My Green Love

When I was in junior high, my friends and I would sing this song all the time. It mentions "some of those tasty sprouts, the ones that they call Brussels." I had no idea what it was talking about, and it didn't matter because we changed it to "Russell" after the boy my friend Jeta had a crush on.

My first experience with Brussel sprouts was a terrible one. Imagine spending all day on the train, then finally arriving at a youth hostel in Prague, where I was promised dinner but given instead a bowl of greasy broth with one floating Brussel sprout. I was 16 and didn't know that this was the first course. I thought that was it. That's the day I discovered that my mom was right: when you're really hungry, you actually will eat what's given to you.

A few years ago, I decided to give said sprouts the benefit of the doubt. What has resulted is a life-long love affair with Brussel sprouts. I love them steamed, boiled, and especially roasted. I love them in butter, drizzled in olive oil and sea salt, or marinated in balsamic. I love them the way Dan made them last night, steam roasted in lemon pepper marinade mixed with pork sirloin.

I have yet to follow an actual recipe for Brussel sprouts because I haven't felt like it was necessary. They are inexpensive if you catch the right season and a good grocer. I just bought a stem for $2 and it fed us plenty with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Even the frozen sprouts, when doctored correctly, are inexpensive and delicious.

Do you have a favorite way of eating Brussel sprouts? Or are you phobic?