Cooking Challenge: Brussels Sprouts

I wanted to buy a bag of Brussels sprouts the other day, but my bf said NO WAY. Bumping it for my topics because I wanna learn how to make 'em anyway and try it.

Also, I've never seen this challenge before, but ... how, exactly, does one vote for a winner? o.O Do you make everyone's recipes at home and taste them there? Just sounded odd and couldn't wrap my brain around an online food/cooking challenge ...

Omg, I love Brussels. I just had some for dinner today. I don't remember where I got the recipe from but I've been making them this way for years, so here goes:

NAME OF RECIPE: Garlic Bacon Brussels Sprouts

INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs Brussels sprouts
4 strips thick-sliced bacon, chopped
3 -4 cloves garlic, minced
salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Trim the ends of the sprouts, remove any yucky leaves & score an X in the bottom of the stem with a paring knife. This will help with even cooking.
Steamboil them in an inch or 2 of water for approximately 10 minutes, venting the lid at least once to allow gases to escape.
Shock them in cold water & allow them to cool completely.
Drain & slice in half along the stem then set aside.
In a large non-stick skillet (I use a wok), cook the bacon until crispy.
Drain all but about 2 tbsp of the rendered grease then add the garlic & cook for about a minute.
Add the sprouts, toss to combine & cook until you see some caramelization on some of the sprouts & they're heated through.
Add salt & pepper to taste.

CALORIES PER SERVING: 230
HOW MANY IT SERVES: 4
OPINIONS ON HOW IT TASTED, ETC: I love this & my family does too, even my KIDS. Just today I ate some for dinner...& it was my whole dinner, lol.

I'm laughing because my husband loves the Pictsweet Steamables. He pops them in the microwave, dumps them in a bowl, and goes to town, no additives required. I can have a couple at a time, but that's my limit. He, on the other hand, will eat a whole bag! No recipe required there. Next step: get the kids to try it.

Edit: Lol, I didn't specify, but I am talking about the Brussel Sprouts. Pictsweet Steamables is a brand that you microwave right in the bag.

I'm laughing because my husband loves the Pictsweet Steamables. He pops them in the microwave, dumps them in a bowl, and goes to town, no additives required. I can have a couple at a time, but that's my limit. He, on the other hand, will eat a whole bag! No recipe required there. Next step: get the kids to try it.

Gotta tell ya, fresh is the only way to go. I've tried frozen a couple times & they just get this mushy texture once they're thawed & cooked that I can't deal with, & it doesn't surprise me so many people hate them if their experience has been with frozen ones. Seriously, get some fresh ones & cook them up with bacon (or pancetta, as someone else mentioned) & you will be converted. Bacon makes everything good.

I love brussel sprouts!!!! I buy the Birds Eye steamfresh single serve ones (since my family hates them, I just cook for me) I don't even have to put anything on them. They are awesome!

I love these! I used to buy them as a snack but the stores here don't carry them anymore. I bought a regular bag of frozen brussels sprouts but those don't really work so they've just been sitting it the freezer forever.

OMG, tooooo funny! I had busssel sprouts at work, bigggggggggg turkey dinner. They were OUTSTANDING. She roasted them. Put olive oil and rosmerry, then roast them for about 20 mins. Make sure you turn them a few times. Hubby says I AM A SICK PUPPY! LOL He hates them. I have to cook them for thanksgiving. He can have corn on the cob.

I love brussels sprouts, but I usually eat them boiled with just a touch of salt. I'm going to try roasting them. I'll use a combination of yeabby's suggestion and add the rosemary someone else suggested. Can't wait to try them!

I love brussel sprouts and, since I live the Pac NW, they are abundant and fresh. I cook this at least twice a month:

1 tbsp olive oil (not extra virgin- it won't hold up)
1 pound brussel sprouts- cleaned and stemmed
2 cloves garlic- crushed and minced
2 shallots (or one leek, white part only)- diced
5-10 ****ake Mushrooms- any kind, but I like whatever is in season, ****akes are readily available here and fresh year round.
1 tsp Dried rosemary
kosher salt and pepper to taste


Toss all ingredients together in bowl
spray roasting pan with cooking spray
place contents in roasting pan in 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes

*** Since I roast/bake a lot during the week, I add 1/2 cup of cut up squash and whatever protein for the dish into the same pan, and that is dinner with a salad.

Enjoy

It is so funny to see this as a topic because a friend yesterday was telling me I should try them again, I haven't had them since I was about 6 years old and I threw up when I ate them so I have had an aversion to them my whole life.

Anyway, my girlfriend roasts hers in the oven using Wegman's basting oil, kosher salt, pepper. I am definitely going to try this! Trader Joes and Wegmans have fresh brussel sprouts. I can't believe I never knew it was a type of cabbage, and I love cabbage! Thanks for all the ideas, I'm going to give them a shot soon.

Creamy brussels sprouts Gratin

Serves 2- approx 80 cals per portion

Approx 20 brussels sprouts, shredded
2 rashers smoked turkey bacon, or lean fat free smoked bacon, chopped.
1 clove garlic, crushed
20 sprays of spray oil/butter
pinch of nutmeg
S&P
2 tsp fresh chopped sage, or 1 tsp dried
1/2 small white/red onion
2 tbsp (30ml) of low fat creme fraiche (or any reduced fat/low cal cream)
2 tbsp breadcrumbs

1. fry the bacon bits, onions, garlic until browned. Add the shredded sprouts and cook for a further 2 mins until sprouts just softened a little.

2. Add the creme fraiche/cream and herbs, spices & seasoning and stir through.

3. transfer creamy sprouty goodness into an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs and bake for about 10 mins until browned slightly and bubbling.

Serve!