Brussel Sprout Bacon, Pecan, Apple & Cranberry Salad

Please note that I am notorious for being a  flaky blogger.  When I started blogging in 2010, I was quite consistent for awhile. Then a year of nothing. Then I returned again to this present day and blogged almost everyday for 2 whole months. Wow, impressive pattern for me.  I think followers of mine like that predictability.

I love sharing healthy recipes, and I have so many I want to share. I really do. But, I just can't be a full time food blogger like I once envisioned.

The reality is, I am in a season of life where my focus needs to be on my family and on God.

I feel I can do so many other productive things with my time, besides thinking about blogging.  Don't get me wrong, blogging is wonderful and there is so much talent out there that SHOULD be shared with the world. I wouldn't have half the ideas of what to cook without the food blogs I go to.

My brain just can't handle the multitask or do so many things in one day. I wish I could be one of those amazing people.

 I am still going to blog, but I am going to be consistent and predictable on what days I choose to write  a post. I choose Sunday. I figure that is my quite day. I can journal stuff about Sunny from the week, add pictures of our week plus add a recipe.

So, I will see ya all tomorrow back on here with a few pictures from our week and maybe another recipe.

Now, let's discuss this salad. It is so so so good.  I am so excited about these veggies that are tasting so incredibly good.  Did anyone make my cauliflower or broccoli salad yet. Add that bacon and cheese if you want even more rich flavors.

Brussel Sprout Salad

Preheat oven to 350

1 Ib Brussel sprouts, stems cut off and chopped into fourths.
6-7 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
1/4 c. Chopped pecans
1/4 c. Dried cranberries
1/4 c. Chopped apples
1/2 tsp. Sea salt
1/2 T. Fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. Pepper
2 T. Olive oil
1/4 c.  Parmassan cheese,  optional

In a baking casserole, toss Brussel sprouts with salt, pepper, and oil. Massage with hands and bake about 20 minutes or until Brussels are tender.

Toss everything with Brussels and add lemon and optional parmesan cheese.

Eat immediately.
Recipe adapted from Cookscountry

For Sunny

I have a couple journals recording Sunny's milestones and a few letters I want her to read when she is older.

Wisdom I gave gained through the years, that I want her to remember. As she is learning social skills and do's and don'ts, I want to start teaching her now.  It's never too early. If you have young kids, start teaching them now.

  Letters are a great thing to write our children one day when they may need some direction.

Please note that nobody, including myself, is perfect at following each of these. But enforcing them often is key.  This is not meant to sound preachy, I promise! From the time Sunny starts school and beyond, I especially want  her to know these 25 things:

1. Be kind to everyone. Be a friend to kids who are different then you.

2.  Be a leader, not a follower.

3. Feel sad for the bullies. They are struggling with issues you may not understand.  As hard as it may be, respond to them with kindness. They are the ones who need the most love and direction.

4. Always be polite and say please and thank you. Teachers especially will notice you more for your politeness.

5. Surround yourself with people who uplift you and are good examples to you.

6. Avoid those who are negative or bring you down. You may show love to those people, but you don't necessarily have to hang out with them.

7. Respect the elderly.  Open the doors for them occasionally.

8. Always respect adults and authority including your teachers. If your peers are not listening or obeying, be the better example.

9. At 16 years old, you will be allowed to group date.  Find a boy who respects you and your decisions.

10. Work hard for good grades. Study and homework first, play second.

11. Always eat a breakfast high in protein. You will learn better.

12. For every unkind person out there, there is 100 more kind. Don't lose faith in humanity because of those unkind souls.

13. Don't get caught up in wordly things or social media, including texting.

14. Don't get caught up in trends. Just because your friends dress in name brands, doesn't mean you have to. People will love you for what's inside if they are true friends.

15. Give each of your peers a compliment everyday, including your teacher. It will make you and others feel good.

16. Serve someone everyday. Even staying after school and helping your teacher clean up the floor when everyone else has left.

17. Know your divine worth. Don't allow bullies to determine how you feel about yourself.  What matters is what God thinks of you and what YOU think of yourself.

18. Don't get discouraged if you don't get it. Everything makes sense with practice.

19. Eat healthy and take care of your body.

20. Never judge anyone! Unless you have
walked in their shoes a mile, you will never know what they are going through.

21. Never gossip! Gossiping only makes you look bad and is not polite.

22. Reach out to those who are shy or need a friend. Sit with someone at lunch, even if you don't know them.

23. Don't worry what others think of you. Who cares! It takes massive amounts of energy worrying about it and doesn't do you any good. As long as you are kind and polite, you will gain respect anywhere.

24. Always be humble, never prideful. Apologize when an apology is needed, and forgive and forget. Holding anger inside is not of God.

 25. Always put God first and pray to him when you need help. And always remember to love yourself.

Gratitude List

It's November, a month of Thanksgiving and gratitude. I decided to write a list of ten things I am grateful for.


1. The gospel- I don't think I would be who I am today or HAVE what I have today, without the gospel of Jesus Christ. It breaks my heart to see so many people in this world who don't have it or know what it's all about. I pray those missionaries will be able to reach those without it, and their hearts will be humble enough to learn.

2. Service- I feel so uplifted when I serve. I love my calling in church so much. I just can't ever be without it now.  When I am feeling down, service immediately builds me up.

3. My family. I feel so blessed to have a family. Most all my family and sisters, nieces, etc, all live in the same town as I do. They are not active in the church, but my prayers are with them.  I also am so thankful for my own Tracy family I am sealed to for eternity. I am so grateful for a loving husband and father and for my little girl. Sunny is my whole world.

4. Talents: I am grateful for my talents. I have neglected them for years, and I feel quite ashamed about it. My patriarchial blessings emphasizes my talents and how I need to stay true to them. I am so thankful for that extra push I was given to keep coming to ward choir. It is now one of the highlights of my Sunday.

5. Education: I am so thankful for education. Education doesn't have to be a degree. Education comes in many forms. Books are full of knowledge we can gain. The scriptures are another way we can educate ourselves and ponder answers.  I have set so many goals to read my scriptures, and I know I need to do better.

6. Modern Technology- I am suprised I am saying this, but I actually kind of like facebook. While I'm not one who believes in spending copious amounts of time on facebook,  I love the keeping in touch aspect it. Some may wonder why my husband and I have the same facebook account. The truth is, it was Rodney's account first and then I joined his account a year ago.  Before that. I never wanted a Facebook.   I wasn't sure if I would like it, so I just added my name onto his account (with his permission) so it looks like Rodney N Amy Tracy.  I think this may have confused some people as they never know who is saying what, lol.

7. Friends: When I moved back into this town, I was so excited to be here again.  I had always been going to that same chapel since I was born, then I went away to college and moved on.  To be back again is really nice. I know so many people from the past who watched me grow up.  I am so grateful for friends who aren't afraid to be themselves.

8. A house:  I feel so beyond blessed we found this tiny little house to live in, which so happens to be in the same ward boundaries as my mom. I feel I totally lucked out. This is a dream come true.

9. The temple:  I haven't been so long, again I feel horrible about it. The temple was something Rodney and I loved to go to, before Sunny was born. Now that I am a busy mama, I feel it so difficult to make time to go. Poorest excuse, I know. I am definately going to make time to go.

10. Health:  I feel so blessed to be in good health right now. When I was in high school, senior year, I had my first bout of fibromyalagia. It got so bad at times that I couldn't even sit down in a chair without feeling like I was going to die. It is an autoimmune issue that has to be controlled by diet and excerise. Through the years, I have managed it off and on. I can't eat dairy and I must have limited gluten, sugar, and chocolate (I LOVE chocolate). For awhile, I ate the paleo diet and felt the best I ever have in my entire life.
The paleo diet can be expensive, so I don't do it much now.  My cooking blog recipes are quite simple, but I have to make recipes that are low in sugar so I can manage my aches and pains. I feel it badly. There are a few ladies in the ward that suffer like I do, and this disease can make you quite miserable and in a lot of pain at times. I have learned to keep going.

So there is my top ten. I am so grateful for these things in my life.