On the last work day of the year, I thought I’d write a non-work, non-standards related post.

I really like Brussels sprouts.  Even as a child, I enjoyed the little cabbages, peeling the leaves off one at time to eat them slowly.  This year I discovered some wonderful produce stands in Half Moon Bay CA that sell Brussels sprouts still on the stalk.

If you’ve never seen how they grow, it’s pretty amazing. Here’s a picture. The stalk is about 4 feet tall, and the sprouts are smaller towards the bottom and quite large on the top. The sprouts are easily popped off the stalk and ready to cook in so many delicious ways.

Not only do I like to eat them, but I get a kick out of carrying a stalk of sprouts through the San Francisco airport. Carrying a stalk of Brussels sprouts makes an otherwise boring wait in the airport quite fun.

Talk about a conversation starter. People smile at them. “I love Brussels sprouts,” they say. “Here’s my favorite recipe,” they share. People are amazed by them. “I never knew how they grow,” they tell me. “Wow! That’s beautiful,” they exclaim. And sometimes, people even cringe. “What *are* those? Brussels sprouts? I hate them!”, they state. I always ask them if they’ve ever tried them, and it’s funny how often they say “no”.

The TSA agents enjoy the Brussels sprouts stalk, too. One of them asked me if it was a weapon. I told him of course not, it’s a vegetable. His partner said, “Ah. A third-grader’s worst nightmare – death by Brussels sprouts.”

My thanks to all of you who’ve read my blog in 2009, and thanks also for your comments here and to me as @karenbartleson on Twitter. If you have a Brussels sprouts story or recipe, do tell!

I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and a successful 2010!