Really? This was the question posted after I ordered them in a restaurant a scant while back.
Although it made me think back. I was assured by my memory that brussels sprouts were indeed the only vegetable that left me sitting at a darkened dinner table at the age of about 7ish, to contemplate reviving the circulation in my lower extremities. It was the brussels sprout that sat cold as I outwitted and outlasted my father’s patients. It was an entire stalk of brussels sprouts that I, later that year in my third grade class, brought in as a mystery object to stump my fellow peanut gallery during a presentation.

Why would I order them then? On my birthday no less?
Mostly because they were actually on the menu. I mean, who the hell would put one of the most despised, spherical vegetables on the planet onto their dinner menu?

What can I say? I’m a daredevil. That and they had bacon in them, so they had to be good, right?

Finely shredded, bacon-y delicious with a sprinkle of crushed, red chilies and lemon zest. They really were good. I ate them all, I wanted more, in fact, they were about the best part of my meal! Needless to say I’ve made them again, of course, not being a big bacon eater going to the butcher to grab three slices of bacon raised a little eyebrow, but that why we shop at the butcher, so you can get exactly what you want – and get it organic…

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON

1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and shredded
3 Slices Bacon, please, please make it organic
Pinch of chili flakes
Zest of half a lemon
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

In a large sauté pan, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp.
Remove and rest on a paper, reserving 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the pan.
To the pan, add the shredded brussels sprouts and cook over medium heat until softened and steaming.
Meanwhile, roughly chop the bacon into small pieces.
Remove the brussels sprouts from the heat and stir in chili flakes and zest then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot.

I never would have thought that summer BBQ’s would match up so well with Asian inspired salads.
I’ve tested this recipe a few times now at a few outdoor gatherings and I have to tell you, it held up pretty well beside the best of potato salads.

I’ve had this rice in my pantry collection for a while, you see I have a nasty habit of food shopping. Yes, admitted, I have more varieties of grains than summer sandles, which is so goes against all that is womanly. I just can’t help it though. Who knew there were so many types of quinoa, couscous or rice to be had and to hoard?

Black, or Forbidden Rice is an Asian heirloom variety of rice that is not glutenous and is very high in fiber as well as iron. It’s Forbidden name comes from it traditionally being served to the Emperors of Ancient China, thus being restricted from common consumption. Now, of course it can be found and even trademarked by a few different rice producers, sold in popular grocers and heath food stores.

Word to the wise though, check over your rice as you would lentils for forbidden objects, like pebbles. It’s heirloom and wholesome, right down to the ground it’s grown and what can get into it.

FORBIDDEN ASIAN BLACK RICE SALAD

2 Cups Black Rice, picked over
3 Cups Water
1 Yellow Pepper, finely diced
1 Red Pepper, finely diced
1 Large Carrot or a Handful of Baby Carrots, cut into matchsticks
3 scallions (green onions), finely chopped
Handful Thai Basil, about 10 leaves chopped

DRESSING

1/4 Cup Sesame Oil
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Freshly Grated Ginger, about a 1 inch knub
1 Clove of Garlic, finely minced
Zest of One Orange
Juice of One Lime
3 – 4 Tablespoons Agave Nectar, or to taste depending on how sweet you like things

Combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, zest, lime juice and agave with a whisk or a hand immersion blender until smooth. Reserve.
Check the rice over for pebbles or other impurities.
Rinse the rice, then leave it to soak for about 5 minutes. Drain well and add to a large sauce pan with a tight fitting lid.
Cover the rice with the 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat for a low simmer and cover for about 25 minutes.
Remove from the heat and leave it covered for another 5 – 10 minutes.
Fluff with a fork and transfer the cooked rice to a large mixing bowl.
Drizzle over the prepared dressing then add the diced pepper, carrot, scallions and basil.
Toss well to combine the vegetables with the rice.
Garnish with additional citrus zest or basil leaves if desired.
No need to cool. Best served at room temperature, making it a perfect summer outdoor salad.

After a few email and requests to bake another batch, I wanted to jot down this easy recipe for a super savoury quick bread.

I’d served these up with the Creamless Potato Leek Soup a little while back but I’m sure that they’d also be great as a muffin with a salad. The flavour combination goes really well with one another and isn’t overpowering. These easily complement a simpler fare, heightening it to something a little more special. But then again, don’t most baked goods?

Very light, tender and flavourful… plus a bit addictive, especially in their petite portion sizes.

ROSEMARY WALNUT KALAMATA OLIVE MADELEINES

1 Cup Unbleached All Purpose Flour, plus some for dusting
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Cups Water
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 1/2 teaspoons Rosemary, very finely chopped
1/4 Cup Kalamata Olives; about 10, pitted and finely chopped
1/2 Cup Walnuts, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Lightly spray the Madeleine pan, or a miniature muffin tin, with a spray oil and dust evenly with flour, removing any excess.
Sift the flours, readding the bran along with the salt and baking soda into a large bowl.
Press the olives with the flat side of a chefs knife or a wooden spoon to loosen the pit. Remove the pit and finely chop the olives.
Add the rosemary, water, vinegar and oil to the sifted flour, mixing well to moisten.
Incorporate the olives and walnuts into the batter.
Evenly spoon the batter into the pans, about 1/8″ from the top.
Bake for about 15 minutes, or until slightly puffed and a toothpick can cleanly be removed.

I love latkes. It’s almost bad, how much I like latkes. A holiday tradition usually brings sharing and that might be my biggest problem. To date the best solution I’ve had is to make them smaller so I have more. That way it takes me a little longer to eat them and gives others a chance to snag one.

Usually served on their own with a choice of apple sauce or sour cream on the side, I wanted to offer something with them to dress them up, especially when served as an appetizer. Slathered on a plate, I like the sour cream option, but there’s something about the salty grease that goes so well with a little tartness.

For platter passing, otherwise known as sharing, I conjured up my own applish sauce, just a little fancier for the Hoildays. I added the glimmer of pomegranate to quince to make this tart and spicy relish.

It was pretty good. I ate the whole plate.
… But after I was done, I thought I might just make another batch, maybe even double it – to share.
The relish in a little jar tied with a red bow, might just make a pretty sweet hostess gift.

EGGLESS POTATO LATKES

4 – 5 Yukon Gold Potatoes, 2 -2 1/2 Cups grated
1 Small Onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Arrowroot Powder
3 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2/3 Cup Oil for Frying (more or less)

Peel and grate the potatoes and squeeze as much moisture from them as you can.
Add them to a large bowl, along with the finely dice the onion.
Sift the baking powder, arrowroot and flour.
Dust the dry mix along with the salt, over the potatoes, stirring while you add to incorporate it evenly.
Heat half of the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium-high setting.
Either with your clean hands or spoons, shape the potato into a 2″ diameter ball, again squeezing excessive liquid, if necessary. Lightly pat the finished ball to flatten once it’s added to the heated oil.
Repeat to fill the pan and fry for about 5-6 minutes on each side or until crisp and golden.
Drain latkes of oil over brown bags and paper towels.

Serve with Pomegranate Quince Chutney, apple sauce, or sour cream.

POMEGRANATE QUINCE CHUTNEY

1 Quince, peeled and roughly diced
1/2 Cup water (give or take)
1/8 teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg
pinch Cinnamon
2 Cloves
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Orange Balsamic Vinegar*
1/4 Cup Pomegranate Seeds, 1/2 Pomegranate

Peel and dice the quince into 1/2″ cubes.
Add the quince to a small saucepan and cover with just enough water to submerge.
Simmer over a medium-high heat until just tender; about 8 – 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat. Add the quince, along with the remaining water, to a sauté pan.
Continuing over a medium-high heat, sauté the quince, adding the cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Once the liquid has reduced, add the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar.
Lower the heat to medium and simmer to create a syrup; 1-2 minutes.
Add the pomegranate seeds and continue to simmer to release the juice.
Remove the chutney from the heat, find and take out the cloves, then gently mash with a fork. (Watch for pomegranate juice, it stains.)
Serve a top latkes or other savory dishes as a condiment.

*If you don’t have orange balsamic vinegar, you may try substituting regular balsamic with the zest of one orange; about a teaspoon.