Brussels sprouts originated in western Europe in the 1400s — and they’ve been maligned ever since. My mother (and perhaps your mother, too) boiled those tiny cabbages to death. And the longer Mom cooked them, the smellier and nastier they became. Pity she didn’t know about the 7-minute rule. It was the French who discovered that every minute of cooking beyond that magic point generates twice the sulfuric aroma. The key is to cook them quickly. Choose smaller sprouts that are bright green, with no yellowing on the leaves. Quarter them and saute them with olive oil, chopped onions and a little pancetta.
Michael Marks is the marketing manager for FreshPoint.
In the Bins
Celery
Salinas, Oxnard
99 cents to $1.49 each
Tips: The lighter the color, the sweeter the celery. Look for stalks that are heavy for their size.
Quince
Local farms
$1.49 to $1.99 per pound
Tips: These may look like an ugly-duckling pear — with a very short season — but quince makes fantastic sauces and jellies.
Satsuma Mandarin
Local farms, Coachella Valley
99 cents to $1.49 per pound
Tips: Colder night temperatures mean sweeter flavor. And they’re pretty enough to adorn your tabletop.
![By CHRISTINA LARSON (AP Science Writer) WASHINGTON (AP) — The Lyrid meteor shower is underway. But with a nearly full moon in the sky during the peak, it might be tough to see clearly. The Lyrids occur every year in mid-to-late April. This year’s peak activity happens Sunday into Monday, with 10 to 20 meteors […]](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Meteor_Shower_06085.jpg?w=525 "By CHRISTINA LARSON (AP Science Writer) WASHINGTON (AP) — The Lyrid meteor shower is underway. But with a nearly full moon in the sky during the peak, it might be tough to see clearly. The Lyrids occur every year in mid-to-late April. This year’s peak activity happens Sunday into Monday, with 10 to 20 meteors […]")
