Wednesday
Mar102010
Confessions of a Formerly Picky Eater
The first time someone got me to eat a cucumber, I was around 23 years old. That someone was my dear friend Karen, who looked at me and said this simple sentence: "Cucumbers taste like summer."
Leave it to poetic words to finally convince me to try something I didn't think I liked. Thanks to Karen, cucumbers have been a part of my life ever since. (And she was right; they DO taste like summer.)
For the first two decades of my life, I was the fussiest of fussy eaters--particularly when it came to vegetables. Broccoli? No way. Lettuce? NOOO. Tomatoes? Are you nuts? (Well, if you're nuts, I'd eat you; but, tomatoes, no.) Feed me carrot sticks and the occasional serving of green beans, and I was good to go, thankyouverymuch.
It was only when I was an adult and started traveling that I grew out of my food hang-up. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to live in London for a while in college and then again after I graduated. Being there was learning experience in about a thousand ways--including what it's like to live in an area that has access to all kinds of foods. From what to order at an Indian restaurant to how to prepare a proper cup of tea, I suddenly learned that, yes, I DO like trying this stuff! And when it came to my veggie issue, London also inspired my first encounter with the granddaddy of them all: salad. At the time, I was a poor student. I was also a hungry student, and at lunch one day, a salad came with free my meal. So it was my newly found sense of adventure combined with hunger and a serious lack of cash that made me think, "Alright, salad--let's do this." And we did. And we still do.
Although there are disadvantages to being a kid who won't eat her greens (mostly for that kid's parents--sorry, Mom and Dad), there actually are advantages as an adult. I find that I am still discovering things I didn't know I liked. And to be honest, it's such a small, simple joy for me to meet a new food--like opening a little gift every single time.
Lately, Brussels sprouts is that gift. I'm learning that they're sometimes fussy, too, and that they smell awful when they roast. But, oooooh, when they're good, they're good. Here's the quick recipe I am currently devouring. And if you have any other recommendations, bring 'em on!
(Mom, did I just hear you gasp?)
Roasted Brussels Sprouts from The Barefoot Contessa
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt (you'll like them salty like French fries), and serve immediately.
1999, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, All rights reserved.
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Easy Recipes | tagged Brussels sprouts! | Email Article | Share Article | Permalink | 11 Comments
Easy Recipes | tagged Brussels sprouts! | Email Article | Share Article | Permalink | 11 Comments
Reader Comments (11)
i too have been loving the brussels, but i've been using this fabulous braising method to get them tender and full of flavor.
i heat a little seasame oil in a pan. add around 1 1/2 cups of trimmed sprouts, and brown them on medium heat. then-- add about a cup of heavy cream (or coconut milk!) and some salt. stir and cover for about 30 minutes. before serving, add in a tbsp of lemon juice. delish!
Great! Thanks so much, Ashley...
Brussels sprouts, eggplant and collard greens. They're either awful or the most amazing food to ever reach one's taste buds.
i LOVE brussel sprouts! And collard greens!
i am gonna bake me some brussel sprouts tonight. Yum!
You know what I like about brussels sprouts? How charming they look! Tiny little cabbages that must have come from a magical garden.
I have discovered them as well!!! I love them! Enjoy and I miss you!
Kendall, I just LOVE that. I think that if someone had said that to me, oh, 25 years ago, I would have taken up the 'sprouts much sooner...
Oh my, oh my! I LOOOOOOOVE brussel sprouts. As as kid I hated them because my mom would just boil them - eck. I'm def going to try the recipe you shared, looks yummy!
I make mine by steaming them ever so slightly (after I cut off the stem & place them in a 1/2 inch of water in a frying pan with the lid on... then I drain the water off once they are bright green & saute them in garlic, olive oil & s/p while sort of mashing them with a spatula so the leaves sort of break away & the hearts get carmalized... OH SO YUMMY! Sometimes I add fresh lemon thyme or a bit of lemon juice & toss the sprouts with israeli cous cous... ok now I am hungry!
xo
Brussel sprouts are one of my most favorite veggies! We love to eat them the same way - so fun! (I never knew that about you...) Ina Garten has the most amazing veggie recipes, too - what a great recipe you chose. These days, I eat them in solitude, as I'm the only one in our family who loves them...
I just made my first Brussels sprouts purchase since, well, ever. Looking forward to making these tonight!
OK I did this recipe. Not only was it super easy, but they were delcious! Home run. Thanks mdashing!