this is a blog about memory keeping, funny stories & baked goods i make, and do my best not to eat. proper capitalization is always optional.

9.29.2011

recipe: crockpot bbq pulled pork

i should warn you...
this COULD be a bad thing..
well, maybe.. if you have a sonny's addict in the house.

what's sonny's you ask?
well, if you live anywhere in the southeastern party of the good ol' USA..
you'd know that's a bbq joint..
some swear it's the best bbq ever.
(my grandfather, a florida native, eats sonny's EVERY SINGLE NIGHT of his visits from up north)

 i am NOT one of those people..
i am also NOT the sonny's addict in the house.
after probably close to 20 years of my mama working there..
i still just 'tolerate' it.
don't get me wrong.. it's not that they have BAD bbq..
i am just not a bbq person. period.
it just doesn't do anything for me.
i'd settle for a heaping helping of pretty much anything over bbq.
(i think it's the smoke flavor honestly)
but... i do love there pulled pork.
i prefer more... latin inspired pulled pork..
but i can handle bbq pulled pork in small & infrequent doses...

and because i can't always make chicken & pasta for dinner..
(because the hubs would surely boycott my cooking on night two of that regimen)
and because i HAD to figure out what in the heck to do with the 50 (kidding) 2lb pork loins i have in the freezer from the loins the hubs cuts up into chops...
AND because crock pot meals on soccer practice nights are good..
i found this little recipe nestled in amongst other crock pot recipes on my pinterest board.
it's simple. which is good.
and has everyday, ordinary, CHEAP ingredients.
that's a triple bangarang in my book.

i have no idea where that phrase just came from.
i'm going to blame it on too many viewings of 'hook' lately

moving on..


did you know i'm NOT a food photographer/stylist?
if you didn't, you do now..
but i'm gonna go on the theory that the ugliest food, sometimes tastes the best.

just trust me okay? :)
if you are a sonny's fan.. it tastes just like their pulled pork simmered in their sweet sauce.
if you have no idea, or could care less about sonny's bbq... you will still like it.
pinky promise.

it's SO easy.
3 ingredients.
here's the link for the printable recipe.
but you REALLY won't need it.

you just pour a can of root beer over a 2 lb pork loin in a crock pot. turn it on low for 6 hrs (mine actually cooked for 10). once done, remove the loin, & drain off the root beer. put the pork back in the crock pot & shred with two forks. dump an 18 oz bottle of bbq sauce over the top, stir to combine, & give it a few minutes to warm if you had the bbq sauce in the fridge (like me). serve on buns. (have buns okay? don't be like me & scramble to find ingredients to make a quasi-acceptable bun at 730 @ night!)

viola.
our magical combination, lest you think you need primo ingredients... a .50 cent chek root beer from winn dixie & a bottle of kraft honey hickory smoked bbq sauce.
 the cheap kind. no fancy schmancy bbq sauce here.

AND if you ARE one of those sonny's addicts, well, then you can measure out
& pour 18 oz of sonny's sweet bbq sauce out of your GINORMUS bottle of bbq from sam's club.
or open up the equivalent of single serving packets you have hoarded away in a drawer in your kitchen.
'cause you KNOW you do.
(see, i have lived with addicts all my life. i know the tell tale signs!)

xo-k

linking to:

9.27.2011

recipe: chocolate peppermint cookies

these cookies..
ohh.. these cookies could get someone into REAL trouble..
someone like.. oh.. ME.
aaaand maybe you too.
it's like my aunt susan said 'look out thin mints, there is a new cookie in town'
well, maybe that's not EXACTLY what she said...
but i'm thinking your pockets just may love you if you kick your girl scout cookie addiction
& make these instead! :)

i woke up saturday morning with a fire under my butt.
i am on this kick... and i'm not sure how long it'll last.. but i'm going to ride it out.
but more about the actual 'kick' in another post.

because these cookies...


these cookies here...
good Lord they deserve their own post.

i'm going to call them:
chocolate peppermint-with-out-the-patty cookies
(or just damn good cookies, m'kay?)

and because i was in the thick of cookie making
& not really thinking about blogging
i have no 'in the process' pictures
just think of it this way...
i've spared you all the tempting-drool-inducing photos if you're determined to stick hard-core to that diet of yours..
(although i'm sure my mama could find something about how peppermint is good for you in SOME way)

Chocolate Peppermint-with-out-the-patty Cookies
(adapted from Hershey's)

- 1 c (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
-1 c sugar
-3/4 c packed light brown sugar
-2 tsp peppermint extract
-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
-1/2 tsp salt
-2 eggs
-2 c all purpose flour
-1/2 c Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, peppermint extract, vanilla, & salt in large bowl until creamy. Add eggs & beat well.
3. In seperate bowl mix flour, cocoa powder & baking soda. Gradually add to butter mix. Beat until well blended.
4. Place mixture covered in freezer for 10 minutes. Remove & drop rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes or until just set. DO NOT OVERCOOK. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely & place in fridge.

okay.. placing in the fridge is optional. sort of. but you're gonna want them cool. PROMISE. oh sure they were good fresh outta the oven, but there is something about a cool chocolate peppermint cookie. it's MUCH better!
and the overbaking? not good. well, for me anyways. go ahead & cook them until they are set.. but you will miss out on the fudgy peppermint goodness if you do :)

xo-k

ps. working on that dr. seuss party blog.. and some others.. stay tuned :)

linking to:
somewhat simple

9.14.2011

diy: homework board

 can i just start by saying.. editing photos lately has been a REAL drag.
i love picnik, but sometimes some batch editing tool would just be grand!
i'da had this thing posted monday if i had something like that..
'cause i started editing.. and then got waaay bored.

anywho..
picking up the the bf's son this year from school
& we (mason, rance & i) have a good 30 minute wait for him to get out..
and OF COURSE the dude is eager to get his homework out of the way so that he can play when he gets home..
so i HAD planned on getting him a clipboard..

and that's when i heard gru from despicable me, in my head say..
"LIGHT-BULB"

i remembered this post from joy's hope on 'art on the go'.
she spray painted cookie sheets & then attached cups for markers.
i thought.. well.. why not use a cookie sheet instead of a clipboard?

TA-DA!




TA-DA!

ok. so hold the applause until the end.. i'm good with that too!
(kidding. of course.)

i really REALLY didn't want to spray paint the cookie sheet.
mostly because i was trying to do this with what i had on hand.
(mama spent a LITTLE more than expected on someone's first birthday party...
and soccer stuff ain't cheap.. jus' sayin'!)
so i was peachy keen when the dude said he wanted it silver.
yea!
already silver. done & done.

i tweaked julie's idea just a bit & guy'd it up for the dude..
and add a fun little tic-tac-toe board & a car scavenger hunt.

the cookie sheet homework board thing.
(no. that's not the technical name....)




supplies:
-cookie sheet
-scrapbook papers
-car scavenger hunt list printed on cardstock
-magnets
-mod podge
-tin (mine is old from jenni bowlin kit, you could use altoids tin)
-paint brush/foam brush
-paper trimmer
-corner rounder (optional)
-magnets
-e6000
-sandpaper (optional)
-hole punch


1. measure size of inside of pan. 


2. decide on paper placements & trim paper accordingly.


3. use corner rounder on paper.


4. lightly sand surface of pan. this is optional. i've mod podged on metal without sanding, & i can't say i notice a great deal of difference... just seemed like a good thing to mention :)


5. lay a coat of mod podge down on the whole of the tray.


6. lay papers down, use a credit card or bone folder to smooth out paper.



7. lay a piece of wax paper down over the top & put something to weigh down the paper while it dries.


8. use hole punch or cut out paper to go on top of magnets for tic tac toe board. mod podge onto magnets & then mod podge again over top.


9. glue magnet to bottom of tin using e6000.


10. once the tray has sat for about a 1/2 hour you can mod podge the top. i did swirls, because.. let's face it.. it's gonna have streaks no matter, may as well make it pretty :)




sooooo...

TA-DA!!! :)

ok.
so maybe it's a tweaked version of someone else's idea..
but we've been using it for a little over a week & it's been a big hit!

whaddya think?!

9.12.2011

scrapbooking.

i don't know what's got into me the last few days..
suddenly, it just hit me that there was NOTHING stopping me from being crafty.
well, nothing besides endless time surfing pinterest.
pinterest is like.. well it's like crafters crack.
yes. i just said a website was a drug.
anyone on pinterest gonna argue with me?

ya. didn't think so.
(and if you do.. well then you are in denial)
before you know it you've spent an hour pinning away.
i've never done drugs..
but i'm thinking it starts out the same way..
trying to figure out what it's all about..
it starts small & innocent..
and then before you know it your baby is climbing up the couch like a monkey while he chomps on cheerios he found UNDER it from God knows when because you haven't had cheerios in the house in over a month.

you laugh.. but i think you know what i'm talking about..
don't you?

it's okay.
it'll be our little secret.
pinky promise!

so anyways.
(please don't send me hate mail. drugs are bad, yes. sense of humor is good, yes :)
once i got my butt off the computer i had the urge to scrapbook.
because years ago, i used to do that on a regular basis.
well. a semi-regular basis.

ok.
so monthly. i scrapbooked monthly.
i haven't scrapbooked in.. 6 months.
bad.
bad because i miss it.. not because i have this crazy idea that i'll ever be caught up.
(ha! who are these 'caught up' people, show me. 'cause they ain't livin' right!)

bla bla.
so here they are. :)








you know what feels good?
buying nothing new.
you know what else?
loving it all, despite the lack of 'new' supplies.
everything flows much better when i'm true to my own style.
how 'bout you?
i'm a doodler & a lover of masking tape.
it's not for everyone.
and i free-form journal.
just draw some lines.. start writing.
it's not pre-thought out.
if i need more lines, i draw them.
simple. as. that.

xo-k

ps.. if you are interested in supplies, you can find them listed here under each layout :) 

pps.. if you are reading this andrea.. thank you. you helped spark the urge to scrapbook :)

9.09.2011

recipe: gooey mug cake

THREE ingredient gooey mug cake no less.
and did i mention one of those ingredients was chocolate?!
ya...
this is WAY easy and TOTALLY sinful stuff we are talking about here..

found this recipe on pinterest..
('cause if you've stuck around here long enough.. you'll know i hardly come up with them on my own!)

it's so easy...


an egg, some powdered sugar, & a little cocoa powder.
50 seconds in the microwave in a coffee cup..
HEAVEN..
i'm telling you..

so.. uhm.. why are you still here?
you should be eating this chocolate gooey cake by now.
go forth and get plump.
(and then promptly blame pinterest for your expanding waist size.. 'cause i totally am!)

xo-k

linking to:

9.08.2011

diy: plastic bag storage

i have a GIGANTIC project to-do list..
most of which consists of projects found on/inspired by pinterest..
now that the birthday stuff is over & done with, i'm trying to cross somethings off of it..

ya know.. i don't even know if this can be called a 'project'.
it's more like a 5 minute pantry make over, that took 3 minutes.
how's that for ya? :)

if you are on pinterest you've likely seen this one floating around..
if not.. well consider yourself informed of this simple storage idea! :)


here's my pin. and the original website that posted it..
(along with much more in depth instructions, if you are interested)

i'm almost embarrassed to show you the before...
but here it is.


i really do try to remember my reusable bags, but sometimes i'm human and i forget!
(don't tell the green police!)


just cleaned out & took the label off of a clorox wipes container...
(i'm trying to break my addiction to these..they are so horrible on the environment)


separated all the bags & just shoved them into the container one by one.
i'm sure there is a more organized way of putting them in.. but honestly..
this thing is full enough with just a handful of bags that it forces them to the top..
and i don't want to have to unroll them every single time i need to shove a new bag in!


and here is the after...
(i should mention.. i'm anti-paper plates & cups...
but those things are realistic when throwing a party..
and somehow i end up with extras... ALWAYS.
you are looking at about 7 years worth of party leftovers!)


and done..!
soo much better.
i'm creative, but i can't stand clutter & disorganization.
(the dude's room drives me nuts!
why can't a 7 year old keep action figures separate from cars.. sheesh! :)
and maybe the other one is a little cuter..
but this thing is in my pantry & ain't nobody gettin' a gander at it but me..
so i ain't wastin' the time or paper ;)

using up some of my saved plastic & glass bottles. check.
organizing pantry. check.
crossing items off my to do list. check.

happy thursday!

9.07.2011

recipe: taco soup

are you ready for this?
hold on to your seats..
i'm actually going to post something other than just a 'life update'!
i know right? you're totally freaking out right now..
i can just hear the squeals of delight...

no?

::awkward::

ok.. so i'll just pretend i don't hear those crickets chirping in the background..

i actually have a recipe to share! 
yep.. a RECIPE!
aren't you excited?! 

well if you aren't... you should be! 
'cause let me tell ya.. i can get my kid to eat kidney beans, tomatoes, AND corn with this recipe.. 
three things he'd otherwise turn his nose right up at and go hungry before he'd eat! 

what is this amazing concoction that performs this outrageous task? 
TACO SOUP! 
i'm almost convinced at this point i could put taco seasoning on cabbage or liver & the kid would eat it! 
i know there are a couple variations on taco soup but i've tweaked it & this is my version.

TACO SOUP 


(i use a 4.5 quart pot)
-1lb ground beef
-1 28oz can tomato puree
-2 cans of 'ranch style' beans
-1 14oz can diced tomatoes
-2 cans corn (i had frozen so that's what i used this time)
-2 packets (or 1/2 cup) taco seasoning
-shredded cheese
-sour cream
-tortilla chips
-onion


1. brown ground beef & drain. (ok.. so uhm.. i'll admit sometimes i don't drain it...)


2. dump in the tomato puree, beans, diced tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning.


3. fill remainder of pot with water. bring to boil & then reduce to simmer for an hour. if you use can corn you can just bring it to a boil & then turn it down & serve. i like to let the frozen corn cook a little longer.


4. serve topped with cheese, a little fresh chopped onion, a dollop of sour cream & some tortilla chips on the side!

again.. i know it's just a version of the several recipes out there. the one i started with called for ranch dressing mix instead of taco seasoning.. for me, that just seemed a little silly.. so i went right for the taco seasoning. and because my little dude is a burrito bottomless pit.. i started buying it in this value size (which i've only found at walmart.. fyi) one of these days i'll get around to mixing up my own seasoning.. one of these days..

9.06.2011

life.

i'm sitting here on the couch, trying to find the motivation to do something, anything...
i REALLY wanted to soak in the weather...
i am still recovering from the weekend's lack of sleep & partying..
i figured i deserved a nap in the hubs reclining chair on the back porch while the wind was blowing
& it was raining..
sounds ideal right?
couldn't wait for the babe to go down for his nap..
and then of course it stopped raining..
AND got about as stagnant & humid as a puddle in a swamp!

so i decided i'd update with cellphone pictures from last week.
i'm still totally loving this method of capturing the day to day..
i don't feel like i'm missing out on as much..



1. seriously contemplating saving some micheals or joann's 40% off coupons for this creepy old guy. i love this time of year in stores.. halloween decor makes my heart sing! :)

2. my new obsession/weakness. i know i'm probably late to this party.. but i'm really not much of a candy bar girl. or candy at all in general. (ice cream is my kryptonite!) but, true story.. i needed to break a $20 to get cash to pay for the dudes soccer registration, and so i picked it up. i may or may not have had a total of 3 this week. shame shame on me.. i blame it on party planning stress (and frequent grocery store visits!)

3. the dude has some SERIOUS homework for the first time. writing sentences. while he is completely capable of doing his demand writing, having to use a particular word in a sentence was a new thing for him, and understandably a little difficult. hopefully it's a little easier for him this week. (oh, and a fractions worksheet.. does his teacher know his mother gets hives looking at fractions?! how dare she!)

4. made giada's italian baked chicken & pastina. o.m.g. is there ANYTHING that smells more heavenly than sauteing garlic & onions in butter?! i think not!

5. play time with the babe. part of my 'be present' mind set. so funny to watch him freak out when i stack his blocks.. he DOES NOT like it!
6. pricing soccer gear @ kmart.. i walked down an aisle & caught site of these ketchup flavored chips.. i remember a time not so long ago i actually dipped plain ruffles in ketchup. i'm not sure ketchup flavored chips would replace that experience!
7. new pick up line is lame. last two years we had pick up in front of the school & were in & out in a heartbeat.. this year my big second grader got shifted to the back car line & as they have buses to load first it takes F O R E V E R!
8. making extra weekly trips to the grocery store for milk. we are now a 2 gallon a week family, and with a fridge the size of a beverage cooler, that means mid-week milk pick ups. it's my 15 minutes of mommy time. i'm also trying to grow out my bangs, and they are just long enough now they are always in my eyes & driving me crazy.. i'll spare you the bobby pinned bad hairdo i usually sport at home! :)
9. serious conversations overheard from a 5 & 7 year old. the dude explaining to cogan how your soul & your body are different... and how his papa's soul went to heaven.. his method of explanation?! tom & jerry & tom's trip through the pearly gates via golden steps. i seriously had to hold in the laughter, it was such a heavy convo for two little ones. followed shortly by the dude asking if your brain was you telling you what to do, and your heart was God telling you what to do... smart boy that one..
10. cheater's dinner after a day of last minute shopping for the babe's party. publix rotisserie chicken & stauffer's mac & cheese. total comfort food.
11. pecan caramel turtles. via pinterest. for the babe's party.
12. the babe, chowing down on his smash cake at this party. he was totally into it. he pretty much devoured most of it. i think he is still.. uhm.. giving me the gift of red food coloring back.. 2 days later!

i promise to post pictures soon of the babe's party..
just have to get myself & my household back in working order first! :)

xo-k
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