Maple- Glazed Pork

I have had this on my menu many times over the years, but never offered the recipe.
I got this from a Weight Watchers cookbook magazine in 2005, but it's delicious! And fast. :)

Maple-Glazed Pork

Prep: 4 minutes  Cook: 10 minutes

4 (4 oz) boneless center-cut loin pork chops, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons maple or maple-flavored syrup

1. Sprinkle pork with thyme, salt and pepper. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove from pan; set aside.
2. Add vinegar to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add syrup; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Return chops to pan, and cook 2 minutes.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop and about 1 tablespoon sauce)

Points value: 4
Per serving: 192 Calories, 8.1g Fat

Menu Plan Monday--September 27, 2010

This coming month I'm aiming to prepare many of our "cheap meals". Not always as exciting, but with unexpected expenses that popped up, it's easier to adjust the grocery budget.

Monday: Maple Glazed Pork, Potatoes, green bean casserole
Tuesday: Grilled Cheese & the most awesome Potato Soup
Wednesday: Spaghetti with marinara
Thursday: TBD (probably something with Chicken)
Friday: Boys' Night--Breakfast for Dinner

Happy Birthday to my nephew Nolan!!! 

Gluing is FUN Stuff!

For Brennan, it is.
The kid loves to glue. It's fun for him, so we've been gluing more.
We're practicing his use of scissors, too, but that one is still tricky for him.

I'm enjoying doing some school-work at home with Brennan, just like I did with Aidan.
I'm still in shock Brennan is ALREADY old enough for me to do this stuff with, but he loves it, and our one-on-one time is priceless. It's doing us both some good.

Between this and story time at the library, I'm seeing how much Brennan is growing up.
It's cute.
It's adorable.
It's melting my heart a little.

Welcome to the 30 Club, Erin!

Happy Birthday, Erin!!!

Adios to your 20's, and welcome to the THIRTIES!!!
I think it will be a great decade for you.
If I could, I'd give you 30 packs of

 

&

 

How about the next time I see you? ;) 

I hope you're having a wonderful birthday!!! You deserve it.

Menu Plan Monday--September 20, 2010

Good Morning! I'm looking forward to trying some new recipes this week, and most especially, welcoming FALL! I love Fall. :) Leaves are starting to change around here & it's just beautiful.

Italian Sausage and Potato Roast (thanks to OrgJunkie for this one)

Cowboy Pot Pie

Veggie Stir-Fry

Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce,  Salad

Corn Chowder with corn muffins on the side

Potato Soup (not the exact recipe I use, but close enough)

Our soups will offer soup & sandwich night one night this week & next, and probably some tasty lunches, too. 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

Kicking Off FALL!

I love fall! Is there a more gorgeous time of year? A time of year with more scrumptious smells?

We had a nice weekend with some Fall activities.
Ohio State game on Saturday (I'm not a football fan, but college football isn't too bad;). I love playing an Ohio State fan over a Michigan fan, too. Of course the Buckeyes creamed the other team (Ohio University).
The sound of football on in my house=sounds of fall.

Our downtown had their annual Harrison Rally Day parade and festivities:
Harrison Rally Day is named for a presidential rally held in Perrysburg in the 1800s for William Henry Harrison, an important figure in the evolution of the Northwest Territory who went on to become the ninth president of the United States.

We've gone to the parade each year we've lived here, and it's becoming a nice tradition to kick off fall.

the boys before the parade began, forced/fake smiles & all

cool old-fashioned car

having fun one an inflatable

Brennan playing some baseball

Phew! He made it through the obstacle course

This year we got Brennan's yard-stake pumpkin. (last year we got Aidan's)

I love seeing the fall decorations and craft booths set up. We will be decorating for fall soon. Remember last year?

It's a cool morning, we're heading to church soon, then buying some fresh pork to make dinner with later today.

It's going to be a family day, with trees changing colors, us finding our fall decorations, and maybe making some soup. :)

Fall is quite welcome here.

Moms of Boys Work "Son Up to Son Down"

Haven't ya heard that one? ;)
Well the truth is, ALL parents, especially moms, work sun up to sun down, if you ask me.

But for the play on words, yes, SON up to SON down.
Why?
Because the ultrasound showed we're having another BOY! 
My 3 sons! (will it ever get old saying that?)

I was not surprised, as the past 2-3 weeks I've been feeling like it's a boy.
Slightly disappointed in NOT being surprised, if that makes any sense.

His name is still being discussed, but we have a few solid ideas. It will most likely start with a "C" and be of Irish origin, just like Aidan & Brennan's names.

So I'm the mom of THREE boys.
We've got the trains. We've got the cars. We're getting the better-boy outdoor toys.
I think we can certainly do this. :)

To mark the day, here is a picture of me & the baby, 16 weeks 6 days along: (Aidan took it)

And I HAD to do some shopping. Fortunately we found this cute, tiny little thing:

Heck yes! Cuteness. :)

Happy Birthday to SUE!!!

Here are some of your virtual favorite things. :)

(another Edward)

Anita's!

If I could give them all to you, I would. 

Happy Birthday!!

Ultrasound TOMORROW!

9 a.m. tomorrow morning I have an ultrasound. I am 16 weeks, 5 days.
There is a VERY good chance the technician will be able to tell us what we're having, and I really hope to find out!

Boy or girl?
Girl or boy?

Most of this pregnancy I've been all "this better be a girl!".
I admit, I would like to see what it'd be like to have a daughter.

But lately, I've felt strongly it's another boy, and that has really started to appeal to me, too.
I mean, I have 2 adorable boys already. Why not a 3rd?!
And yes, saying "my 3 sons" puts a smile on my face.

I know how to "do" boys. I have boy clothes, boy toys. I'm used to it.

Then the thought of a girl.
A large part of me thinks this could be our last one. With 2 losses to our history, aiming for more than what we've got doesn't seem practical. It's in God's hands, of course, but who knows what the future holds.
IF I knew for sure this was our last baby, then I'd be more hopeful specifically for a girl.

I guess what I'm saying is, either way, it's good.
Give me healthy, of course.
After that, we'll take what we've got. ;)

Brennan the "Big Kid"

He's 3 & all, but with Aidan always around, Brennan is more viewed as the "little brother".  Aidan is referred to as the big kid.

Aidan is back in school now, though, and Brennan & I have gained a lot of one-on-one time.
Oh my goodness, seeing Brennan in ways, situations now where he is THE kid, it's heart-warming. An eye opener.

Brennan is now starting to do activities that Aidan did at that age. I remember it so clearly because Brennan was just a newborn when Aidan was 3! We hadn't even lived in Ohio a year yet.
So much has changed. Seeing Brennan now doing the "Aidan" things really shows how much he's growing up, too.
In his own way.

They're so much alike, yet entirely different.

Today was the first day for preschool story time at our amazing library. I think "story time at the library", I think Aidan. I think Brennan crawling around.
Not any more!
It's  now BRENNAN.

He was great! I admit, I was nervous. He's a much more aggressive person than Aidan, and I expected a little bit of difficulty.
But no.
He sat still for all 4 stories, participated in the songs, marched around with the pom-poms, etc. It was thrilling to see. To see the excitement and smile in his eyes, and hear him proudly tell us that HE went to "library school".
He's already old enough to do the formerly-Aidan things.

It was a busy, great day. (up until after school;)
Brennan shared with no problems at the library, and he was a gem during story time. We went from there to help with the walking club during recess at Aidan's school, and again, Brennan was great.
He has really matured.

Later at home we practiced his writing, glueing, and use of scissors. Boy those scissors are tricky for him! ;) We also did his Fall Handprint Wreath. Remember Aidan's?

THIS is the reward to parenting.
Seeing it, in an obvious way, for yourself, how your kids are growing. Maturing.
Not all moments are perfect. Not even close.
But the moments are better, and the days more enjoyable.

Brennan is now one of the big kids.
It happened so fast.

Blog Neglect (full of randomness)

Oops.
I had a post started & saved, but the picture upload kept failing, then it was the weekend, etc.

My girls' weekend was very nice. Once we were all together, it was as if time stood still, resuming only when the 3 of us started chatting. It was a nice feeling & get away.

I returned home with a cold, and a week later, it's still annoying me. 

Plus Thursday is pay day, which means we are on slim pickings for groceries in the house right now. I want everything we don't have, and everything I shouldn't eat. Like a sirloin from Longhorn's.

Speaking of pay day, we finally did our written budget again. We had gotten our of practice during the summer. Amazing what peace of mind it gives me, doing that usually-simple act. Cash can certainly feel like king...in both the powerful way, as well as the authoritative way. (like now)

On the home improvement front, we scheduled with a local company for out shower/tun to be re-done. Given the way our 1955 house has settled, the store-bought usual surrounds would not be adequate enough. I am thrilled to know our bathroom will be improved and much more sanitary, yet I also cringe & think "the joys of being a homeowner", knowing what else we could do with that money.

I take comfort in knowing we live in a town where our property value has gone up, and this truly is an investment in our home. A home I really hope to sell within 3 years.

Pregnancy: I'm 16 weeks now, showing for sure, enjoying ligament pains (not), and still tired as all get out. I have an appointment this coming Friday, with a scheduled ultrasound! It's not the "big one", since the primary purpose is to check my cervix. (tmi? Sorry! it's my blog;)
Still, I am so very hopeful we'll leave that visit knowing if I'm growing a boy or girl.
What do you think we're having?

Other kids: ha. Aidan is doing very well in 1st grade. His teacher is one tough cookie! Math seems to be a strength of his, and I love that. He has done very well on his Religion tests so far, and his fluency in Reading is really coming along. It's a huge difference from kindergarten, comparing the work load. 2 book "reports"/story maps a week, a Religion test each Friday, and about 50 various flash cards we're supposed to review nightly. Fortunately he doesn't mind homework, and he really loves school.
Oh, and his first soccer game for this season was Saturday. :)

Brennan is starting his first official Preschool Story Time at our library this Wednesday. He is excited about "library school". We are really blessed with an amazing library in our town.
Brennan & I also do some coloring and tracing and letter writing each day. My goal is to work on his fine motor skills. The problem? Brennan has convinced himself he can't write  a capital "B" on his own.
Interesting challenge. Any tips?

That's my lengthy, random catch-up post. Thanks for popping by!

Menu Plan Monday--September 6, 2010

Monday: Labor Day--> Hubby's choice (grilling out?)
Tuesday: Tex-Mex Rice & Bean Casserole
Wednesday: Crockpot Applesauce Chicken 
Thursday: Seven-Layer Dinner
Friday: Easy Fried Rice

Wordless Wednesday: My TV fix until Fall shows resume