Spray Grounds!

I joined a meet up group for mommies and today was the first time that I participated in a get together at a local spray ground. I decided to get there early and I'm glad that I did. It wasn't too crowded but by the time that we left it was packed and there were a lot of bigger kids there.

I thought that Stephanie would enjoy it more but she just hung around on the grass getting into other people's strollers and looking for snacks. Getting wet was not on her agenda today.

Stephanie not looking at me


Now neither of them are looking at me.


Alright, mom, I'm looking...can you leave me alone?!?


It's a nice outing for the babies. Since today is Alex's last day of school I'd like to go more often. We can go early in the morning and be back in time for naps and Alex can still have plenty of time to hang with her friends. Having the extra help will be great and maybe Stephanie will be braver about getting wet with her big sister there.

More Coupons!

It's Friday so that means I have some coupons to share!

Click here for 20% off with any $25 purchase at Bath & Body Works. The online code is 20SALE.

Click here for coupons for baby gear at Babies R Us. Coupons are good through Friday, June 25 - Sunday, June 27.

Click here for $5 off of your purchase of $25 at AC Moore. Coupon is good Friday, June 25 & Saturday, June 26.

Click here for 15% off at Kohl's. The online code is LOWEST4U Coupon is good in store and online from June 23 - July 5.

Happy Shopping!

Sour Cream Pork Chops

It's getting entirely too hot to cook here. We don't have a grill so all of my cooking needs to be done indoors in an apartment without central a/c. I do have an oscillating fan in the kitchen but more importantly a crock pot.

I had just finished watching USA defeat Algeria in the World Cup when I realized that I still had not decided how I was going to cook my pork chops. It has been disgustingly hot and humid outside so I turned to my trusty crock pot and began searching online for a recipe.

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com. I posted the recipe below without any changes. I only did a few things differently. I only used 4 pork chops and I did not use any onions but only because I didn't have any. When it was time to add flour to the sour cream I decided to also add some more garlic powder and pepper. Salt wasn't necessary since the sauce was already salty. Oh and since I got a late start I cooked it on high for 3 hours and then switched it to low for another couple of hours.

Browned pork chops


YUM...dinner is served!




Sour Cream Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 6 pork chops
• salt and pepper to taste
• garlic powder to taste
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 2 cubes chicken bouillon
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

Directions

1. Season pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and then dredge in 1/2 cup flour. In a skillet over medium heat, lightly brown chops in a small amount of oil.
2. Place chops in slow cooker, and top with onion slices. Dissolve bouillon cubes in boiling water and pour over chops. Cover, and cook on Low 7 to 8 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
4. After the chops have cooked, transfer chops to the oven to keep warm. Be careful, the chops are so tender they will fall apart. In a small bowl, blend 2 tablespoons flour with the sour cream; mix into meat juices. Turn slow cooker to High for 15 to 30 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Serve sauce over pork chops.

My verdict: Very easy and yummy. It was a bit salty so next time I'd cut back a bit on the salt while seasoning the pork chops. Also my sauce was a bit lumpy even though I whisked in the sour cream mixture. It didn't affect the taste at all though. I'd make it again except that next time I'd temper the sour cream first before adding it to the crock pot.

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons!

So since I've been completely M.I.A. lately I've decided to do something different with my blog. Add coupons! I'm not much of a shopper but when I do need to shop I almost always have a coupon handy to save $. I am signed up to several websites so I get emails pretty frequently. I decided to post them on here to 1. pass on the savings and 2. to keep me active on this blog.

My first coupon for Kohl's is for 15% off of your purchase or 20% off of your purchase if you spend $100 or more. The online code is FREEFORME100 or you can click here for your printable in store coupon. This coupon is good from June 17 - 20.

I also have a coupon for AC Moore but it is only good for Saturday, June 19. Click here for 50% off one regular priced item.

Click here for $15 off for ever $75 you spend at Loft. The online code is SALE15. For a limited time there is free shipping on all orders of $125 or more. N0 code needed. This coupon is good until June 20.

Click here for $10 off of your purchase of $40 at Bath & Body Works. The online code is SALE40. This coupon is good until June 27.

That's all for now. As I get more coupons I will post them and I hope to get back to cooking and crocheting.

Wow...where have I been?

I'm starting to get lazy when it comes to cooking. I've been making the same meals over and over again. I promise to do better.

I have, however, been crocheting and I made this water bottle holder for my oldest daughter Alexandra.



I had found a pattern online that I was trying to follow but it wasn't turning out right so I undid the whole thing and winged it. I'm pleased with how it turned out. I made the strap wide because I decided to add a pocket for Alex's cell phone.

I'd like to make another one and this time I'll write down how I made it so that I can post the pattern for anyone who'd like to make one.

Books Read in 2010

Ever since I received The Kindle as a gift I have been reading something every.single.day. So much more than I ever have before. Add that to the fact that my daughter came home with Twilight so I decided to see what the fuss was about and now I'm hooked.

I plan to update as I finish each book. A lot of these are free downloads from Amazon. I can't wait to see how many books I finish by the end of the year.

1. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
2. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer
3. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
4. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
5. A Promise To Remember* - Kathryn Cushman
   
6. Slow Hands* - Leslie Kelly
   
7. Irresistible Forces* - Brenda Jackson
   
8. The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks
9. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
10. Sundays at Tiffany's - John Patterson
11. Mistress By Mistake* - Maggie Robinson
12. Secrets of the Tudor Court* - D.L. Bogdan
13. Dancing in the Moonlight* - RaeAnne Thayne
14. Tender Graces* - Kathryn Magendie
15. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella - Stephenie Meyer
16. Handle With Care - Jodi Picoult
17. Forgotten: Seventeen and Homeless* - Melody Carlson
    
18. Change of Heart - Jodi Picoult
19. The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet
    

*Free download from Amazon - don't judge the trashy novels :-)

Carrot Lentil Soup

I'm always on a mission to get my middle daughter to eat something that is not bread or goldfish crackers. So I was especially excited to find this recipe for Carrot Lentil Soup. I love lentils since they are fantastic sources of protein and fiber. Two things that I know Stephanie is not getting enough of in her daily diet.

The soup is very easy to make. I followed the recipe exactly and the next time that I make it I will add more carrots. I'm not sure if my carrots were on the small side but it wasn't a pretty orange like I saw in the original recipe.




I wasn't even going to take a picture because it looks like something I'd find in Eva's diaper. Looks aside, this was one yummy soup! I love how the carrots gave the soup just a hint of sweetness.

I took a bunch of plastic containers to freeze the soup into portions to have on hand for Stephanie's lunch. I'd like to double or even triple this recipe because I think it would be awesome for everyone to have for lunch with a sandwich.

Carrot Lentil Soup

1 1tbsp tbsp (15 mL) canola oil
3 3carrotcarrots, sliced
2 2oniononions, chopped
2 2cloves garlic, minced
1 1tbsp tbsp (15 mL) minced ginger root
1 1tsp tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
1/2 1/2tsp tsp (2 mL) salt
1/4 1/4tsp tsp (1 mL) pepper
6 6cups cups (1.5 L) vegetable stock or chicken stock
3/4 3/4cup cup (175 mL) red lentils

Garnish
2 2tbsp tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh coriander or parsley
1/2 1/2cup cup (125 mL) plain low-fat yogurt
(Alternately, sour cream and dill)

Heat oil in saucepan over medium. Cook everything except the lentils and stock in the oil for about 5 minutes (until onions start to soften).

Add stock and lentils. Bring to boil, then simmer 20 minutes. When carrots and lentils are soft, puree soup with immersion blender or in batches in regular blender.

Garnish with herbed yogurt or sour cream when serving. This soup freezes well.