How I was tricked into Liking Brussels Sprouts

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brussel sprouts
Brussel Sprouts
Photo Credit: amazing-seeds.com

When I was about seven years old my grandfather was in a nursing home. We went as a family to visit him, and apparently it was meal time. They brought him a tray of something – what exactly it was, I’m not sure. I just remember the strong, pungent smell of Brussels sprouts. They were over cooked, grey in color and looked disgusting. I’m not sure if he was a fan of them before this, but he tried to convince me to eat them for him. “They are from the same cabbage patch as your dolls,” he said to me. No dice – I wasn’t going to (literally) bite. This wasn’t very long before he passed away, but it is one of my last memories of him. That over-cooked smell and image stuck with me for years. And the smell takes me back to standing in the nursing home whenever it’s around. It would be years before I would even touch one – raw, let alone cooked.

Besides my varying food allergies, I’ve always been a bit picky about food. It could be the color, the texture (this is a big one) or just a bad experience with it. But some food has been off my list before I’ve ever tried it. It took me years to even try eggplant, and I absolutely love it now.

Fast forward to this past summer. We went out to one of our favorite restaurants. They use farm fresh produce, Michigan home grown products and can make items for me gluten free on request. I ordered a pork dish, and it came with garlic mashed potatoes and a seasonal vegetable. Here is where I made my mistake. I always ask! Why didn’t I ask?!

To my horror, my plate was delivered with a side of Brussels sprouts. *sigh* There was no turning back. At this point, I couldn’t request something else and they were there, staring me in the face. I had to suck it up, be a 30 year old adult and try them. They were sauteed lighting in butter with garlic, salt and pepper. Nothing special – but to my amazement they were delicious! They weren’t the boiled to death sprouts that gave me nightmares, that still haunt me when I smell them. Instead they were crisp, well seasoned and almost stole the show.

My boyfriend still laughs at me about this whole situation. And I still find it hard to come to terms with the fact that not only did I eat Brussels sprouts, but I liked them as well. I’ve even considered picking up a cluster of them at the market and attempting to make some at home.

Sometimes ingredients and veggies aren’t as scary as they seem after all! What food have you always avoided? Or is there one that you found out later that you actually enjoyed?

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