Pork Chops and Apples

Today was such a great day. I really felt like I got a lot accomplished. I feel like I had energy enough to clean, cook and be super mom. I haven't felt like this in a while but I did today and now I am completely exhausted. I did everything on my list except clean on the top of the fridge and that is because Brandon didn't want me standing on a chair. I made Pork Chops and Apples. They were so good.

This recipe serves 2 -
1 Medium apple
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1/4 TSP ground cinnamon
2 Pork Rib Chops
Cooking spray

1 - Heat over to 350
2 - Cut the apple into fourths and remove the seeds. Cut each fourth into 3 or 4 wedges.  Place apple wedges in the 1/2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
3 - Cut and discard the fat from the pork chops. Spray skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium for 1 to 2 minutes. Cook pork chops in skillet until both sides are light brown.
4- Place pork chops in a single layer on the apple wedges. Cover dish with a lid or foil. Bake for 45 minutes or until pork is slightly pink when you cut into the center and apples are tender.

OK so the meat was tender and terrific but I don't recommend eating the apples. They tasted horrible in my families opinion but they worked wonders for the meat.

I then also made fudge today!! YUMMY!! It was terrific...

This makes 16 squares
 2/3 cup of evaparated milk
1 1/4 cup of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
OPTIONAL
- 1 teaspoon of hazelnut liqour
- 1/2 cup halved hazlenuts

1 - Grease an 9 inch square cake pan
2- Combine the evaporated milk, sugar and salt in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly. Simmer gently stirring about 5 minutes.
3- Remove from heat and add hazlenuts, chocolate chips and liquor. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
4- Quickly pour the fudge mixture into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly and let cool
5- When the fudge has set cut into 1 inch squares and store in air-tight container and separate by wax paper

We didn't to the liquor or hazlenuts and it tasted to die for!!

Life lessons from the best teachers

Another lesson learned from my favorite, tiny teachers.





Each day I learn more and more about Brooklyn and what makes her so excited. It is never the big things that create the best pleasure for her, it is always the little things that I think we all need to slow down and see....

* a band-aid - For whatever reason Band-Aids are so awesome especially if they are colorful
*pushing the button to open the microwave. My excitement equivalency; pushing the button to launch the space shuttle.
*Picking out a worthless toy at the $1 store. My excitement equivalency; picking out my new (not off the clearance rack) shoes.
*a few chocolate chips. My, I'm going to call it E.E. (excitement equivalency) so I don't have to keep typing it, is the whole bag of the expensive chocolate.
* a sleep over. My E.E.; my honeymoon.
* a 25 cent ice cream cone. My E.E; dinner, a movie, and then a BIG ice cream cone.
* glitter. My E.E.; diamonds.

A few more pleasures; riding in the front seat, getting mail from someone, stickers, play-doh, ringing the doorbell, mopping the floor and washing the dishes (that won't last long). I could go on and on, and I have, but my point is (I think) that this isn't going to last forever. Pretty soon they'll be saying, "I don't care", "why do I have to mop", "It's not my turn to get the mail", "I'm not riding in the cart, that's for babies!" Most of the time I'm in the mood where, I don't want the play-doh out because it's messy, or I'll say that they don't need a band-aid unless they're bleeding. Seriously! What is a few cents on a stupid band-aid that will make her day? Or, I'm famous for saying, "no, let me do it, it's faster." Where's the fire? Why do I need the floor mopped at warp speed, when I KNOW that using the Swiffer Wet Jet would be the talk of the 1st grade for a week! Sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like I have to do everything for everyone, but how long will it be before they don't need me at all? :(

Lesson learned from my favorite, tiny teacher. Slow down, relax, and enjoy life's simple pleasures. And most importantly, enjoy every bit of every stage that my child is in. I learn from her everyday about the person I should be. Please pray for me that I won't fail her, she deserves the best. I hope she NEVER stop enjoying life and it's simple pleasures.

My wonderful Family!!