The mention of the word 'sprouts' in the ELLE office this morning didn't have quite the effect you might expect. Instead of wide-eyed revulsion, the whole team poured fourth their suggestions for the most delicious sprouts recipes. There were lardons and chestnuts and there was butter and cinnamon - you name it!
So, imagine our surprise when we found out there's another little vegetable that could persuade us to ditch Mr Sprout this festive season.
Enter, Kalettes.
Vegetable company Staples Vegetables in Lincolnshire are growing what is now known as the 'kalette' – a hybrid of kale and brussel sprouts.
Commercial director of the company, Nigel Clare says: 'We think this will be a really popular choice for Christmas dinners this year.
'With Kalettes having a milder flavour, we are hoping it will be a hit for Christmas dinners as they are also so simple to cook,' he explained of the vegetable, currently being grown in the south west, south east Scotland, Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire.
What has 2016 come to that we're now considering betraying our beloved sprout for a kalette?
Previously known as 'flower sprouts', bags of kalettes are now being sold in M&S, Lidl, Aldi and Morrisons and can be steamed or stir-friend (with generous spoonfuls of salt, butter and pancetta, we'd like to add).
Christmas dinner just got a whole lot more interesting.
For ideas on how to cook Kalettes, follow the Kalettes Facebook group here.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
