Layered Pork

I'm going to share one of my favorite pork recipes that involve a crock pot. There are two ways that you can make this: the regular way and the soup way (a personal favorite).

Layered Pork

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Use your 5-gal crock.

6 center-cut pork chops, whole (if you're not using center-cut, cut off the bones and fat)

dash of celery salt

dash of seasoning salt

fresh ground pepper (I'm picky about my pepper)

1 can cream of mushroom

1 can cream of celery

2 soup cans of water

6 baking potatoes (or 9 red potatoes), cubed

2 cups of baby carrots, or the equivalent of chopped regular carrots.

2 stalks of celery, or the same mass of shredded cabbage (I've tried and loved both)

1 large onion or two small chopped (I keep mine fairly chunky)

Turn your crock on HIGH and layer in order from bottom to top: carrots, celery (or cabbage), 3 pieces of pork, potatoes, onions, rest of pork. Then in a seperate container combine the soups, water, salts, and pepper. Add it on top of your layers. Cover and cook for 7-9 hours.

Soup Version

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Instead of leaving the pork whole, chop them up to about a square inch thick. Add 1 extra can of cream of celery and 1 more soup can of water. You obviously don't have to worry about putting these in any particular layer either. Cook the same amount of time.

Up and Coming Party

It's that time of year again! Our 3rd annual 4th of July bash!

It's the one holiday that I get to host all by myself! It's becoming quite the friends and family event (to the point that people that I generally don't see make appearances).

I can't give away my party plans as of yet. I like to suprise everyone with decor and food, but it will be amazing!

BUT I will be making a fun themed desert that I will be posting a recipe for. So stay tuned for that!

So now I just have to finish up the 23 random unfinished projects (bathroom reno and patio come to mind?) around the house and everything will be all set!

And a special thanks to Cindy & Troy. This party will definately be the best yet thanks to your help with the concrete patio! I appreciate it a million times over!

Tammy's Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake

So late last night I recieved a recipe for a carrot cake. Here's a little backstory:

My step-dad works with this guy. The guy's wife cooks for the Wrigley's. As in the owners of Wrigley Field (or the gum, if you don't care about baseball). They own a cabin up north, and this woman does their cooking while they are at their cabin. She's absolutely amazing.

Tammy's Old-fashioned Carrot Cake

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4 eggs

2 c sugar

3 c shredded carrots (I shred my own)

1 80z pkg cream cheese-softened

1 1/2 veg oil

2 c flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

10 oz crushed pineapple-drained (I use the stuff in heavy syrup for more flavor)

1 c chopped walnuts

In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, cream cheese, oil, and carrots. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a seperate bowl. Gradually add to carrot mixture. Beat in pineapple chunks and nuts. Pour into greased 9x13 pan (I used a spring-form pan so that I could frost the sides and display it). Bake 55-60 min at 350 degrees. Let cool and spread on frosting.

Frosting

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1 80z pkg cream cheese-softened

1/4 c butter

2 tsp. vanilla

4 c powdered sugar

Mix it all up and spread it on your cake

***I also bought sliced pineapples for an embellishment on top. It's not in the recipe, but I love embellishments.***

Father's Day

Sorry I haven't done much on here for the past few days.

Father's Day:
-Woke up to pain that actually made me deaf in my left ear. I either pulled a muscle or moved a disk. All I know is that my head won't turn left.
-Grumpy for reasons unmentionable
-Sad b/c I miss my dad terribly and wishing that I could still celebrate this day with him.
-Proud of myself for suprising my husband with a trip that he LOVED with the kids.
-Annoyed that I got a speeding ticket for going 60 in a 55. Must be the end of the month =P
-Happy that my step-dad enjoyed his father's day gift
-Heart-broken to see my cat dieing. Poor guy couldn't even lift his head....18 years was a good run though.

So Father's Day wasn't the best we've ever had.


My dearly departed----

Backsplash

I did a last minute project today (I know, I know, I still have other unfinished projects that I need to do), but I wanted a backsplash for my kitchen, so I made one.

I'm not going to post a how-to. It's simple wainscoating with embellishments. Someone at your hardware store will tell you how to install it.

But I at least want to show off pics!