Brussels Sprouts with Apple, Bacon, and Maple Syrup

If you read Around The Kitchen Table at the beginning of this month, you know that I'm trying to cook more vegetables.  It's not like we don't eat vegetables but they're always the same old thing. When I'm pressed for time, it's quick to steam broccoli or green beans. So I'm trying to vary our vegetables and prepare them more creatively.

Note that I did not say the vegetable recipes wouldn't involve bacon, Hollandaise, or mayonnaise! Bacon gives today's Brussels Sprouts a little salty tang. Wait! You like sweetness? There's also maple syrup. I love the sweet-salty thing that's going on in this dish.

To speed up this recipe, I recommend cooking the bacon for breakfast and keeping six cooked slices in the fridge until you're ready to use them. Don't forget to save two tablespoons of the bacon grease! The part of this that takes the longest is peeling the outer leaves off the Brussels sprouts. But that's something else you could do earlier in the day. If those two items are done, then the actual cooking won't take very long.

Brussels Sprouts with Apple, Bacon, and Maple Syrup

2 tablespoons of bacon grease
6 slices cooked bacon
1 pound Brussels sprouts
salt and pepper
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 large apple (I used Gala)
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Cook the bacon and save 2 tablespoons of bacon grease. Wash and clean the Brussels sprouts, peeling off blemished outer leaves. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half.

Over medium heat, melt the bacon grease in a large pan. Add the Brussels sprouts, salt, and cook for ten minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, peel the apple, quarter, and cut into chunks. When the ten minutes are up, pour 1/4 cup chicken stock into the pan and add the apple. Cook another eight minutes. Crumble the bacon into the pan and mix. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour the maple syrup over the mixture and stir to blend. Serve warm.

Slice in half.

Into the pan!

After 10 minutes they'll look like this.

Add apples and cook for 8 more minutes.

Add the bacon and maple syrup.

Almost healthy!