Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

I have a new pan!

Okay, okay – I can already hear you…

You call that a new pan? I have my grandmother’s pan…and my great, great grandmother’s pan….

Well so did I and I never appreciated it before. In fact, about three moves ago – I tossed it out. Yes, I was the fool.

After reading about many great recipes out there using a cast iron skillet, I had to buy one.

(Word to the wise and other ‘foolish’ people out there like me – go to a camping store to buy it. A $25 investment)

There’s much to do to season a cast iron skillet and I’ve been doing everything I read to do so in trying to bring back the seasoned patina of my grandmother’s pan. One of the recommendations is to fry bacon in it and I’ve been on a bacon craze lately so why not one more recipe?

This made a wonderful side dish to last night’s Honey Lemon Tarragon Chicken.

Start with fresh brussel sprouts. Peel off the outer leaves and cuts in half. I like to soak them in cold, salted water to thoroughly clean them. I cut about a 2 inch chunk off of a slab of peppered bacon and cut again into 3/4 inch chunks.

Fry the bacon in your skillet with a half cup of broken walnuts until the bacon is crisped up but not totally crispy. Remove the bacon and walnuts from the pan and set aside.

Put the brussel sprouts into the hot pan with a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.

Stir them around to pick up all the bacon goodness and place the whole pan in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. (Yes – that is the beauty of grandma’s skillets is that they can go from stove to oven easily….just use the potholders!)

After 30 minutes,  add the bacon and walnuts back into the pan and roast again for another 10 – 15 minutes.

Before serving, I like to give them a drizzle of pure maple syrup that compliments the flavor of the bacon. (and yes, that is our secret now!)

****Today’s Cookbook winner has been notified and will be announced as soon as I hear back. The lucky person won a copy of “Muffin Magic”! Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to be eligible. I still have some beauties waiting for you!