Are you stressed out and in need of comfort food?  Don’t turn to junky food that will make you feel even more crappy after you gorge yourself in your already crappy state of mind.  Nourish your body, mind, and soul with this simple and comforting one pan meal.  While your food is roasting in the oven, drink some hot tea or a bottle of wine.  Whatever helps you relax.  Life isn’t going to pause or rewind, but you can recharge and get ready to tackle whatever obstacles you encounter.

Wash, trim and cut brussels sprouts in half.  Cut an onion into chunks, roughly the same size as the brussels sprouts.  Pour a little oil and seasoning on the vegetables and give it a stir.  I used a lemon pepper blend, but use whatever you have.  For example, salt and freshly ground pepper is perfect.  No need for a separate bowl for the mixing, just do everything on the pan.  I did not use a silicon baking mat or foil to line the pan.  The brussels sprouts get a better crispy char if they are touching the pan.

Cut up a pack of thick cut bacon.  I love bacon.  It comforts me.  I’m not going for a taste of bacon.  I’m going for a freaking meal of bacon.  I did cut off any larger pieces of fat.  I didn’t want my vegetables to be swimming in bacon grease.  Mix the bacon chunks in with the vegetables.  Put the pan into a preheated oven at 400°F for 35-40 minutes.  Stir the mixture up every 10-15 minutes, so more pieces get a chance to brown and crisp up.  After I took the pan out of the oven, I squeezed half a lemon over the mixture and gave it a good stir.

I topped my pile of comfort with some shredded parmigiano-reggiano and toasted sunflower seeds.  If you’ve never had good brussels sprouts, give this a try.  Roasting it makes the outside crispy, while the inside turns creamy and sweet.  And the bacon.  What can I say.  It’s bacon.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Ingredients
– 2 lbs of brussels sprouts
– 1 pack of thick cut bacon
– 1 onion
– seasoning
– half a lemon
– shredded parmigiano-reggiano cheese (optional)
– toasted sunflower seeds (optional)

Directions
– Wash, trim, and cut the brussels sprouts in half
– Cut the onion into pieces roughly the same size as the brussels sprouts
– Mix the brussels sprouts and onion on a baking pan with oil and seasoning.
– Cut the bacon into pieces roughly the same size as the vegetables.  Trim off any large pieces of fat from the bacon.  Add the bacon to the pan and give it a stir.
– Roast at 400°F for 35-40 minutes.  Stir the mixture every 10-15 minutes. 
– Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the mixture when it finishes cooking.  Mix it up.
– Top the dish with cheese and sunflower seeds if you want to get a little fancy.