I realize a vegetable dish isn’t common place on a blog primarily focused on sweet treats, but this cider cinnamon brussels sprouts dish is my (likely lone) attempt to provide something useful to those who have made the popular New Year’s resolution to lose weight.
My resolutions usually aren’t too complex. In the past, I’ve resolved to untie my shoes before I take them off or to not swear so much (to my dismay, sometimes those words just slip out!). This year my personal resolution is to practice yoga on a more regular basis, and my baking resolution is to (try to) make a galette, Charlotte, and Baked Alaska. I’d also like to try canning, or at the very least, make freezer jam.
Other dishes I have not yet made, like tarts and fruit pies, landed on the “to do” list rather than the “resolution” list simply because they do not strike fear in me like the three I listed. They also beat out the desserts I feel like I should make but I have absolutely no desire to make, like petit fours. This resolution business is a tricky thing.
I don’t yet know how my tastebuds feel about brussels sprouts, but I do know these cider cinnamon brussels sprouts were the tastiest way I have prepared brussels sprouts thus far. The apple, pear, and cinnamon really cut what I consider to be the earthy (okay fine, they taste like dirt) taste of brussels sprouts. If you end up with leftovers, the remaining brussels sprouts are best served sauteed with a bit of olive oil.
I will keep trying to decide if I do or do not like these little veggies. Though I lean towards the latter, I keep trying brussels sprouts because I think they got a bad rap. I hope you’ll try something new this year too!
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups brussels sprouts, halved
- 1 apple, diced
- 1 pear, diced
- 1 cup apple cider
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the Brussels sprouts and saute until browned, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Add the apple and the pear and cook another five minutes until the fruit is soft.
- Add the apple cider and the cinnamon to the skillet and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until no liquid remains in the pan.
ha! i didn’t eat a brussel sprout til i was probably 25 years old + discovered that i actually loved them! they do have a decidedly earthy taste, but that doesn’t bother me. your version looks pretty darn tasty! hope your 2012 is off to a great start + that your resolutions are all a huge success.
I too didn’t eat a brussel sprout until I was well into adulthood, and I’m afraid my tastebuds are set. Oh well, at least I like peas and broccoli. Thanks for the resolution support!
Every year I try to pick at least one new food to try and I’ve been successful the past two years. Last year I even racked up two new foods. This year on my list is brussel sprouts and asparagus (Jon and my mom really like both). This sounds like a good way for me to work my way into one of them.
That’s a cool resolution. What were your two foods in 2011, and will you keep eating them? I’m surprised you haven’t tried asparagus before. I have a green pizza, topped with asparagus, earmarked for March!
I grew up a picky eater so there are a lot of foods out there for me to try and try again. Most foods are me trying again. I might wait until March for the green pizza because asparagus is something I feel like has potential and the pizza sounds yummy. My foods for 2011 were cauliflower and sweet potatoes. Both were re-tries because I didn’t like them as a kid or most of my young adulthood. As an adult I found I like butternut squash so I thought I would try sweet potatoes again. The cauliflower was my mom’s doing. She topped it with homemade croutons and its sooo yummy. I can’t get enough now. I really want to try them as a mash.
I’m not a huge fan of mashed or baked sweet potatoes, but I love sweet potato fries. The cauliflower and croutons sounds great. You’ve inspired me to try a new food this year as well, and I’ve chosen Bison. My dad was telling me how he recently saw it on the grocery store shelves in Michigan, and I have seen it at HT as well.
I had never had brussels sprouts until a few years ago, but I LOVE them! Green beans, however, are another story. Try them with some bacon, it makes everything better
Bacon does make everything better! My mom used to serve green beans with a little bit of ham and onion mixed in. I don’t mind green beans now, but I used to just eat the ham. I will definitely try brussels sprouts with bacon in the near future.
This recipe sounds fabulous! I can’t wait to try it.
I love, love, LOVE Brussel Sprouts!!! Even Bucklee
likes them……….of couse she will eat anything! LOL
I love that you love them! I am really pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic responses I’ve received on a brussels sprouts post. Does Bucklee eat black olives? Bumper once ate an entire dish of food with a few table scraps mixed in, and when she was finished, only a lone black olive remained. I’m not quite sure who decided to give her an olive, but it was probably Laura or I just being kids.