Maple Bacon Candied Brussel Sprouts

I hope your Christmas was magical and your brother did not plug up the toilet! Here in late December 2024, I’m praying all my friends and family had magical holiday times with minimal arguments about politics. Or arguments about what candied Brussel Sprouts really smell like.

Here it is finally about to be 2024 and the Christmas hijinks and my brother’s shenanigans are in the rearview. The question is, just what side dish should you bring to a New Year’s Eve celebration? If I brought these candied Brussel sprout’s my Artist brother would definitely complain. Fiberful vegetables on New Year’s Eve? They may not be everyone’s cup of tea but the Hungry yet Healthy Mountaineer in me loves them. Also, there is candied bacon.

My boyfriend sees red anytime I make Brussel sprouts because he thinks they make our house smell like a bag full of farts but the bacon essence kind of covers up that fiber-ful fart smell. Trust me, I’m a food blogger. Brussel sprouts may be kind of odorous but man are they delicious.  They are probably my favorite food that smells bad.

Happy holidays from southern California

This holiday season went so fast for the pup and me. We had barely any snow in our mountain ski town. The weather was much warmer than usual and I was able to hike in shorts in December in our alpine forest. That is just unheard of here in the wilderness at nearly seven thousand feet. Honestly, I would rather have had snowy days. My snowshoes are still hanging up in the garage and I’m dying to take them down and strap them on.

I even had free time from work to get away from our mountain town, visit the city near Los Angeles and spend an afternoon at Los Alamitos Race Course with one of my long-lost friends. Judy and I had a magical afternoon of holiday gift-giving followed by betting on the ponies. If there is one thing I simply adore about the holidays it’s all those special moments you steal away with friends and family. (Well maybe not my Brother the Artist)

I love these delicious and easy candied Brussel sprouts as a side with grilled chicken or even as a quick and healthy green lunch. It’s the holidays, you can justify candied bacon for lunch, right?

Maple Bacon Candied Brussel Sprouts

1 bag Brussel sprouts

8 slices of bacon, chopped

2 teaspoons maple syrup

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon salt

Slice the Brussels sprouts as thinly as you can. Mix the spices in a small bowl. In a bowl mix the brussel sprout pieces, bacon pieces, rosemary and spices. Mix in the maple syrup and then the brown sugar. Move this all to a baking dish. Bake in the oven at 450 for ten minutes. After ten minutes stir every five minutes or so until the bacon is cooked thoroughly.