This is a long post, you may want to go pee first, I'll wait

I'm using you, yes I am, You cute little red dutch oven. 

Remember when I bought her? 

I found a recipe for pork chops in a dutch oven a while back but I can't remember where, so feel free to take the credit.

Also, I'm wearing my yellow apron so you know I'm in serious cooking mode.  Yes, I stand around all day in this corner of my kitchen in my apron with a stupid look on my face.

Slice up a whole large yellow onion.  I put it on my favorite turquoise plate for your viewing pleasure.

Pour the olive oil in your dutch oven and then drop 1/2 of the onion in.  Sprinkle the onions with paprika, pepper and then the herb rub.  I do know that the original author of this recipe bought her rub in a jar but I made my own.

Arrange the pork chops on top of the onions.  Sprinkle the chops with more herb rub.  Place the rest of the onions on top of the pork chops.

Now....this is where I'm going to ask you to NOT freak out.  Ready?  Put bacon slices on top of the onions.  Yes, I said bacon!  Do you not remember who I'm married to?  Bacon is a staple, must be served at least three times a week.

  Sprinkle the top with black pepper and paprika.  Bake covered in the dutch oven at 300 degrees for about 1 hour and 25 minutes for thick chops and 1 hour for thin chops.

Dutch Oven Pork Chops

4 pork chops

Olive oil

1 large yellow onion sliced in rings

 Herb rub to taste*

Coarsely ground pepper to taste

Paprika

4 hickory smoked bacon slices

Cover bottom of dutch oven with olive oil, about 1/4 cup. Place 1/2 of onion slices over oil.

Sprinkle onions with paprika, herb rub and pepper.

Arrange pork chops on top of this. Sprinkle chops with more of the herb rub.

Place the rest of the onion rings over seasoned chops. Place bacon slices over onions and sprinkle top generously with paprika and pepper.

Bake covered in a 300 degree oven for about 1 hour and 25 minutes for thick chops and 1 hour for thin ones.

*To make the herb rub I just use equal parts, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, sage and basil.

Moving right along:

Right now, I'm reading this.

So far, I'm enjoying it.

Moving further along:

We're going camping this weekend.

That means, you guessed it, MORE BACON!

I've been making this recipe I found on Mommy's Kitchen for a while now.  I'm not allowed to go camping with our friends unless I bring it.

It's so yummy.  Crisp, sweet and Spicy.  I make it ahead of time at home, wrap in foil and then throw on the grill to heat it up when we get there.  It's also good cold.  Best snack ever!

Pig Candy aka Brown Sugar Bacon

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional)

1/2 pound thick-cut bacon, 8 slices

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Mix brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper together in a Ziplock bag. Add bacon and shake. Line a baking sheet with a wire rack and lay bacon on the rack. Pat any remaining spice mixture on the bacon. Put the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and bake until crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving dish and let cool slightly before serving.

*Note: If using thick cut peppered bacon, omit the pepper in this recipe.

Keep going, just a little further.

This is a little bit creepy.  You know how they have those lights at the dermatologist's office where it shows all the damage the sun has done on your face?  Did you know that if you edit your pictures and use the "adjust exposure" and completely decrease your highlights it does the same thing?

This picture is over-exposed but you get the "picture".  See how I did that?  Picture.  Ha Ha

Now here I am with the highlights totally decreased

Can you see all my age spots?  Crazy!

Last thing, I promise.

I'll be gone this weekend and won't be blogging so everyone have a safe, Happy Halloween!

That pic looks like me before all that dad-blamed sun damage.

Holly

xxx-ooo

These Things I Know....

These Things I Know….

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

 Meatloaf cannot be served without mashed potatoes.

When something is bothering me and my husband asks, “What’s wrong?” I will say “Nothing.”.

My husband appreciates a home cooked meal more than a steak dinner at a restaurant.

A 35 lb bag of dog food produces 52 lbs of dog poop.

I will embarrass myself at least once this week.

I am a much better dancer after a few drinks.

When the temperature in Phoenix is over 110 degrees, I will take it personally.

Spaghetti is the one food that I won’t stop eating until it’s gone, no matter how full I am.

A small compliment can change a grumpy cashier’s attitude.

Eating an entire bag of Peanut M&M’S will give me gas.

Truck drivers are not paid enough for what they do.

Coffee cannot be too strong.

One of my cats will miss the litter box today.

I am blessed beyond measure.

Holly

xxx-ooo

Gotta Boo...how about you?

Good Morning!

I didn't have any leftover pizza or cold pasta to eat for breakfast today. Next best thing.

Two scoops of raisins and a smoothie.

Need to fuel up for a big day.

House Cleaning

Work

Grocery

Pay Bills

Bank

Print flyers for pawn shops (long story)

And drop these off.

Aren't they cute?  Do you want to know what's in them?  Is the suspense killing you??  Ok, there's nothing in them yet.  But, I've got people to Boo today!

Kate over at Centsationalgirl had these printables to give to friends, so I'm joining in and boo'ing today.

I've got to run to the goodie store to fill these cute little boxes up and then I'm off to BOO!

Holly

xxx-ooo

Randomosity

Randomosity #1

My Stepmother, Sally, is so cute!  She reads my blog and tries to get my Dad to read it too.  She saw this picture on one of my posts.

I had been blathering on about my new Wrapmaster but it was the little red spice rack in the background that caught her attention.   Last night, Sally sent me an email saying that she had bought the same spice rack years ago.  It was a Griffith's spice rack.  She had bought it because at the time her last name was Griffith.  I checked into it and  YES, it was a Griffith's!  I immediately started searching Google images for labels and look what I found!

Labels!!!!  They were perfect!  We were meant to be.  What the heck was Mace?  Fenugreek?

Here's my spice rack before:

I printed out the labels on some card stock.  Then I started cutting them out.  I DID NOT major in scissors in Kindergarten. ( did you know that Kindergarten is spelled with a T not a D?  Thanks spell check)   It took me forever.  Cutting straight is sooooo hard.

Then I got to work with my Mod Podge.

After adhering the labels to the jars and letting them dry, I applied a thin coat over the jars so they would be easy to clean.

Here's what they should have looked like all along.

Thanks Sally!   I love you!

(Kelly, Sally, Dad, and Me)

Randomosity #2

Remember yesterday when I said I had a personal question?  Here it is.  What should I do with my hair?  I could really use some comments here gals.  This is what my hair looks like right after I blow dry it.

And this:

You're jealous right?

I don't have thin hair but it's not thick either but I do have a lot of it.  This is what it looks like when I finish styling it.

I know, not much better.  It looks like I'm always walking around with this on my head.

I need a new style, something easy.  Something that looks really nice on a bowling ball shaped head.  Please help me out here. 

Thanks for your support!

Holly

xxx-ooo 

Clutter Free and JackPot Monday

I think it’s important to open up to one another and show ourselves for what we are. Nothing feels better than to have a friend who can come into your home and feel comfortable enough to open up your cupboards and looks through your closet. It’s nice to have the kind of friendship where you can allow someone to see you in the morning, wearing your snowman pajama pants and your husband’s t-shirt.

I spent part of the weekend cleaning out the clutter from my kitchen cabinets so I'm ready to share now.
Let’s be friends. Go ahead, take a look around. Pretend I’m not home, look through my stuff.

That’s where I keep my baking supplies. See that turquoise lazy susan? I found that at a garage sale this weekend. It was a dirty, sticky mess with the original wood grain. My husband thought I was nuts to pay 25 cents for it. I cleaned it up and spray painted it. I love her now.

That’s where all my glasses and coffee cups are. Nothing matches. I never buy anything in sets. I have a thing for coffee cups.

That’s where I keep my plates, bowls and such. Again, nothing matches.

I cleaned out the pantry this weekend too. I had to. A bag of potatoes had gone bad way in the back. Does anything smell worse than that?  I hate this pantry!  It's deep but narrow so everything gets pushed to the back and you can't find anything, which is why I have 9 bags of pasta.

I went to Marshall's today to look for a formal dress for my daughter to wear to the Marine Corp ball but they didn't have anything so I wandered over to the home section and I hit the jackpot.

Cast iron dutch oven by Chantal.  Very heavy and I love the color. $39.99

Set of three ceramic mixing bowls $9.99.  Says they are oven safe, why would i put a mixing bowl in the oven?

Casserole dishes.  $5.99 and $6.99

I needed these for $2.99 because the dishwasher eats mine.

I think that's all I have for today.  Tomorrow I'm going to ask you some advice on something personal but now that you've seen inside my pantry we're friends, right?

Holly

xxx-ooo

Hobby Lobby and Telling Myself Off

I’m finally jumping on the Autumn crafting wagon ….weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and had about an hour to kill. I savored it. Walked slowly up and down each aisle. Let people scoot around me with their overloaded carts. I could have used two hours. I love that they put their holiday items on sale BEFORE the actual holiday. Really, who wants to buy Halloween décor in November and then climb up in their dusty attics to store it, then forget they bought it when it comes back around the following year?


I bought these two pumpkins the day before at Michaels for $2.99 each. Good deal.

I wasn’t sure want to do with them.  When I went down the aisle of markers at Hobby Lobby, I decided to buy a Sharpie and an Elmers Painters pen in Gold metalic.

I downloaded Halloween templates from here and from here.
And I just painted them on my pumpkins, they are a little plain and I will probably add to them but this is what I have so far.

I ventured down the fabric aisles and found this:

I fell in love!  I have no idea what I'm going to do with it but I'm gonna do something, just don't you worry about that!  I looked at the end of the bolt before I took it to the cutting table because I thought I may want more at some point.  I read the name.  

Self:  You need to write down the name of that.

Other Self:  I'll remember.

Self:  No you won't, you'll forget.

Other Self:  I WILL REMEMBER IT!

Self:  There's a pen in your purse, I'm just sayin.

Other Self:  Shut up.

So, I have no idea what the name of the fabric is but I just had to have it.  They also had a 50% off sale on ribbon.  A girl always needs ribbon at $1.00 each.



My sister commented that she wants me to start posting Christmas gift ideas, she's funny like that.

Cream-Filled Cupcakes and Halloween Candles

I made these yummy cupcakes for my girlfriend’s wedding and they were very good and not too difficult. I found the recipe here and tweaked it a little. They taste just like Hostess Ding Dongs.

Ingredients

• 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) devil's food cake mix

• Ingredients on the box (i.e. oil, water, eggs)

Filling

• 2 teaspoons hot water

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 jar (7 ounce) marshmallow crème

• 1/2 cup shortening

• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract



Ganache Frosting:

• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

• Prepare and bake cupcakes according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

• For filling, in a small bowl, combine water and salt until salt is dissolved. Cool. In a small bowl, beat the marshmallow crème, shortening, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy; add the salt mixture, and mix in.

• Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert round pastry tip. Fill the bag with cream filling. I use a gallon size Ziplock freezer bag because I hate cleaning my pastry bag. I use a Wilton #12 tip for this. If you use a smaller tip, the cream is too thick and the bag will break. Push the tip into the top about halfway into the cupcake and squeeze the bag. If you watch the cupcake closely when you do this you will see it begin to expand. Stop filling just before the top of the cupcake breaks open.

• In a heavy saucepan, melt the chocolate chips with cream; stir until smooth. Cool for about 15 minutes. Dip cupcake tops into frosting; chill for 20 minutes or until set. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 2 dozen.

• Note: I can usually only make about 19 or 20 of these with this recipe because I fill the liners a little more full than recommended, about ¾; I like to have my cupcakes “pop up” a little more so it’s easier to dip them in the ganache.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Part Two:  Halloween Candles
I love the smell of the Glade candles. My new favorite is the Baked Pear & Cinnamon Treat. The color is also good for this time of year.

I found some vintage halloween postcard images on Google images, resized them and printed them out.  I took the label off the candle and mod podged the images to the candle.  Cute huh?

Holly

xxx-ooo

Getting Old and Pretty Woman

Hi!  I'm Holly from Hoosier at Heart.  I am thrilled to be filling in for Krista today while she's running around packing and unpacking.  Congrats Krista on the new place.  I would love to tell you that I am uber creative and talented but the truth is, I just blog about whatever is going on in my life on any particular day.  I'm a very random blogger and my head is usually chock full of nonsense.  I've been thinking a lot lately about aging so I wanted to share a post with you that I did last year.

I’m getting old, there I said it (not out loud or anything cuz I’m sitting here by myself in my office and I’m still trying not to talk to myself, remember this? Keep up!). I’m not saying this because I’ve just looked into the mirror that reveals my age spots or my butt dimples or anything. I just know this to be a fact. Oh yes, I do hear “You’re just a Baby!” from sweet little blue haired women but I know this is not true. I’m saying I’m old because I’ve noticed other changes. Changes in the way people react to me that is different from years gone by. Let me ‘splain.

(me)

I have never been much of a “Looker” and have always thought I was a little on the plain side but I did have nice hair, a sweet smile and I didn’t want to vomit when I looked at myself naked or anything (I kinda do now but I didn't then). I did get my share of attention at times.

Once, when I was standing in line at the bank, I had that oogy feeling you get when someone is in your space. I turned around and a young black man was standing almost against my back side and he said, “Baby, you smell like graham crackers and milk.” Now, I have no idea what that meant but I remember it fondly so it must have been a compliment. (yes, a little creepy but I’ll take a compliment wherever I can get one).

I had a stalker once who looked like Gary Busey. I used to stop at the same convenience store every morning on my way to work for my Diet Coke with extra ice. This Busey looking guy would always be there and would wait until I pulled out and then try to follow me. It was quite a game. If I couldn’t lose him I would pull into the fire station and watch him drive on by. That lasted about a month. Good Times!

These days, I don’t get smelled or stalked, or noticed for that matter. For example, the other day I went into a Victoria’s Secret to see if they had bras on sale. There were a few girls behind the counter but I didn’t see many customers. The sales girls, let’s call them Blimberly, Blemissa, and Bliffany, never even glanced up when I walked past them. A minute later a thin, navel-gazing twenty year old walked in and Blemissa went to help her. A minute later a skinny brunette came through the door and Blimberly went to help her. They just looked right past me so I took my Wal-Mart bra bound boobs out of the store. I later told this to my daughter and she said that I should have pulled a "Pretty Woman" on them. I can see it so clearly now. I walk into the store wearing 15 bras and 20 pairs of panties.

Bliffany: Um, can I help you?
Me: I was in here yesterday, you wouldn’t wait on me.
Bliffany: Oh.
Me: Big mistake. Huge. I have to go shopping now.

I would look exactly like Julia Roberts here except I would be a lot older and only be wearing bras and panties, well, you get the picture.

Holly

xxx-ooo