Sweet Balsamic Glazed Pork from Melskitchencafe.com

picture taken from melskitchencafe.com

There is a food blog that I refer to a lot: melskitchencafe.com. Mary first introduced it to me a few years ago and I'm still using it. If you have time, or are in a recipe lull, maybe you could check it out.

Recently our family tried a recipe from her blog that was pretty delicious. We made rice, put the pork on top, and then drizzled on the glaze. Liam loved it. Roasted asparagus and garlic mashed red potatoes were great as sides with this dinner. I didn't change anything with this recipe (as I usually don't with her recipes). Here are the links (Grandma, you may know, but just click on the recipe name and it will take you to the recipe):

Sweet Balsamic Glazed Pork

Roasted Asparagus

Here are a few of the other recipes I've referred to multiple times off her website:

Breakfast:

Oatmeal Pancakes  

(You can decrease the oil by half. Try doing all whole wheat.)

Main Meals:

White Chili

Cheesesteak Subs

Rolls

Barbeque Sauce

Dessert:

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Brownies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have a great weekend :) - Carrie

Grandma Inspires Me to Cook

As I have recently ( well 10 months ago) been married I have taken on the challenge of really learning how to cook. In the past I have learned valuable lessons about cooking, but have never really been give the chance to put them to practice on a regular basis. I attribute my love for learning and my love for cooking to the women in my life, especially my mom and my grandma. They have always made the most wonderful homemade things. As I have been experimenting I have had thoughts come into my mind about stories I have heard about cooking experiences, and the "why's" of why we do certain things like throw away the first waffle. These women are the ones I call or want to call when I have mastered a new recipe or had a brilliant failure. I seek their advice and steal their recipe cards. I just wanted to send a "Thank you" out to these women who have taught me so much and have helped me to become a better cook. I love you more than words can say and I think of you every time I try something new.

Last Minute Valentine Ideas

I slapped this stuff together in less than an hour for Valentine's tomorrow. It's also Rob's birthday, so I love spoiling him. I thought these were cute ideas, while still keeping it pretty inexpensive.

 I just whipped this baby up. I thought a handprint would be fun, and glitter always makes it more fun. I sprinkled it on when it was wet. Then I just sewed the fabric scrap on. I used my embroidery foot and lowered my feed dogs in my sewing machine to write the words. It's not perfect, but I like it that way. It looks more like Annie wrote it I think :)

I originally saw the idea for this here. She gives a great tutorial. 

 This is how you get the threads from coming loose. Just pull the strings through to the other side of the card, then dab a bit of glue to hold them in place. I was thinking I could have covered this with a piece of card stock, because it looks a little messy, but I doubt Rob will even notice. 

 You could do a candy bouquet in a million different ways.  We did these over at a friends house the other night, and some of the ladies had canisters, or vases, or cool valentines cups (you can find them at Wal-Mart or the Dollar store). They decorated with scrapbook paper, ric rac, ribbon. I kept it simple in a mason jar. Very manly, I might say.

I put a foam cone in the bottom of the jar, then filled it with tissue paper. Then just skewer or hot glue your favorite candy, and add some decorations and that's it. You could do other little toys, or love notes or whatever. 

Happy Valentines! Hope you all get to spend it with someone you love!

I have been meaning to write a post for grandma for the last couple of weeks but life is crazy.  Tonight I was crafty though and thought I should share.  Nellie and myself have been couponing and going shopping weekly which has been incredibly fun and such a good chance to catch up with one another.  This has also helped me in writing a grocery list and planning meals.  So in doing this I decided I needed to make myself a menu board and seeing all the amazing ones on pinterest inspired me to actually do it.  So here it is.

 

Not the best picture but it will do.  It is just a piece of metal for the backing I modge podged paper on top and then added bottle caps that have letters for each day of the week on them.  Lastly I made little sheets and laminated them so I can write the meal on the slips with permanent marker and later take it off if I want to switch.  I made a little container to hold the extra slips and a notepad to write my shopping list.  All in all I am pleased with the outcome and excited that I can make my weekly shopping trips that much more successful.