Above: Whole stalk of Brussels sprouts.
Stalk of Brussels Sprouts
I am a huge fan of Brussels sprouts. They look like miniature cabbages, but if cooked correctly, have a nice, slightly sweet and nutty taste. Unfortunately, many people over cook Brussels sprouts, by boiling them to death, and then they take on a nasty, bitter cabbage flavor.
Above: Benders Farmer's Market is selling whole stalks of Brussels sprouts from Ocean Mist Farms.
Brussels Sprouts Recipes
I will post up recipes for cooking Brussels sprouts, on future Cuisine Diva posts. One of the recipes is for a Brussels sprouts and parsnips casserole, which was one of the side dishes I made as part of our Thanksgiving Day menu. Today's post is about my recent trip to Benders Farmer's Market in Boynton Beach, Florida. Benders is just a short drive from my house. My husband and I made a trip there two days after Thanksgiving.
Above: It's the Brussels sprouts queen, AKA the Cuisine Diva.
Fresh Brussels Sprouts
I was pleased to find a display showing a few full stalks of Brussels srpouts. I knew this was how they grew, but I've never actually seen an entire stalk of Brussels sprouts for sale. I added a stalk to our shopping cart and got a few stares and questions as we finished our shopping.
Above: Snap each individual sprout off of the stalk. No need to use a knife to cut them off. Give each sprout a brief twist, and it should snap right off the stalk.
Harvest and Store Your Brussels Sprouts
I took a few pictures of the Brussels sprouts, on the stalk, before removing the individual sprouts to store in the refridgerator. Brussels sprouts on the stalk are much fresher and juicier than buying a package of frozen Brussels sprouts. And when I purchase fresh Brussels sprouts in packages, they are always a bit dried out compared to the sprouts on the stalk. I'll be cooking up the Brussels sprouts in the next day or two, to use them while they are nice and fresh.
Above: I harvested 75 individual Brussels sprouts from the stalk. More than enough to make a couple of dishes featuring Brussels sprouts.
Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Cuisine Diva











