Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Pork and Rice Casserole


This is one of my favorite fall/winter recipes.  It's a no-fail, childhood favorite that just says "comfort food".

Pork Chops Casserole
6 pork loin chops
1 c. rice
1 can beef consommé soup
1 can diced tomatoes with chiles
1/4-1/2 c. chopped green onions
salt and pepper to taste
paprika, optional (for color)

Season pork chops and brown on each side.  Spread uncooked rice evenly in 9X13 casserole dish.  Place pork on rice in a single layer.







Pour on soup

Add tomatoes and chiles


Top with green onions


Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  Enjoy!

The pork is good, but definitely not the star.  The rice absorbs all of the flavored goodness and takes center stage.  I could just eat it for days!  It is a little spicy, so if you don't like a bit of a kick, consider using plain diced tomatoes.   I usually serve it with a green vegetable or a salad.  It just doesn't get any easier than this!

Monday, September 28, 2015

Back In Our Groove

We're finishing up the first nine weeks of school, and I must say I'm loving having my boys on the same campus again!  What a time saver at drop off and pick up times!  I'm also happy about the smooth transition that MC has made this far.  I'm sure his transition can, in part, be attributed to my transition the second time around.  I have deliberately chosen to NOT obsess about grades and assignments.  It's hard and goes against everything in me, but it makes for a much less stressful week!  I've shown him how to check his grades and update his planner by referencing his teacher's websites. He's a tad more responsible than his big brother which is just the icing on the cake.

Mornings have been nice, since JB goes in early for sports practice.  I take MC, at a decent hour, while my hubby drops off JB on his way out to work.  I've heard the early morning "discussions", but haven't been tempted to get up and intervene.  I think I've earned that break!

Its really odd to see how much I've changed as a parent over the years.  Baby Girl (whose now 4!) sometimes dresses herself and chooses her own breakfast and hairstyle.  This is huge for a control freak like myself!  I'm still not laid back, and I don't think I ever will be.  I've just decided to try harder to keep things in perspective.

This week, I filled my first baking order since opening my business.  It's still hard to believe I'm a baker for hire.  This is really the best of both worlds.  I get to do something I love to do (bake) without the guilt of eating all of the treats.  I'm working on setting weekly business goals to make sure I gain momentum.  So far all of the feedback has been really good, and I plan to use it to tweak some things.


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The Sweet Life: Sugar Rush Sweet Shoppe

I'm always thinking of a project or idea, but often don't have the time
or energy to prioritize and make things happen (i.e.  I've been trying to finish painting a vanity for a month).  Well after years of convincing myself of all the reasons to wait, I decided to just go for it.  Life will happen.  There will always be more commitments than time.  As long as I'm raising kids, they will have a myriad of needs, and those needs shouldn't completely drown out my goals and dreams.

In the past year, I've watched as several people my age or younger have died unexpectedly or had their worlds turned upside down.  It's really forced me to realize that time waits for no one.  The delay for the perfect time may be the only time.  So, I took the plunge (and a few cake decorationg classes) and officially opened my home bakery.  It looks a little different that what I imagined, but it works best for where I am in life at the moment.  The biggest thing is that I took a HUGE step and just went for it.  The plan and model can be as fluid as I'd like, because it's all mine.

So far I've had several orders, and I must admit it's a bit stressful.  I'm hoping this subsides with more practice.  

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