A Brussels Sprout By Any Other Name....

Winter Vegetable Trio

I have to say, the absolute best time of year to find amazing recipes in magazines is in the month of November.  They pull out the big guns and put some killer recipes in leu of the impending 'eating' holiday.  I am loving it!  I came across a recipe for brussels sprouts and couldn't remember ever trying one.  Not just a recipe for brussels sprouts, but even the actually vegetable.  I guess they sort of get a bad rap because they look like little cabbages.  And then the name brussels sprout...doesn't sound like anything I would crave or particularly want to eat.  But everyone I know has been mentioning them lately.  I decided that maybe I should I jump on the brussels sprout band wagon.

Anyway, I was getting started on the side dish when my 13 year old walked in... 

Ryan: "Hey mom!"

Me: Hey Ryan.  Do you need something? (trying to draw attention away from the brussels sprouts...the last thing I need is Ryan to run and tell people we are eating some new weird vegetable for dinner)

Ryan: Nope.  What are you watching? Homeland? 

Me: What?  (completely shocked...he caught me off guard with that one) How would you know that from a paused screen?

Ryan: I've already seen this episode. *spoiler alert* Has the lady died yet?

So, if you are CPS, please stop reading this now.  They must be showing this on Nickelodeon.  That has to be only answer.  Ahem, I repeat to all adults that may let him watch that show....it was Nickelodeon's fault.  Right...?

After my utter shock wore off (because *spoiler alert* the lady did in fact die--we are going to have a serious talk about giving away plot lines) he looked at what I was making.  Crap.  

Ryan: What are those?

Me: Don't worry about it....go read a book!  And no more TV.  Out.

I got everything ready and Ryan walked up with his plate.

Ryan: Seriously.  What are those?  (Pointing at the brussels sprouts) Apricots?

I guess there are two kinds of mothers.  The truthful ones and the go with the flow ones.  Here's what kind I am...

Me: Oh yeah, that's right.  They are in season right now.

Ryan hesitantly tries one: They are good.

Me:  Whew! (Big sigh) Yes they are.  (I grab one with my fork---they didn't kill the boy, so I guess I can legitimately give them a try... Holy God the kid was right!  Fantastic!! The lady *spoiler alert* died and these "apricots" were amazing!)

I guess the jig was up when Ryan started scavenging plates for 'apricots'.  It was bound to happen...He went to his big sister who laughed and called him an idiot under her breath, when he asked if she was going to eat her "apricots".

Here's the thing....Who's more wrong?  The person who never showed him the difference between an apricot or a brussels sprout (how could anyone ever confuse the two?) or the person that let him watch a rated R show and didn't teach him to at least not share the story line or the fact that he watched it at all with his mother.....I blame Nickelodeon.  This is clearly their fault.

But those Brussels sprouts were fantastic!!!  An absolute must try! They are so good, you'd think they were........an apricot.

The Ingredients

Before roasting...

Cuisine At Home
Nov/Dec 2012