Recipe: Perfect Holiday Brussels Sprouts

Merry Christmas! Here is a last-minute recipe for those Brussels sprouts you were trying to figure out what to do with for dinner tonight....

Brussels sprouts are one of those perfect veggies for a holiday dinner. They add some healthy green to the table, are very simple to prepare, and can be done in many delicious ways. This is a variation on my favorite way to serve Brussels sprouts.

Roasting them in the oven adds a lovely caramelization, without letting them get mushy - which ruins them in my opinion. Balsamic vinegar and cranberries bring out their natural sweetness, and pecans add a nice crunch. Even those who don't like Brussels sprouts may find themselves coming back for more of these! Enjoy!

Perfect Holiday Brussels Sprouts
(Serves 4.)

(Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.)

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh Brussels sprouts, washed and halved
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp good balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp chopped pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly coat a large baking sheet with cooking oil.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then add the prepared Brussels sprouts to the bowl and toss to coat well.
• Dump the Brussels sprouts out onto the baking sheet, cover loosely with a sheet of tin foil, then bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• Remove tin foil, stir Brussels sprouts around, and return to oven for another 10 minutes or until the Brussels sprouts are lightly browned, turning sprouts over at least once during this baking time.
• Dump hot Brussels sprouts out into a large bowl, add the pecans and cranberries and toss to combine. Serve immediately.