MAPLE SYRUP and MUSTARD BRUSSELS SPROUTS by DORIE GREENSPAN, EVERYDAY DORIE
Everyone has a brussels sprouts story. This is mine.
When we moved to Aspen from Des Moines in 1988, we bought a house that wasn’t grand but situated on lovely property abutting Red Butte Mountain and surrounded by 40-some evergreen trees. Along with moving too many belongings, we also packed up our shovels, pitchforks and Iowa gardening skills.
BAY LEAF POUND CAKE with COINTREAU GLAZE by DAVID LEBOVITZ, MY PARIS KITCHEN, PERFECT TREAT for VOLUNTEER WORKERS on ELECTION DAY.
Understatement: Mother Nature looks askance at cocky Iowa farmers who tilled their luscious black soil at 955’ and believe that still works with a 4-month growing season at 9000’ altitude. We immediately planted Burpee’s Big Boy tomatoes, harvesting only one which was rock hard and barely red. Michael, a bit frugal, calculated that Big Boy cost $37.35.
ON ELECTION DAY I COULD BE MOST HELPFUL TO MY FRIEND, DONNA GRAUER, an EAGLE COUNTY PRECINCT COMMITTEE PERSON, by BEING the CHIEF COOK and BOTTLE WASHER as SHE COORDINATED HER DAY’S ACTIVITIES. (No one left hungry.) THE VEGETARIAN SQUASH LENTIL CHILI from the KITCHN WAS DELICIOUS. A LINK TO THE RECIPE IS BELOW.
Eventually we struck a bargain with Colorado’s High Country climate and grew leafy greens and nightshade vegetables. A friend shared her hardy rhubarb roots which yielded a never-ending supply of tangy stalks. My son-in-law loved strawberry/rhubarb pie. Every year I tried to curry favor by hand-delivering one to him in California. However, we were most successful with starchy, tuberous New Potatoes, hosting tater parties every fall.
THIS PAST WEEKEND I MADE A RACK of LAMB, A PERFECT COMPLIMENT TO DORIE’S BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
We rejoiced in our Hits and lamented Misses. One year I spotted brussels sprouts plantings at the local nursery and purchased six. The plants, neither pretty nor luscious, are statuesque. Throughout the summer I lost five but daily monitored the one stalk standing. Its edible buds, mini-cabbages, grew from nubs to walnut-sized nuggets. One evening I decided it was “time,” and excitedly announced to my husband that ‘5 brussels sprouts would be on the menu for tomorrow’s dinner.’
Brussels Sprouts Plant, Cedar Circle Farms
The next morning I walked outside to reap the harvest. The stalk was still standing minus the edible nubs. I cannot over-emphasize my total shock and dismay, taking a double- and triple-take. Apparently a wily deer had been stalking my stalk. He quietly crept into our yard and nibbled the motherlode to extinction!
ON ELECTION DAY WHEN I WAS WORKING IN THE KITCHEN AT DONNA’S, A HERD OF MULE DEER STOPPED BY.
It was spaghetti night at Little Annie’s restaurant. That’s where I licked my wounds, along with a super-sized margarita. I never again planted brussels sprouts.
A LAST SUPPER with FRIENDS BEFORE I CLOSED DOWN MY KITCHEN FOR THE WINTER. THEIR HAIR ORNAMENTS ARE MY NAPKIN RINGS!
Coincidentally today’s Everyday Dorie post, is featuring Greenspan’s flavorful Maple Syrup and Mustard Brussels Sprouts. Take a look at David Lebovitz’s scrumptious Bay Leaf Pound Cake with Cointreau Glaze, the recipe choice from A Paris Kitchen.
Next week I’m very, very excited about traveling to Grand Rapids. You heard right, Grand Rapids. Michigan.
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY WRAP-UP
EVERY TIME I VISIT A PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY I GET MY PASSPORT BOOKLET STAMPED.
In 1962, the summer I graduated from high school, Herbert Hoover’s Presidential Library opened in nearby West Branch, Iowa. Enjoying an ongoing love affair with history I visited the library before heading to college at Florida State. During that visit I vowed to visit every single Presidential Library administered by the National Archives (there were four).
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, HYDE PARK, NEW YORK.
Next Friday, 56 years later, I will realize that goal by visiting President Ford’s (there are now 13). Five years ago I decided ‘if not now, when.’ It has been a fantastic journey of learning, made even richer by the friends who encouraged, supported and traveled with me.
Leaving Aspen for the Winter. Next stop: Grand Rapids.
COULD THIS BE A DESCENDANT OF MY BRUSSELS SPROUTS NOSHING- MULE DEER?
RECIPE: VEGETARIAN LENTIL CHILI from KITCHN
The Brussels Sprouts recipe is excerpted from Everyday Dorie © 2018 by Dorie Greenspan. Photography © 2018 by Ellen Silverman. Reproduced by permission of Rux Martin Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Hi Mary, Your culinary selections of the week look and sound lovely. I had a spectacular cherry tomato plant on the deck over the summer. There were so many cherry tomatoes and I was so excited to pick them but waited one more day to get them just a bit redder- the local squirrel thought they were perfect already- ugh. The shock of it! Have a wonderful time in Grand Rapids and in your final Presidential library tours.
Mary, have a wonderful trip to Grand Rapids..enjoy the library! We are entertaining Fred’s golf friends and their wives..they bring the food, we provide the drinks. And of course on Sat we have a Hawkeye watching party. Remember going to the games and sitting in the knothole section? Fun times! Have a wonderful winter, wherever you travel!
Of course I remember those Hawkeye weekends. They are one of my best childhood memories. Didn’t our three families have a wonderful time? Stay, healthy, Nancy. You, too, Fred.
You’re not going to be far from me, so just swing on by and say hello! I miss seeing you!!!
Love your stories—there’s absolutely nothing like Iowa soil. Though Indiana’s is better than Aspen’s, it’s still full of clay and we grew many batches of carrot nuggets before quitting. Our tomato crop was sad as well, but hoping to amend the soil in a new sunny space in the yard and give them a try again.
Your dishes look amazing—lucky friends! I bit the bullet and made the Brussels sprouts. I couldn’t resist! xo
Have a wonderful trip! I love you for planning out the things you want to do, and then DOING THEM. Too many people don’t DO the things. They just wish for them. I’m trying to be like you! 🙂
I loved those gardening stories. The deer snacking on your Brussels sprouts… oh my! That mental picture. Have a wonderful time in Grand Rapids.
Mary I hope you have a wonderful trip in Grand Rapids. You accomplished what you set out to do and you should be so proud of yourself. This week’s recipe was a good one, and since Tricia and both enjoyed our results, maybe we will put it on the Thanksgiving table for the rest of the test testers. Be safe in your travels.
Love your brussels sprouts and gardening story. Delicious dish, love all the flavours in it!
Have a great trip, Mary!
Oh man! Deer can be such jerks! I hope you have a great time in Grand Rapids and I look forward to following you (virtually, of course) on your winter adventures for this year! I’m sure you have much amazingness in store. 🙂
Hope the weather in Grand Rapids is better than Chicago!!!
I have a deer problem big time. Would have loved growing Brussels sprouts if I can stomach the lost crop.
Your veggie chili contribution reminds me of one of my newest additions to my cookbook collection, Feeding the Resistance by Julia Turshen. It’s a wonderful little book, full of good food, stories, strategies, and inspiration.
I look forward to reading about your Presidential library adventure soon!
Dear Mary,
First thing, 222 is a great number!
Love your post contents, and looking forward to your Grand Rapids adventures.
Sprouts and pound cake are delicious, same goes for other offerings from your kitchen
Mary… you were a life saver on Election Day. You cooked and fed volunteers with vegan chili and not-so vegan pound cake. You took over my kitchen and even Cleaned up. True blue friend to match The blue wave in landlocked Colorado.
I wish I were going with you to Grand Rapids. I love going to Presidential Libraries with you. Safe travels
hahahaha about the expensive tomato!! I totally can relate. I may just resort to herbs only, but we’ll see. So fun to pick things from the garden. Ah well. It’s fun. Your sprouts look awesome, and that cake… oh, so yummy! Enjoy your trip to Grand Rapids!! This is it, completes your library passport? Pretty impressive, my friend.
your sprouts look delish– even if they were store-bought. haha. enjoy your trip to GR (my mom’s hometown)!
your sprouts look delish— even if they were store-bought. haha. enjoy your trip to GR (my mom’s hometown).
Just love reading your posts. All of your dishes look fabulous and these were some really good recipes, no ? Nana is making me even fatter with that pound cake but I adore it and keep asking for more lol. You had me chuckling at the $37 tomato. I am hardly god’s gift to any garden and struggle to harvest what the generations before us planted at our PA house. I added some gorgeous heirloom tomato plans I bought from a CSA group in Vermont, and I’ll never forgot the look on the seller’s face when I inquired as to whether tomatoes “come back every year”. I think she felt sorry for the plants going to the clueless PA woman. Can’t wait to hear the results of your trip, I am so impressed that you met this Presidential library goal. Which was a fabulous goal. And of course I have my own special memory of meeting you and our Dorista friends as you visit the library in Hyde Park. Good times. Safe travels to you on your adventures —
Congratulations on visiting the final one! I remember how much fun we had at the JFK library and Hyde Park. I’m glad I was able to be part of the adventure.
We grew Brussels sprouts one year. Just as they were close to ready for harvest, our friend came over with their dog. He must have through the sprouts were a very fine tree. He lifted his leg and gave them a solid watering. Fortunately, it rained hard the next day, so felt they were clean enough to eat by the time we harvested them.
Looking forward to your report on Grand Rapids! My friend from there says to see the Meijer sculpture garden. http://www.meijergardens.org/