Sarasotas Brussels Sprouts Strata Food

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Whisk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, the juice of 1/2 lime, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Toss with 1 pound quartered Brussels sprouts and 1/2 pound sliced carrots on a baking sheet. Roast at 450 degrees F until tender, about 25 minutes. Toss with the juice of 1/2 lime, and salt and chopped mint to taste.

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt ( I like these salty like French fries), and serve immediately.

BALSAMIC-ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan, including some of the loose leaves, which get crispy when they're roasted. Add the pancetta, olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, toss with your hands, and spread out in a single layer. Roast the Brussels sprouts for 20 to 30 minutes, until they're tender and nicely browned and the pancetta is cooked. Toss once during roasting. Remove from the oven, drizzle immediately with the balsamic vinegar, and toss again. Taste for seasonings, and serve hot.

SARASOTA'S CREAMY BRUSSELS SPROUTS SOUP

Steps:

• Base -- In a large pot, add the butter and melt on medium heat. Then add the onion, fennel, leek and garlic and saute 3-4 minutes. Add in the brussels sprouts and cook 1-2 minutes until well combined. Add in the flour and mix well and cook an additional minute or two.
• Liquid -- To the fennel and brussels sprouts, add the white wine to deglaze the pan stirring well and then slowly add in the broth. Add in the nutmeg, just a pinch, you can always add more. Also add the rosemary, salt and pepper, again -- go easy, you can always add more. Cook another 5 minutes.
• Puree -- I like to use my immersion blender right in the pot, but you can always transfer a few cups at a time and puree in a blender. I like a little texture so I don't puree it until it is completely smooth, but that decision is up to you. If you use a blender, return to the pot once pureed and add the cream, a little at a time until you get the consistency you like.
• Now - depending on how thick you like your soup, you can always add a little extra flour to the cream as you add it to the soup and it will thicken the soup as it comes back up to a boil. I don't like mine too thick. Go easy, you don't want it too thick, just a little at a time.
• Finish -- Make sure you bring to a low boil and then reduce and just simmer for a few minutes until ready to serve.
• Garnish and Serve -- I like a toasted baguette with a tomato topping or an olive tapenade, but even just some gooey melted cheese baguettes are great. And some chopped chives and squeeze the lemon over the soup for a fresh taste.

SARASOTA'S BRUSSELS SPROUTS STRATA

Steps:

• Bread -- In a medium bowl, add the bread and drizzle with the melted butter and toss well to combine.
• Casserole -- Then in a 13x9" casserole dish, spray well with a non-stick spray and then add the bread pressing in a single layer as much as possible, pressing down firmly. Then in that same bowl, add the brussels sprouts, leeks and onion and mix well to combine. Once mixed, layer that on top of the bread in the casserole dish.
• Egg Mixture -- And once again -- that same bowl; add the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and mix well to combine. Pour over the bread and vegetables and cover with the two grated cheeses. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight. Make sure to cover with saran or plastic wrap.
• Bake -- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake the strata on the middle shelf, uncovered for approximately 1 hour until it is puffy and golden brown. Check the doneness just like you would a cake. Stick a knife in the middle until the knife comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes until the egg mixture sets.
• Serve -- You can either cut or just scoop out this great vegetable dish. ENJOY this great Fall side dish! It is very easy and simple tastes.
• You can always add some fresh sage to the dish, but the pumpernickel and brussels seem to offer enough flavor as is.

HOW TO COOK BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Tip the sprouts into a pan and add a couple of cm water and a pinch of salt - a large pan works better so they're not piled up too high. Cover and bring the water to the boil, turn down to a simmer and cook with the lid on for 3- 5 mins depending on size.
• Test with a sharp knife to see if they are cooked through. If not, cook for a little longer and test again.
• Drain and tip the sprouts into a bowl. Serve with a knob of butter, if you wish.

SARASOTA'S FOIL POUCH OVEN ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Foil Pouch -- About 24-30" long piece of foil.
• Asparagus -- I base this on thick asparagus. Sometimes during the year you can buy the pencil thin asparagus, so make sure that you cut down the cooking time down and the amount of oil and seasoning as this cooks much faster and to me doesn't need as much seasoning or oil.
• I place all the asparagus in the center of the foil pouch and spread the spears out slightly, alternating the tip and stem end so they all cook evenly. Drizzle on the olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and a couple of slices of lemon if you have them.
• Bake -- Fold up the pouch making sure the majority of the asparagus sits flat and seal tightly. I pick it up and shake it a couple of times which really just distributes all the oil and seasoning throughout the pouch.
• Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes on the middle shelf.