was very surprising, and said they were "okay". But it was an okay as in 'not bad'; not okay as in it 'kinda sucks'. I think.
Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
slightly adapted from Pioneer Woman
- 3 pounds Brussels Sprouts
- 1/2 cup Olive Oil
- Salt And Pepper
- 1 cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Dried Cranberries (omitted)
Preparation Instructions
Trim/clean Brussels sprouts, then cut them in half if desired (or you can leave them whole). Arrange on two baking sheets and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with plenty of salt and pepper and roast at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until brown.
Combine balsamic vinegar and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and reduce until very thick, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the roasted sprouts, then sprinkle on dried cranberries. Toss and serve immediately.
**I made a third of this recipe. Just 1 pound of brussels was a plenty for us ;) I think I have found a new New Year's tradition for us...we must try a brand new vegetable. Hopefully that will encourage us to try lots of other veggies throughout the year!
So what do you think? Yes or No to the brussels?
I'm linking this recipe up with the following linkys - It's a Blog Party, All the Small Stuff , 33 Shades of Green, Blessed With Grace, From Mess Hall to Bistro, Gooseberry Patch Blog
Haha, I love your honesty in the verdict. I think blue cheese is the trick to brussels sprouts. It's the only way my hubby will touch them :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with roasting veggies... my mom used to steam them, and UGH! Steamed veggies are gross. I always get the huge bags of brussels sprouts at Costco. I'm going to pin this so I can try it!
ReplyDeleteI made almost the same recipe for Thanksgiving, while I enjoyed it, my family did not feel the same...lol I grew up eating steamed brussels sprouts so I found these much tastier and less stinky...lol
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've never had brussels sprouts prepared in way that I don't like. One of my favorite ways is to cook up some bacon then toss the sprouts in the bacon grease and roast them. Then you sprinkle with some parm cheese and crumble the bacon on top. I could eat them everyday, but I'm weird like that!
ReplyDeleteI'm for sure going to give this method a try too :)
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ReplyDeleteHubby would love this. Thanks for sharing.
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These look so good. Roasted brussel sprouts are one of my favorite things on the planet.
ReplyDeleteBrussels sprouts are one of my favorite veggies. You are right, roasting them is a must. Have you ever had them steamed? So gross! At least you got out of your comfort zone, even if you didn't LOVE them! :)
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