Crockpot Brown Sugar Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin

I'm happy to say that I'm back at my blog! It's been an adjustment period with the arrival of our new little girl, but I must say I wouldn't change things for the world!  She has only made life more enjoyable and each day is a memory I cherish!

However, that being said, having a new little one and getting back to work and my normal routine has been a challenge.  Thus, the great invention of the crockpot comes into play!  I couldn't survive without my crockpot!  I've found a great new addition to my recipe repertoire and my husband loves it (and he is sometimes hard to please).  I thought I'd share the addition of this easy recipe with all of my followers, so here goes nothing.

CROCKPOT BROWN SUGAR BALSAMIC GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN
Note from Author:  This recipe is adapted from:  http://laurassweetspot.com/2013/06/12/crockpot-brown-sugar-balsamic-glazed-pork-tenderloin/

• 1teaspoon ground sage
• 1/2teaspoon salt
• 1/4teaspoon pepper
• 2cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2cup water
• 2pounds pork loin roast
• 1/2cup brown sugar
• 1tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2cup water
• 2tablespoons soy sauce

1. Mix together the seasonings : sage, salt, pepper and garlic, and rub over the pork loin.
2. Place 1/2 cup water in slow cooker, followed by the pork loin, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours (depending on size).
3. "MY QUICK AND DIRTY METHOD FOR THE GLAZE":  Just before the roast is finished, mix together the ingredients for the glaze in a small saucepan : brown sugar, cornstarch, balsamic vinegar, water, and soy sauce.
4. Heat over medium and stir until mixture thickens, about 4 minutes.  Serve on top of roast.
5. "FOR THOSE WITH THE LUXURY OF TIME GLAZE":  The original recipe states to prepare glaze 1 hour before roast is done and then to brush roast with glaze 2-3 times during the last hour of cooking.  You can also caramelize the glaze on the roast by lining a pan with aluminum foil and placing the roast on the pan, and then placing under broiler for 1-2 minutes until bubbly, repeating until crust consistency is reached.  
6. Serve with remaining glaze on the side.

ENJOY!

DIY Painted Onesies

Start by printing a template that you like.  I simply used Microsoft Word and found a fun font.  If you don't have one that you like, download one for free from 1001 Free Fonts.  

After getting my text typed into the word processing program, I then found my clip-art that I wanted to pair the text with.  In Microsoft Word you can view a ruler, thus, allowing visual measurements of how big your onesie design will be when printed.  I measured my onesie across the chest and found a good height and width for it, then proceeded to print.  Every brand of onesie varies in size and also depends on style, so measuring is a must for best fit!

After printing out my onesie design, I cut it out with scissors and traced it onto my onesie.  It would have been easier to use my old trick of printing out on freezer paper (plastic/waxy side down) and then ironing on the letters and peeling them off after tracing, but I just held them in place because I was feeling lazy).

Completed template shown above.

After I started filling in the letters and outlining.  I let dry between each color to avoid smearing and mixing of colors.

COMPLETED ONESIE READY TO BE WASHED AND WORN BY MINI MONTROY!  I think it's super cute!

Daddy Survival Kit for Labor and Delivery

Since we have one day until Baby Montroy has made it until 40 weeks, both Mommy and Daddy have been going stir crazy.  Since I've had extra time to pass, and my birthday and Valentine's Day are around this time, I didn't want my husband to feel left out, so I undertook making him a Daddy Survival Kit for Labor and Delivery!

As you can see there are many of the essentials he may require during the waiting time for baby!  I've included many of his favorites and a few surprises I'm sure he will love, but the joy is that these kits can be customized for the particular labor coach it is being given to.  My husband's survival kit includes:

• Mountain Dew (his caffeinated drink of choice)
• A 5 Hour Energy (in case Mountain Dew just isn't cutting it)
• Great Value Penguin Cheddar Crackers 
• Life Savers Gummies and Hard Candies (because let's be realistic, he's my "lifesaver" and I couldn't do this without him!)
• Snickers Minis (Since we all need to remember to laugh at times)
• Trail Mix to snack on and something relatively healthy that I may also snack on since it's light and hopefully won't upset my tummy
• Kleenex with Lotion (because he may just need a soft tissue to wipe his own or my tears and the hospital ones you can pretty much see through)
• A shirt for him to wear that will make him smile (Proudly displaying the quote "I make adorable babies")
• A book for him to read to our new little peanut

Although this has been what seems like the longest pregnancy ever, I am grateful that our baby has made it this far and has been given the best chance for a healthy delivery.  In addition, being allowed the extra time to do some "fun" stuff for my husband and baby has been very rewarding, especially since I find crafting and using my creative side to be most relaxing!

One of Many Christmas Traditions---Cookie Baking With Grammy

It's that time of year once again, Christmastime!  One of my favorite family traditions is that of baking Christmas cookies with my Grammy.  We usually tackle many cookies and recently added this family favorite.  From our family to yours, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as our family and friends do!

OREO BALLS

Ingredients:

16 ounces Oreo cookies, crushed (typically 1 full package & five extra cookies from another package)

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

White or Milk Chocolate Bark for dipping

1.      Crush Oreo cookies in the food processor.

2.      Mix crushed Oreos and softened cream cheese together.  I use a wooden spoon and cream together.

3.      Roll into walnut size balls and place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

4.      Freeze in deep freezer for an hour and a half.

5.      Melt chocolate bark.

6.      Stick toothpick in Oreo ball and dip into melted chocolate bark.

7.      Place on wax paper and remove toothpick.

8.      Allow to harden.

9.      Drizzle with alternating color chocolate if you so desire.  To achieve the look as shown, I put melted chocolate into a small Ziploc and cut a very tiny corner off and then quickly squeeze back and forth above the Oreo balls.  Once again, let harden completely and then store Oreo balls in refrigerator.

**To make mint Oreo balls, add ¾ tsp mint flavoring and use Mint flavored Oreo cookies.  They taste just like Andes mints!  Yum!**

DIY: Tiling Under the Bathroom Sink

A super easy project I tackled in two hours and it changes the whole look of the bathroom!  I got those peel and stick tiles in the bathroom section for 89 cents a piece from Menards.  I started in the corner and measured the tiles according, just cutting with scissors and box cutter around the shelving and edges.  After I was sure they would all fit and had them cut according, I peeled off the sticky backing and started at the right and going left to get a tight fit.

BEFORE

AFTER

It looks great and is so much easier to clean!  Such an easy and cheap update for under $10.  I also repainted underneath the sink to get rid of those stains.

Baked Mini Corn Dogs!

I'm easily talked into making anything once.  My husband and I love what we call football foods----nachos, corn dogs, mini tacos, pizza, pretty much anything that can be bought in the frozen section at the grocery store.  Instead of buying it and feeling oh so guilty later, we try to put a healthier spin on it and sometimes it turns out and sometimes it doesn't.  I would make these again, but the corn dogs could use a little sweetness, probably some honey would put them into the definitely make category.  Matt enjoyed them though so I guess I can't complain.

Adapted from:  http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/recipe/pork/baked-corn-dogs/

Nonstick cooking spray
6       turkey cheese dogs, halved
3/4    cup flour--I used Whole Wheat White All-Purpose
1/3    cup yellow cornmeal
1       Tbsp. Splenda
1       tsp. baking powder
1/4    tsp. dry mustard
1/8    tsp. salt
1/3    cup skim milk
1       egg, lightly beaten
1       tsp. olive oil (it's all I had on hand)
)

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

2.  In a medium bowl, mix together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, dry mustard, and salt.
 

3.  In a small bowl, combine milk, egg, and oil. Add milk mixture to flour mixture and mix just until combined.  It will be thick.

4.  Take each half of hot dogs and dip into batter.  (Note:  I found it easier to dip and then use my hands to finish covering as I was placing it on the baking sheet.)  Place each hot dog on lightly sprayed baking sheet.

5.  Bake for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown.

6.  Serve with condiment of choice and enjoy!

DIY Twine-tacular Vase!

Sorry for the delay in an update.  Life's been extremely hectic and I haven't had a chance to get on the blog lately.  Never fear though, I have definitely been cooking and crafting up some new fun things which I will be sharing with you.

The first redo I will share with you is the easiest vase I made and it only cost me $9, which includes the flowers in it!  Thank you Michaels for your 50% off coupons and saving me money!

I started with a vase that my mom got at Bargain Bills about 20 years ago and it just doesn't match any of our decor since our living room is too packed to begin with and it went with the furniture.  I liked the idea of dressing up our bathroom with a little something as I always thought our rental was pretty bleak but I didn't want to go over the top.  When I was on Pinterest I kept seeing wine bottles made with hemp or twine covering them and I thought, I can totally do that to this vase!  It's a pretty self explanatory process, just be careful not to burn your fingers---I might have a few times when I got distracted by the TV I was watching.

I started at the top and worked my way down so I was sure that the vase would sit flat when I was done.  It's easier to tuck the hemp inside the top just a bit and then wrap over it to cover it.  I then  slowly and steadily put a small line of glue, pressed hemp on, glue, hemp, glue, hemp, etc.  When I finally got to the bottom, I set it on a counter and continued to wrap until just covered so I was sure not to obscure the bottom and make the vase tippy.  Since it was at the bottom, there was no need to hide the end as it pretty much blended in.

Please excuse the sweat---no air conditioning plus hot glue gun on a 100+ degree day=overheated me!

TA DA!  New vase and flowers with a rustic but pleasant vibe.