In which I cook Brussels sprouts in the microwave…
August 30th, 2010 at 8:48 pm ET
… and am reminded that, as delicious as they are, they are also fragrant, and my hallway neighbors are probably wondering “what died in the compactor room?” right about now.
Are there any tips that minimize the stench of boiling cabbage and cabbage-like substances that actually work? A beloved member of my family (now deceased), who will remain nameless to protect her reputation, once said that if you put a piece of dry bread in the steamer, it soaks up the fragrance, but to be honest that always sounded like voodoo to me. (Plus, this woman once tried the fad of cooking fish in the dishwasher, but didn’t seal the packets very well — or maybe she added too much detergent, I forget — and ended up with a big mess. So I’m inclined to discount her advice by 40 percent right off the top).
Rich Mintz blogs on online fundraising and social media, American history and culture, bicycling and urbanism, food, technology, and other topics. Professionally, he's an expert in fundraising, constituency development, and social media for nonprofits, cultural organizations, cause-related marketers, and corporations. He is based in New York, where he serves as Vice President, Strategy, for 
