Christmas, Parks & California Sushi in a bowl

We get our Christmas out a little early. It drives some people crazy, but it makes us happy.

Seeing Christmas through a child's eyes is magical,  whimsical,  enchanting.

Every year, we choose a theme. This year, we chose nature. All our decor is of wild animals, birds nests and eggs, owls, acorns, swings, and trees.

Before Sunny was born, I prepared her nursary with the same theme. The twigs, birds, and branches are a decor I love.

She loves the tree lit up. Christmas is our favorite.

Here are a few pictures and updates from this past week.  We went to a park in town and Sunny was so adventerous, doing things I would never want to do. She also came out of her "stormy period' and is back to her old self.  Since our family pet Tigger died, she has been behaving like a cat and meowing a lot. That is for another post.

I was at storytime at the library a couple months ago, and there were these people from this place in town. I can't remember the name, but they do all sorts of music and crafts and fine motor things. They recommended that at 2 years old, a child should start stringing beads onto twine or whatever. It is supposed to be great for their fine motor skills. I picked her up these beads and some twine and she has been making necklaces and sorting beads by color. She loves it and it is good for her.

This was my birthday treat. 

After I devored my sushi, I thought of something I never had before. Why not have all those wicked good flavors (I spent a summer in Maine once) in a bowl, without having to worry about rolling it up and all the extra effort.

I looked up a recipe and found many. To get your sushi bowl to taste like a real authentic California Roll, you probably need to visit a store like Harmon' s if you have one in your town. They have everything and pickled ginger and Japanese sticky rice is essential for making sushi in any shape or form.

Ingredients:

1 c. of sticky rice, cooked, divided into equal portions.
8 oz of imitation crab meat
1 avocado,  chopped
1 English cucumber, match sticked
1 carrot, match sticked
Pickled ginger
1-2 toasted seaweed, broken up into pieces

Dressing
1 T. Soy sauce
3 T. Rice vinager
Wasabi powder to taste
Whisk until combined.

Add Sesame seeds

Pour dressing over rice in equal amounts.

Assemble everything in groups on top of rice.  Add French's fried onions on top if you prefer. Enjoy. Don't forget to see yesterdays post.

recipe adapted from pickledplum.com

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.

Baking & Cooking With Mama (Pumpkin Spice Applesauce Muffins)

Sunny is turning 30 months on the 21st.  What is it about this age that is so adorable, yet so moody and fiesty at the same time. Does anyone relate?

Sunny is still in her stormy period. It's been over a week. I won't care to publicly go into too much detail about the challenges we've endured this week, but to sum it up: this week has been rough.

 Sunny who was always so bright and cheerful with the sunniest of disposition, has suddenly turned angry at her world.  We have a doctor appt scheduled today to make sure everything is okay, health wise. My gut tells ne it's another urinary tract infection.

With Sunny waking up at around 6 am every morning, we decided to get going on some fall baking.

Pumpkin Spice, oats, applesauce,  hints of brown sugar, pecans...

Sunny loves her a muffin.  The applesauce oat muffins from this week were a huge hit, so I knew today, a muffin for breakfast would hopefully brighten her day.

I let her fill each muffin tin and she loved it.

                        Getting her involved makes
                        all the difference.

She thought they were ready to eat, so I had to explain how patience works. While the muffins baked, I decided to try getting her involved with eggs. She has always rejected eggs, so my hope was her stirring them would encourage her to eat them. Did it work??

Yes it did!!! Hooray. I called them Mickey Mouse eggs to get her even more excited.  (She LOVES Mickey).

Foods high in protein are so important,  and Sunny has never been one to eat much protein, hence the irritability she goes through.

When the muffins were done, I added a touch of butter and she was on cloud nine. She calls them "hot cakes" and kept asking for more. I think she ate three.

                          Stuffing her face

Pumpkin Spice Applesauce Pecan Muffins

Preheat oven 375

*note* don't over mix muffin batter. Just a few light whisk is all you need for moisture muffins.

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 c. Pumpkin puree

1/2 c. Applesauce

1/4 c. Canola oil or butter

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/4 c. Agave or maple syrup

1/4 c brown sugar

1/4 c. Milk or almond milk

Whisk and mix well

Add:

1 C. Whole wheat flour

1 c. Oats

1 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Baking soda

2 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/4 c. Chopped pecans

1/4 c. Raisins,  optional

Mix with wet ingredients.  Fill muffin liners 3/4 full and bake 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Store in airtight container. 

Cold, Slow & Dreary Day

                       I love these pictures showing examples of how to groom yourself.  The picture she is holding is of a girl brushing her hair and she has others illustrating how to brush your teeth.
Also, check out my grandmother's handbag from the 60s.  I cleaned it up and decided to not hide it away, but rather put it on display.

I have heard a lot about this Wonder Weeks App you can download on your device. I need to learn more, but it tells you what to expect with your baby/toddler each day and when they will come out of a "stormy period"

Sunny is still in this stormy period and if I had the app, I would know exactly when she is supposed to come out of it. So many moms have highly recommended this Wonder Weeks App and can't say enough about it. It is supposed to help parents with their sanity because it tells them all is normal, nothing is wrong, and it is a phase that will eventually end.  I definately need to read up more on how this works.

I use this blog as mostly a place to store my recipes and journal Sunny's milestones, concerns, and other tidbits. I don't publish every post I write about Sunny (due to protecting her privacy) but today, I accidently published one and then immediately realized that later and stored it as a draft.  It mainly discussed Sunny during this stormy period and what she is going through at the moment.

My public posts are intended to be helpful, uplifting, positive and educational (such as posting healthy recipes).

I am full swing on accepting any kind of constructive criticism on how to raise kids.  It is not anything I take offense of, but rather is a huge help to me.  There is a French book I am starting to read called, "Bringing Up Bebe"  it talks about how children are raised in France and parts of Europe and how opposite it is in the United States.  In France, they don't serve kid approved meals like we serve here in the US. Toddlers eat exactly what adults eat, when adults eat,  and don't have tons of snacks throughout the day. They have full course meals that are filling, and always serve a veggie first before anything else. The french believe that when a toddler is most hungry, they will eat just about anything, that is why the veggie comes first. I like that. Also, the obesity rate of youth is only 14% in France, compared to 1/3 of what is in the US, according to the author. Also, the french always wear heels. I like that as well.

Anyway, Today we stayed home all day long. It was cold and dreary and all I wanted to do is stay warm and snuggle Sunny. I love her snuggles and wish they would last forever (without her trying to nurse).

After 3 cups of hot cocoa and a few Hallmark Christmas movies, Sunny was starting to come around. Maybe she is out of this so called, stormy period. For lunch,  I served her a veggie first (as the french do) which was peas, and she ate them all. Then I made her half a box of mac n cheese (this works better as leftover mac n cheese taste bland and dry).  I then gave her another muffin from yesterday and she asked for another. Too bad they are gone. I am thinking of doing whole wheat pumpkin pecan next.

I hope everyone had a great day. If you have a toddler going through a "stormy period" try checking out this Wonder Weeks App. Know that the stormy period is often a phase and is due to growth spurts and other changes in a toddler's body, all normal occurances. Sometimes it is worth taking a toddler to the doctor, in case he/she does have a bug or infection, but if toddler eats and plays well, but just seems more irritable then usual, it most likely is a stormy period.

Baking With Sunny

I always have heard that when kids are involved in the kitchen,  they are more likely to eat what is made.
There is truth to this. Sunny being the worlds pickiest eater, ate two muffins today.

She is so dang irritable still and I knew I needed to get her mind off whatever is bugging her. Dr. Appt soon.

While everyone knows the saying that kids in the kitchen can be a blessing and a curse, there are some things I only allow her to observe and maybe touch. Until she's older, that is.

                She looks more then amused

We didn't actually use the rolling pin, but for a picture sake, it was adorable.

I know my recipes are not the most exciting,  but with limited dairy in our diets,  I try to make tasty, yet satisfying meals, even Rodney and Sunny will like.

Today, I decided to make somewhat healthy muffins using applesauce, agave in place of sugar,  oats, whole wheat flour, a touch of flaxseed powder and lots of fall spices,  such as warm cinnamon,  ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

I do substitute ingredients due to limited dairy in our diets, so applesauce works great in place of butter, as well as canola oil.

               Sunny really loved her muffin,                        even asking for another.

      Sometimes she wants to sit at the big table. And then there are times when she absolutely has to sit in her high chair due to getting up and walking around with her food.

Applesauce and Oat Muffins

Ingredients:

preheat to 375

1 egg
4 T. Coconut or canola oil
1 c. Applesauce,
1/4 c. Agave sweetener
1/2 c. Milk or coconut milk
1 c. Oats
3/4 c. Whole wheat flour
1 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 c. Crushed pecans or walnuts
1/4 c. Dried cranberries
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/8 tsp. Ginger
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla

About 1 T. Flax if you choose

Combine egg, oil, agave, applesauce, milk and whisk.

Add everything else and mix well. Spoon out into muffin liners about 3/4 full.

Bake 17-20 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Melskitchencafe. Com