Saturday, December 4, 2010

Ode to Brussel Sprouts



It is the same every time Meaggie comes with me to the market. We roll through the fruit and vegetables, glide across the milk section and pick up flour in the baking department. But as we approach the frozen foods, the lobbying begins; in a kind of desperate begging she throws her body across the glass door (as if I were going to look there in the first place!) and begins her plea: "No... don't look over here... keep going... not here...turn back before it's too late...not brussel sprouts... not the tiny heads of lettuce...I'm begging you!"

The intensity is so great that I begin to laugh. None today, my little peach. You can rest your mind. But she never relinquishes her hold on the great glass door until I am well off the road to temptation and into the meat section.

But... last week the Russian came with me to do the marketing. We hadn't even gotten as far as the fruit when he picked up a green net bag, "How about brussel sprouts for lunch?" Seeing as how he rarely asks for anything, I immediately agreed. Sounds good! I thought ahead to my little defender... it was going to be quite a shock!

Yesterday did eventually come, and the sprouts were still in the fridge waiting for me. I cooked them, and then secured the fortress.

Little feet came in from school happy as could be. She set the table, talked about her class and then snooped in the pots (as is her custom). Her expression alone would make a post. How could this happen? How could an entire bag of brussel sprouts slip through her ranks? When? Who? It's anarchy ... it's betrayal!

It was also very good!

With a satisfied expression of gratitude from my two men, everyone else choked them down with relative grace, to my surprise. "Let's have these once a week," he said....

and the war rages on. :)

15 comments:

Judy said...

I can't type, I'm laughing so hard. This post is awesome!

penny said...

That is quite an amusing brussel sprouts tale you tell, Allison.
I can relate to your daughters feelings but RJ(hubby) and my son like them.. so much to my dismay they find their way into my cart also.

Do you ever sleep? Not enough, I am sure!

be well, be Happy.. thanks for my morning smile while I sip my coffee :)

Joe said...

Brussel sprouts are O.K. In moderation that is. Like once a month :).

Southern Lady said...

I agree with Joe...brussel sprouts are okay in moderation! Yes, I have been too busy to blog lately. I am trying to get ready for the holidays, help a child finish college applications, and help another with her music obsession. I don't know if I am coming or going! One thing I do know...when I get a moment, I always check out your blog to see how you are. Sending blessings your way! Carla

Nancy said...

My husband loves them so. Me, they give me a pain in the tummy. I make them when they are in season -- luckily, that's only in the summer and fall here. So I'm safe for another few months. Cute story well told, my friend. Made me smile this morning. :)

Out on the prairie said...

I really like them , fresh is always best.Maybe try taking them apart and cooking the leaves loose for just a short time with lots of butter and some nutmeg.There are lots of ways to fix them. They were a treat when I was a kid, but we ate a lot of cruicifers, especially cabbage.

lindasinklings said...

The Strawberry Girl would certainly throw herself across the brussel sprouts with a passion and determination that would make anyone take note - I felt the same as a girl - cheers Meggie!

Anonymous said...

:)) Nice post!
As a kid i would use to "hate" them :)
But ever since my taste buds matured..mmmhmm..:)
Also they are bursting with vitamin C!

TexWisGirl said...

I've never had them. We had a plain jane garden growing up - huge, but nothing fancy. So it was years before I even knew what broccoli and cauliflower was - and even years after that before asparagus was discovered. So maybe by the time I'm 50 I'll try a sprout! :)

Dawn said...

Hahahaha....glad to hear the Brussel Sprout dilemma is as far reaching as to where you are:)
I will think of this the next time I cook up a batch and a war rages. And then I'll tell your story- and that EVERYONE ate them:))

Wonderful weekend to you....
:)

Evi said...

Ah! les choux bruxelles! C'est vrai que j'en achète aussi quelquefois. Et à chaque fois je me demande pourquoi ? Ca se mange, mais c'est tout! Je crois que c'est important d'un peu changer pour mieux aimer à nouveau les carottes :D
Eh bien! ma fille à moi ferait un sprint depuis les frites jusqu'au poisson :D

Meg said...

Hahahaha. Oh that's great! I can just feel the drama. My mom made brussel sprouts one time, but she fried and seasoned them. They were AMAZING. Everyone in the house ate them.

I have a picture of just our house, but I will try to get a picture of our street for you. They neighbors already think I'm crazy what with me running out there to take pictures of yarn on plants, so it shouldn't matter much. LOL!

Anonymous said...

A very funny and interesting post !
I liked and a good laugh !! :))

bye**

Randy said...

Oh my goodness this was so funny! I just starting eating these again after years of screaming the same words. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Ola said...

:-)
brusssels are not my favourite type, I can only eat it from time to time:)