Julia Reed | 11/25/2008 3:50 pm

A Julia Reed Thanksgiving (Recipes)

Brussels Sprouts Puree

5 cups Brussels sprouts
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
Pinch nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
½ cup diced, boiled potatoes, optional

Trim root ends of sprouts and pull off any loose or discolored leaves.

Steam sprouts over salted water until tender, but not too soft. Drain well in colander. When sprouts are just cool enough to handle, slice in half and place in bowl of food processor. Add two tablespoons of the butter and ¾ cup of the cream. Puree until smooth. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg and blend well. For a richer puree, add remaining butter and cream.

For a puree with a less powerful Brussels sprouts flavor, add remaining butter, cream AND the potatoes. Check for seasonings and serve warm. (It may be reheated, covered, in the top of a double boiler or in a gratin dish, covered with foil, at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Serves 6

Read more about: Cooking, Dining, Family, Food, Holidays, Relationships, Thanksgiving, Travel

9 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Julia, thanks for the recipes. Would love to try the roasted Brussels sprouts. My spousal equivalent and I are trying to take a brief pre-Christmas vacation in New Orleans (he will be traveling back from Texas to Florida). Any recommendations on accommodations - we’re not the Four Seasons type but like interesting hotels (spent pre-Christmas two years ago at the Natchez Eola - a truly fabulous hotel). Any recommendations would be appreciated - ya’ll have my e-mail address. Also, my mother made the best oyster dressing in the world. We lost her in June and I would never try to replicate her masterpiece. I adore your recipe for the oysters on toast! Wish you would write more on this site. Fondly, Joanne

By joanne in jax on 11/25/2008 6:42 pm

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Hey Joanne - if you’re going to be in New Orleans, may I suggest the newly refurbished Hotel Monteleone? One of the most historic hotels in the city…fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!!

By J B on 11/25/2008 7:14 pm

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Joanne, JB is right. I recently spent two days at The Monteleone, and will definitely return. Dinner at the Upperline was fabulous, too. I recommend returning to Natchez - we have changed a lot in two years. Come by Cover to Cover Books & More, across Pearl Street from the Eola, and pick up Julia’s latest books. Rosemary in Natchez

By Rosemary in Natchez MS on 11/30/2008 8:14 pm

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I still prepare the Thanksgiving of my childhood. My Father had firm beliefs that you do not “screw with Thanksgiving” it was not a time to try new recipes or mess with old ones…through the years I did veer off and try duck, a goose, exotic side dishes…but when I moved to the south almost twenty years ago, I returned to my Thanksgiving roots…Waldorf Salad, Cranberry Sauce..(both kinds, jellied and whole) mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing (it was never put inside the turkey) sweet potato casserole with a smidge of Jack Daniels, green beans cooked all day with a ham hock, fresh baked biscuits and rolls. Dessert is always pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, cherry pie, and an enormous amount of vanilla ice cream and home made whipped cream. Ahhh, I love Thanksgiving!

By J B on 11/25/2008 7:22 pm

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What’s this about “smidge”, doll….?! Smidge? Your dad had the right idea….. Happy TG, y’all…..

By georgia fatwood on 11/26/2008 10:15 pm

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I love Thanksgiving and I love to cook. My children both indicated they were going to their in-laws. We have no where to go….and it’s not worth it to cook for two people, so we’re going out tonight instead and tomorrow for breakfast. Tomorrow I will just go out on my deck and sniff the wonderful smells coming from the neighbors’ houses and smile when I think of the family gatherings. Things do change!

By Rainbow Power on 11/26/2008 6:43 am

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Hi Rainbow Power, My children are also going to their in-laws for Thanksgiving this year and plan to be with us for Christmas. My husband and I were going to do something similar, possibly go out to a restaurant for the occasion or a quiet candle lit dinner for two at home. My sister, who has a smaller gathering point, contacted me a couple of weeks ago — we now will be having a house of twelve including my nieces and nephew, their spouses and my grand nieces and nephews. All of who I adore. My husband admits however, that he would have much preferred the quiet just us Thanksgiving this year. If you were my neighbor, I’d tell you to come off of your deck come on by and bring your special dish! We’ve had as many as 30 to our New England home for Tday dinner. I’ll bet you can make a wonderful day with your hubby, giving thanks for each other in the glow of candle lit dinner for two! A change once in a while can be wonderfully special too.

By Donna Chee on 11/26/2008 11:10 am

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Thank you, Julia. My husband and I both enjoy Brussels sprouts, and I will definitely try your recipes. I enjoyed reading your memories of Thanksgivings past. I enjoy Thanksgiving much more than Christmas. People really do feel thankful for their blessings. We have always gone to my Mom and Dad’s for Thanksgiving, but they are in their mid eighties now, and last year the turkey was so done, it was like turkey jerky. It reminded me of the smoking turkey in the Christmas Vacation movie with Chevy Chase, my favorite holiday movie. They have become very careful with their health, so there was no salt or butter in anything. It is possible to ruin mashed potatoes. This year we are all going to my sister’s! I am taking Southern Cornbread Dressing, which has been a family tradition since 1965, when a friend from Georgia first shared it with us. Thanks again. I enjoyed your article.

By Murnah H on 11/26/2008 7:41 pm

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Thank you Julia!!! Great recipes. I tried the cauliflower puree with roasted garlicky chicken & it was a hit. I love everything New Orleans, specially the food & the music. I think your commute NYC/MSY is just the life. I’ll give my eared copy of Lee Bailey’s New Orleans a well deserved rest & continue following Ms Reed’s culinary wisdom. Give my regards to my second favourite city in America & drink a Sazerac in my name. Merci encore!!!

By marta pont on 11/27/2008 5:27 pm