The Fixins': Maple Honey Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Hello Everyone,

I hope this day is finding you well, because if it's not, it's going to get better with this simple recipe. My blog has a lot of meal ideas, but I also want to bring you fixin ideas to go along with your lunches or dinners. This is going to be a fun one and also, MIGHTY good. I love adding bacon to a lot of my meals, because of its distinct, smokey, salty, and downright delicious flavor. The pairing of bacon with the maple and honey brussel sprouts (originally, this recipe was only going to feature maple syrup, but I had to run out) is so divine. You get the delicate notes of a raw dark honey combined with a woodsy, sweet maple syrup with the smokey bacon. All I can say is...

You're in for a treat.

If you're concerned about sugar as I am, but in moderation, know that the only sugars used in this recipe are unrefined, natural sugars. You can add or reduce the sugar content to your liking as I know some have major sweet tooths or like me, get just enough to make them happy.

If you're not a brussel sprout fan or lover, you will be after this recipe. Vegetables are a beautiful, multi-faceted gem that God gave us to spruce up, leave as is, or add just enough *umph* to make our plates go round. As you cook more and more, you'll get to discover spice pairings, what goes good with this or that, or what tastes best just as is, in its natural glory. This is where the creativity gets ignited, recipes are brought together, and life is made richer and fuller. Just like a dessert I'm thinking about making that will make me fuller... Let's move on...

Get out your oven mitts and apron, because it's time to cook!

INGREDIENTS

. 2 lbs of farm-fresh brussel sprouts, outer leaves taken off if they don't look appealing and stalks cut off with a tad of stalk remaining

. Good quality bacon

. Raw dark honey (I used a Wildflower variety)

. Pure Maple syrup

. Grapeseed oil

. Salt & Pepper

. Purified water

TOOLS NEEDED

. Baking sheet pan

. Aluminum foil

. Meat scissors

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and grease your baking sheet with grapeseed oil, amount will vary depending on the size of your pan.

Rinse your bacon briefly and pat dry.

Place your bacon on the pan and put into oven.

While your bacon is cooking, prep your brussel sprouts by placing them in a bowl, filling it up with purified water to cover them, and sprinkling with salt. Let it have a soaking party for around 15 minutes.

My beautiful brussel sprout flower.

When bacon is halfway done, flip over to the other side, so it can complete its cooking time. Cook the bacon to your liking; I like mine to have somewhat of a chewy texture where I can stretch it a bit, not overdone where it is super crunchy.

Place your bacon on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside. Also, place your pan to the side, as well, and not in the sink (no time to do the dishes yet!).

It is now time to make your quick sauce for the brussel sprouts.

In a measuring cup, add about 1/4 cup grapeseed oil, 1/3 cup + a little more (depending on liking) of a mixture of maple syrup and honey, then salt and pepper to taste, and lastly, water to loosen up the sauce if it's too thick since we don't want our beautiful sauce to burn when cooking (sugar will burn at extended periods of high heat). Mix up. Set aside.

Get your brussel sprouts, pour out the water, rinse them, and grab a handful of them- give them a little shake when you lift them out of the water, and place them onto your baking sheet evenly. Pour your sauce on the little babies and give them a gentle mixing, because they're about to make a good fixin'. So corny, I know... Put aluminum foil on top, making sure no air can come in or exit.

Turn your oven down to 360 degrees and place them in.

In the meantime, grab a pair of meat scissors and cut the bacon into thin, small slices. Set aside.

When your brussel sprouts are fork tender, take off aluminum foil and gently stir them around in the sauce. Let them lightly brown a bit without the foil (they should be browned on the side that is on the pan). Then, take them out of the oven and add your bacon. Gently stir again, making sure the sauce is on the sprouts and bacon.

Turn your oven to the broil high setting and place them back in just until the sauce can caramelize a bit on everything.

Take them out of the oven and plate up!

This recipe will become a fixin' you'll want to have every week. Trust me.

Thanks for stopping by and see y'all next time, Lord willing!

God bless

Hannah

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