Ranch Pork Chops

I really enjoy a meal that doesn't take a lot of ingredients, and you can throw into a crock pot and be DONE. Here is a recipe that does just that! What could be better then coming home to a home-cooked meal, that is already cooked for you? Nothing! Comfort at its finest :)

Modified from realmomkitchen.com

Ingredients:
4-6 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick (I used boneless)
1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning
10 oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 tbs parsley
1/4 cup chopped onions

Directions:
Place pork chops, and all other ingredients into a medium sized crock pot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours.

All ready for some crock pot cooking!

Finished! It smelled delicious while cooking, and was juicy and tender when done!

Key West Chicken

Here is a fresh and a little different marinade I found called Key West Chicken from allrecipes.com

Ingredient:
6 tablespoons soy sauce
4 Tbs. honey
2 tablespoon olive oil
Juice of 1 Lime
2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon parsley (or cilantro)
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions:
In a small bowl combine soy sauce, honey, vegetable oil, lime juice, garlic and parsley.

If you want to have grilled breasts, Place chicken breast halves into the mixture, and turn to coat. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes.

Cook in a preheated 350 degree oven, for 30 - 45 minutes or till done. Make sure to cover the pan for easy clean up!

Try this: Cardstore.com

I just sent an Easter card to a friend for FREE! Free card, Free shipping, Free stamp! It should arrive in their mailbox just in time for some Easter love! How did I achieve this awesome deal?


In celebration of Easter, Cardstore.com is offering another FREE card with FREE shipping today, 3/26, and tomorrow, 3/27, only.
Use the code CCE2326 to get the FREE card.
There will be 50,000 free cards given out each day, so if they run out today you can try again tomorrow.

Missed this Easter Promotion? Cardstore.com has MANY discounts and giveaways through out the year! Keep them on your watch list :) The Quality is great, the deals are AMAZING, and they always arrive in perfect condition :) I am very happy with this company :)

Pork Chop with Cider Sauce

I some times forget about pork. And then I finally eat some and my mouth waters and I wonder 'How did I ever forget you?!?'. Really, Pork can be cheaper than a cut of beef, and it can be as healthy as chicken! So on my last trip to the grocery store, I found a price on some chops and just had to try a recipe with them! I honestly have never cooked pork before, so it was a new adventure, but that's what I do! Constantly sticking my self in new cooking adventures and finding out the results as I go! 

But this recipe, oh my, SOOOO GOOOD! As it was cooking my husband kept telling me it smelled delicious. And as we ate, he said it was a better meal than going out to Outback Steak House! Yes! Chalking points up for the Newly Wife! Ya'll, this is delicious and juicy and a winner recipe for sure!

recipe from myrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 4 center-cut bone-in pork chops about 3/4-inch thick (we did 2 chops!)
• Salt and pepper 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1onion, thinly sliced (my husband liked them thicker, they got the best flavor from the sauce!)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage (I used rubbed dried sage)
• 1 1/2 cups apple cider (I just brewed some apple cider in the Keurig and it worked great! It may have been a little more "water" than buying the cider, but the taste was great and it was cheaper!)

Preparation

1. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Push onions to edges of skillet and add chops. Cook, turning once, until browned, about 6 minutes total.
2. Sprinkle sage over chops and pour cider into pan. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until chops are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove chops from pan, raise heat to high, and boil sauce until reduced and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour sauce and onions over chops and serve.

Letting the chops rest while the sauce finished cooking!

Hot and steamy dinner is served! Pork chops, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and spinach salad!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Why order take-out or go to an Asian restaurant when you can make your self a yummy Asian dish? This one turned out delicious!

Modified from Kikkomanusa.com

Ingredients (Yield: 4 servings)

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken 

2 teaspoon cornstarch 

2 teaspoon Kikkoman Soy Sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch squares
1 cup broccoli (mostly cooked)
1 bottle Kikkoman Sweet & Sour Sauce
[1 can (11 oz.) mandarin orange segments, drained-OPTIONAL]

Instructions

1. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch cubes. Combine cornstarch, soy sauce and sugar in bowl; stir in chicken. Let stand 15 minutes.
2. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in hot wok or large skillet over high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry 3 minutes; remove.
3. Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in same pan. Add onion and broccoli; stir-fry 3 minutes.
4. Add chicken and sweet & sour sauce; reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir 1 minute. Gently stir in oranges; cook until heated through. 
5. Serve over rice.

Browning that chicken!

yummm... doesn't that look like the best "take-out" ever? Homemade baby!

Homemade Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

When my brother, Paul, came to visit for the weekend, we thought we would have some fun experimenting with the ice cream maker I got for Christmas! And with the mild winter we have been having here in NC, why not try now!
I looked up some recipes and decided to try a non-egg one for my first recipe. I doubled the recipe, and it served about 7 full servings (I like to think a serving of ice cream is at least three scoops!). Now, doubling this recipe wasn't the best idea... it started to over flow in the ice cream maker on the last minute! And then I forgot to stir in the chips, but I placed them on top, and I think that worked too! I froze it in a glass dish, and it tasted sooo creamy and milky when done! Next time, I will add some vanilla extract (to give the ice cream more flavor than just milk), or even some mint! Oh! Mint chocolate chip! Yummmm!

Recipe modified from www.ice-cream-recipes.com

Homemade Ice Cream Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
 Ingredients:
 1 pint milk
1 pint double/heavy cream
3/4 C sugar
5oz plain chocolate (grated)  [mini chocolate chips]
 Directions:
Place the milk and sugar into a saucepan and heat gently, dissolving the sugar. Place the milk to one side to cool and when cold, stir in the cream.
Transfer the complete mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze, following the manufacturer's instructions BUT remember to add the grated chocolate as the ice cream begins to thicken.

Healthy Veggie Dip

A healthy alternative to that yummy veggie dip... use Greek Yogurt!

Ingredients:
1 big container of PLAIN Greek Yogurt (any brand will do, just make sure it is PLAIN Greek Yogurt)
1 packet of Dip Seasoning Mix (Ranch works well, and so does Garlic & Herb)
Directions:
Mix together and enjoy!

I have found that the dip tastes the most flavorful after a day of sitting, so I make the dip a day ahead. Also, just as a disclaimer, you can taste the Greek Yogurt, and it doesn't taste like Sour Cream. But remember, this is a healthier alternative, tastes great in its own way, and gives you the same "dip sensation" as the Sour Cream dips you are use to making, but better for you! I think this dip is definitely work a try :) We love it in our home!

Buffalo Chicken Cheese Dip

I cooked some Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches for my husband and my visiting brother last weekend. And although we ate a ton (it was a good batch), we still had a good bit of left overs. There wasn't enough for every one to have Buffalo Chicken for another meal... so I thought, why not make a dip that every one can enjoy! I just made up the recipe as I went, and it turned out well! Let's just say, there wasn't any left for more "leftovers"!

Ingredients:
Left over Buffalo Chicken from  a previous recipe (see the hyperlink!) [about 1-2 chickens worth for the dip]
1 block of cream cheese
1 C cheese (I did a mozzarella and provolone mix, because that is what I had. It worked well! A lot of other people would do a sharp cheddar, and that is tasty too)

Directions:
Heat up Buffalo Chicken on stove. Add cream cheese till melted completely. Add cheese till melted. Serve Hot and with corn chips! Enjoy!

All you need is some Buffalo shredded Chicken, cream cheese, and some extra cheese! I tried a mozzarella/ provolone mix and it was great!

Final Product! We polished this dish off lickity split :) Yummmmm

Oakwood Dog Park

This is one of my favorite Raleigh finds, the Oakwood Dog Park! It is right in the center of Raleigh, NC and all FREE. It is a volunteer run program, and it is well kept! There are two fenced in areas (one for smaller dogs and one for all the rest!). And they have baggies for... you know... and a water pump that you can fill up buckets of water for the dogs. There are trees, some hills, a huge overall area, and nice wood chip mulch covering the ground. I felt Bentley was safe there, and it was so fun to see him enjoy the area! They also have a good website about the rules, directions to get there, and more information about the area. Check it out! One of my favorite dog parks in the area, by far :)

Oakwood Dog Park
910 Brookside Drive  Raleigh, NC 27601

(919) 831-6995

Bentley is excited to go to the Dog Park!

Bentley exploring the HUGE open Dog Park full of trees!

Tired pup after a hard day of play!

DIY Coffee Scent

To get that heavenly scent of coffee in the home (which is also a great deodorizer), try this trick!
Take a small dish, and fill with coffee beans or coffee grounds, and then place a tea light or small votive candle in the middle of the beans/grounds. The heat will heat up the coffee scents and create a nice aroma in the home! Also, coffee is a great deodorizer! Which is great for my husband who has bad allergies! We can make the home smell good, without those potent potpourris!