Sprouts (and turnip) picked in the Sun and a look at the plant on a frosty morning
We have patiently waited for our Brussels Sprouts (Organic Rubine Red) to be ready to harvest. Just in time to fulfill the Irish tradition of serving sprouts for Christmas, our Rubine Red sprouts were ready to be picked this week! I was thankful that my husband had gone out into the garden while it was still sunny. We had our first hard frost this week, which gives everything a lovely crystal look, but is cold to be harvesting vegetables!
Preparing our purple sprouts
My husband enjoys cooking, even more so when he doesn’t use a recipe. So I can tell you that they tasted delicious, but I can’t give you an exact recipe! He boiled them for a few minutes with some rashers (similar to Canadian bacon), and then baked them in the oven while the turkey was cooking. They looked pretty too, being rather purple in color. I know that earlier in the season I had mentioned that I really didn’t want to plant them again due to the issue we had with caterpillars. But given how good they tasted, I think we will try growing them again. This time we will cover the young plants with fleece to prevent the moths from laying their eggs. Hopefully that will keep the caterpillar population down!
A touch of frost on the Rubine Red Organic Brussels Sprouts plant
The day was just so peaceful and frosty and sunny!
A look at the frozen garden
A freezing day on the 25th of December 2013
I took some pictures at the beginning of December that I must share with you in my next post. I had daisies blooming! I might make that a “wordless” post this week.
The view from our front yard
I really like the views of fields around our house; add a little sunlight and my camera and I are happy!
We really did have a lovely, peaceful Christmas. I hope yours was lovely, too.
Merry Christmas!
Dana
Later on that same frosty day… Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
Mom in the Garden 
I can’t believe you were so lucky to have not had a heavy frost until just now. Your husband sounds just like mine…a good cook but just doesn’t measure. 🙂 I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.
It was quite strange having such mild weather, Karen, not like winter at all! Yes, I do think we should both keep our good husbands around, even if they aren’t quite precise with their cooking 😉 Thank you for your good wishes. We have been enjoying some much needed relaxed family time together. Merry Christmas to you too Karen!
they are beautiful sprouts! Did you plant them from seed? I need to find some for next year. Merry Christmas Dana!
Hi Michele, We did plant the sprouts from seed into little pots, and then transplanted them into the bed. Here is my first post about them, although they are rather big plants in the post: https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/end-of-june-roses-poppies-but-wait-asparagus-brussels-sprouts-too/ How very nice of you to share my post! Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and your family too 🙂
Reblogged this on The Salem Garden and commented:
Take a look at some beautiful red brussels sprouts in the Irish country side. This post made me smile this morning! Michele
The sprouts looks great, I only grew a red variety once, I really should look into them again. Oh and I hope you tried or cooked the Brussel top too – very tasty?!
And I love the way frost looks. plus I like the thought of it killing all those slugs and bugs 🙂
Wishing you all a very happy new year x
Hi Claire, I thought the red color was so pretty, and what a bonus for it to taste good too. We did not know about eating the tops of the plant! We still have some plants, though so we must try them yet. Thank you for that tip! I am very much hoping for a good hard frost to take care of the slugs. I just wish I knew what the minimum time was to absolutely make sure they’ve been “taken care of”!!! Thanks for your well wishes, and many happy returns to you! Dana
Lovely to have your own sprouts and in my fave colour too. Love your Santa pumpkins. Hope you and your family have a great 2014.
Thank you Bridget! I’m looking forward to another good year in 2014! 🙂
They look beautiful! Don’t things taste better when they are pretty???
Thank you The Garden Diaries! I love that even the veggies can be beautiful. And I think you are right, they taste better then! Thanks for visiting 🙂