eat your greens

Hi Everyone,
I hope you are enjoying your weekend. I decided to give you guys a really nice rich appetizer idea for the winter time!
I love (and I mean LOVE) brussel sprouts. This might be weird to all of you since it is an urban legend all children and people under the age of 80 hate them. I think that if brussel sprouts are cooked with the right flavors, they are delightful. The other day I was looking through some of my moms favorite recipes and decided to make up my own brussel sprout recipe that she would enjoy.

Things you need:
- 25 brussel sprouts
- 1 cup of aged balsamic
- 1/4 cup graded parmesan cheese
- 5 figs sliced in half
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salt/pepper

In a medium sized saucepan pour 1/2 of the olive oil you have in the bottom of the pan as well as the brussel sprouts. Brussel sprouts are better slightly over done so we need to begin to cook them at a high heat.
After about 3 minutes began to pour in 1/2 cup of your aged balsamic and stir the brussel sprouts in the mixture (as well as the salt and pepper.)
**** TIP: If you want your brussel sprouts to be sweet, make a balsamic reduction by cooking the balsamic before hand, until it is thick.
After the balsamic is cooked down slightly and the brussel sprouts are more cooked, pour in the rest of the vinegar.
As we pour in the last amount of vinegar add the figs and lemon juice and stir until the brussel sprouts are wilted.
Finally, in the last minute of cooking add the parmesan cheese so it is not fully melted.

This is such a delicious dish to service hot with some pasta or meet!
I love it with mashed potatoes.
Enjoy!
xoEm