Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Roasted Brussel Sprouts: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly grease the foil-line baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Make sure Brussel sprouts have trimmed ends and yellow leaves are removed. Then, slice all Brussel sprouts in half. In a medium bowl, combine halved Brussel sprouts, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt (to taste), and toss to combine.  Place into a foil-lined baking sheet, cut side down, and roast in the oven for about 20 – 25 minutes. During the last 5-10 minutes of roasting, turn them over for even browning, the cut sides should be nicely and partially charred but not blackened.

Roasted Butternut Squash: Keep oven at 400 degrees. Lightly grease the foil-lined baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  In a medium bowl, combine cubed Butternut squash (peeled and seeded), 1 tablespoon of olive oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon, and toss to mix.  Place butternut squash in a single layer on the baking sheet.  Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, turning once half-way through baking, until softened.  Note: You can roast both Brussel sprouts and butternut squash on 2 separate baking sheets at the same time, on the same rack in the oven – that is what we did!

Assembly: In a large bowl, combine roasted Brussel sprouts, roasted butternut squash, pecans, and cranberries, mix to combine.

Optional: For more sweetness, add 2 or 4 tablespoons of maple syrup, if desired – do not add all maple syrup at once, start with 2 tablespoons, then add more, if desired, and toss with the salad ingredients to combine.