Posts Tagged ‘Recipes’

Many people will probably find it odd that I’m using “comfort food” and “Brussels Sprouts” in the same sentence, but Brussels Sprouts are a form of comfort food for me. While I love them roasted and served with nothing more than salt and pepper, cooler weather calls for a more robust preparation. One of my favorite ways to eat Brussels Sprouts is smothered in a cream sauce flavored with sherry and bacon. It’s so easy to make too.

First, you roast your sprouts in the oven. Just trim them, cut them in half, toss them with some oil, salt, and pepper, and place them on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 475° F for about 15 minutes. They should caramelize a bit and develop some tasty brown parts! Prior to roasting them, I like to soak them in a salt-water solution for about an hour to remove some of the bitterness.

Roasting Brussels Sprouts

While my sprouts are roasting away in the oven, I prepare the cream sauce. I start by browning some chopped thick-cut bacon:

Browning the Bacon

Then I add one chopped shallots and some chopped cremini mushrooms to the pan with the bacon and sweat those for about 5 more minutes. Then I toss in one clove of garlic (chopped), cook for a minute, and add 1/4 cup sherry and 1/2 cup heavy cream to the pan. I then reduce this sauce by half, until it is thick and coats the back of a spoon.

Cream Sauce with Bacon, Shallots, Mushrooms, and Sherry

Once the sauce is thickened to my liking, I transfer the roasted sprouts from the oven into the pan with the sauce, add a bit of salt and pepper to taste, and toss everything until it is coated. Voila – roasted Brussels Sprouts with a Bacon-Sherry Cream Sauce!

Brussels Sprouts w/ Bacon-Sherry Cream Sauce

This is a seriously delicious way to eat your green veggies. Sprouts contain high levels of Vitamin C and Vitamin K and all kinds of other healthy compounds which help fight everything from cancer to cholesterol. So, if you’re going to eat your bacon, you might as well have it with some Brussels Sprouts.

Yes, it’s still summer. Yes, it’s still hot. What you need is a cool and creamy bite-sized people treat. Behold, Mint Ice Cream Bonbons!

Mint Ice Cream Bonbons via Food+Words

As you may know by now, I’m an ice cream fiend. I’ve never met an ice cream I didn’t like. And if you present it as chocolate-coated balls of frozen goodness, you could earn yourself a spot as my friend for life. I can be bought – cheaply, it would seem.

Head over to Food+Words to get the full recipe for making these things. Then, give me a call. I’ll be there as soon as possible, begging like a dog would beg for Beggin’ Strips.