How to: Make the most delicious Brussels sprouts

Kathryn reveals the secret behind the most delicious Brussels sprouts she swears you will ever eat

Brussels sprouts have a reputation for being either dull or bitter, or both, but this quick and easy recipe which spices them up makes them a sure hit in our household. First, boil the sprouts for just 3-4 minutes, depending on their size, drain and set aside.

* Country Life makes a fantastic Christmas present: Give Country Life for Christmas this year and save up to 30% Heat some oil in a large-ish pan. Add a teaspoonful of black mustard seeds, some crushed dried chilli and a tablespoon of flaked almonds [either raw or toasted, doesn't matter which]. When the mustard seeds start jumping about in the pan, add the Brussels sprouts. Stir-fry the lot for half a minute, then cover the pan and let them steam away on a low heat for another 4 minutes, then serve immediately. Note: this dish is perfect as it is, or you can add another dimension of spice by dropping in 2 teaspoons of finely chopped fresh ginger root when incorporating the other spices.

Country Life

Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.