This is a simple and effective way to dress any fresh berry. Serve small portions of minted blackberries as a first course at lunch or as a light dessert.

The Asian ingredients are readily available at a well-appointed supermarket.

The rich caramel brown on the Brussels sprouts from searing is magical. You can prepare this recipe using any skillet but the best results can be achieved with an old-fashioned cast-iron skillet.

     The typical American meal is a meat centerpiece with a couple of vegetable side dishes, one of them usually potatoes. The side vegetable portion is usually about three ounces. There are really only six or seven types of protein (with some subtle variations) to choose from and the standard Midwestern diet relies almost entirely on three or four. There are countless types of vegetables. We've relegated the largest portion of our foodstuffs to an afterthought on our plates