December 20: Sprouts

No British Christmas Day meal is complete without a serving of Brussels sprouts. One's plate just doesn't look right without them. Love them (me) or hate them (my husband and children), they just have to be cooked at Christmas.

But did you know that the humble Brussels sprout, that little green treasure, made its debut in England in Elizabeth I's reign, in the 1580s? It did, although I'm not sure how popular it was. I wonder if Elizabeth I liked them.

I think most people have been put off sprouts by having mushy boiled ones in their childhood, but they are lovely when cooked correctly. Why not try these recipes?

Buttered sprouts with chestnuts & bacon - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/74608/buttered-sprouts-with-chestnuts-and-bacon

Christmas sprout recipes - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/christmas-sprout