My New Crock Pot

I took the new crock pot out for a spin today. I didn't have the fixins' for most of my standard crock pot dishes, so I improvised.

I started by brining a pork tenderloin overnight. This morning, I set the crock pot stoneware insert on the stove (an added feature - you can use it on the stovetop!), drizzled in a little olive oil and browned the tenderloin. Then I set the stoneware back in the crock pot base and added a quartered onion, a quartered lemon, four cloves of garlic, some dried thyme, about a half a cup each of chicken broth and white wine, and a handful of dried cherries. I cooked it on low for seven hours, then on warm till we got home.

When I got home, I took the meat out to rest. The wine and lemon had reduced so much that the gravy it made was almost too strong. So I added another cup or so of chicken broth. I also added a bit of corn starch to thicken it a little. I turned the heat up to high and let it cook while I made rice and grilled zuccini strips.

I strained the gravy and dinner was served. The pork was a little dry, but it was very tender. Overall, a good first try. Mark called it a repeater after one bite. That's always a good sign.

Just For Kicks

We have a new member of the blogosphere! Daniel has started a blog called Just For Kicks. You can visit it using the link on my sidebar. Daniel will be blogging about stuff in his world. His first post is his review of Iron Man. Visit often - comments welcome!

#1 Mom

Apparently, there was a contest of sorts recently, and, well, I won! Turns out, I'm the #1 Mom! I was all prepared to say that it was an honor just to be nominated, but this...this is just so hard to take in! #1! Out of all the moms! I just can't believe it.

I'm being silly, of course. Ben made me this wonderful wooden plaque, which I will take to work and use instead of a nameplate on my desk. But in all seriousness, there are lots of #1 Moms out there, many of whom read this blog. Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Kelly, Jennifer K, Jennifer B, Laura, Nels, Natalie, Willie and anyone I've forgotten who loves their children more than themselves. Celebrate being a #1 Mom today - it is an honor above all honors. I'm proud to know all of you...

For my special day, I got the wonderful plaque, and the promise of a butterfly that was left at school. I also got a spoon rest, an egg separater, a very snazzy colander, a "can colander" (you stick it in the top of a can to drain the contents - smooth), and a new crock pot! My old crock pot was dying a slow death, and this new one looks awesome.

My guys also made me breakfast, and are planning to grill burgers for dinner. Also on the docket is a trip to visit Mark's mom, and then to see the new Iron Man movie! (I actually requested this, so it's all good.)

Enjoy your day, and enjoy your children! Happy Mother's Day!

Name That Tune

"But I shot a man in Reno

Just to watch him die

When I hear that whistle blowin'

I hang my head and cry."

Pork and Potatoes

Got some pork chops and some potatoes?

Have I got a meal for you!

First, the chops. You will need:

Six to eight boneless pork chops (I buy them on the thin side)
1 cup panko bread crumbs (you find them next to the regular bread crumbs, or possibly with Japanese foods)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Salt
Pepper
Two or three eggs (for dredging)
Olive oil

• Heat the olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet - you want the pan surface thoroughly covered in oil.
• Combine the panko and the cheese in a large bowl or on a plate.
• Salt and pepper the chops on both sides.
• Dredge them in the egg.
• Coat them on both sides in the panko mixture.
• When the oil is rippling, put the chops in the pan - you should hear that wonderful sizzle when they hit the oil.
• Let them cook for about three minutes on each side (depending on how thick your chops are). They should be a lovely golden-brown color.
• Let them rest for five to ten minutes before serving. I usually have to cook them in two batches so I don't over-crowd the pan. If you do them in two batches, add more oil between heatings and let the oil get hot before dropping in the second batch. If you need to do multiple batches, you can put the done ones on a cookie sheet in a 200 degree oven to keep them warm while they wait.

Now for the taters. Tater cakes, to be specifc. You will need:

Some potatoes - five or six small ones, or three big ones - peeled and grated (the food processor is the ideal grater)

2 T vegetable oil
2 T butter, melted
1 t salt
Pepper to taste
Freshly grated nutmeg

The key is getting as much water as possible out of the potatoes. The food processor slings it out pretty well, but you will still need to lay all the grated potatoes on a clean dish towel, close it up, and wring the water out. After squeezing as much water out as you possible can, toss the potatoes in a bowl with the oil, butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

• Preheat a medium-sized (10" is ideal) teflon pan over medium heat.
• Spray well.
• Dump the potato mix in the pan and press down until the potatoes are evenly distributed.
• Cook for ten minutes.
• Slide potato cake onto a plate, then re-spray the pan.
• Flip the plate (or carefully place the pan face down over the plate) and get the potato cake back into the pan to cook the other side.
• Reduce the heat slightly, and cook for eight to ten minutes.
• Slide onto a place and cut with a pizza cutter.
• Serve immediately with sour cream (or with whatever you're into)

Ben LOVES these two dishes - and we don't always serve them together. Chicken tenders do really well cooked the same way, and they make great sandwiches the next day. Enjoy!

Lost?

I have no idea who did this, or if it's even accurate, but it's pretty cool. No wonder no one knows what anyone else is doing.

Chorus Programs in East Tennessee

Ben is on the second row, fourth from the left.

Write Your Own Caption

Cobbler

I've been hankering for a good cobbler. I found a Robin Miller recipe that uses frozen blueberries, and I thought it might fit the bill. Blueberry cobbler and ice cream. Yeah buddy.

So I start by melting a stick of butter. As the butter melts irretrievably in the microwave, I realize I don't actually have a bag of frozen blueberries. I have part of a bag of blackberries, and part of a bag of mixed berries. Since I can't put the butter back in its previous stick state, I figure I'm deep enough in to keep going. So I take the mixed berries, and top it off with some of the blackberries. Mixed berry, heavy on the blackberry, cobbler. Yeah buddy.

So I take the two cups total berries and mix them with a half a cup of sugar. Then I take the melted butter and mix it with three quarters of a cup of milk. Then I mix together a cup of flour, a cup of sugar, and a teaspoon of baking powder. Then I add that mixture to the butter/milk mixture and thoroughly combine. Then I pour the final mixture into a greased 9 X 12 pan. Then I drop the berries on top. They are supposed to sink. They don't sink. The final mixture looks a little on the thick side for sinking. But I'm way far in now, so I keep going.

I put the dish with the layer of final mixture and layer of fruit in the preheated 350 degree oven for forty five minutes.

Eventually, the berries sank. Or maybe the final mixture rose up around them. Either way, I've got cobbler. Yeah buddy.

It was good, too. Had it with vanilla ice cream and a Yankee game.

What I'm Reading Now

Pigs in Heaven, by Barbara Kingsolver.

I've previously blogged about Barbara Kingsolver and what a fan I am of some of her books. This is one that I found in the bag of books from my church friend - what a pleasant surprise! This is one of her early books - I've only just started it, so I have nothing to report yet. Someone just fell into a dam - that's all I know.

I finished Wish You Well. I liked it. I didn't love it. I have the distinct impression that if he weren't David Baldacci, he'd still be trying to get this one published. It was a good story, and definitely a good look at mountain people and mountain life in this area. But it was a little choppy. Forced might be a better word. But I'm glad I read it.

He did get one great dig in near the end - his main character's father was a critically acclaimed novelist who never made any money from his books. At the end, we see a snapshot of the characters later in life, and the main character has become a novelist herself. He says she wrote happy stories about the good things in life. "They were never as well-received by the critics as her father's books were, but they sold a lot more copies." Baldacci may not be the world's greatest novelist, but he's not hurting for cash. You go, Dave.

Tenderfoot Scout

As of tonight, Ben has completed all requirements for the Tenderfoot rank in Boy Scouts. He has been part of his troop for only three months - some boys in his troop have been there over a year and have not completed Tenderfoot requirements. Way to go, Ben!

(The official rank will be awarded during his troop's Court of Honor on May 19th, but I just had to tell you now!)

Camping

Well, clearly I survived. We had an experienced camper pitch our tent with us, so we stayed warm and dry. Which is important, because when you lie awake all night, you want to make sure you aren't miserable in any other way.

It wasn't too bad. It rained during the day, then cleared for the evening activities. It started raining again some time in the middle of the night, but I couldn't say when or for how long. Our tent had more water on it this morning than any other in our group, so maybe it just rained on us.

I bunked with Daniel - he loved it. He didn't sleep well either, but better than me. We had to make one middle-of-the-night trip to the john, but otherwise, he didn't have any problems. Ben slept in tents with his patrol group. They cooked their own food, which was highly entertaining to watch. Daniel and I ate sandwiches and pretzels and other low-maintenance items.

There was a program Saturday night that included some Native American dancing. One guy performed and they mentioned that it was his first time ever dancing on stage in front of a big group. Sadly, some yokel in the vicinity of the fair grounds decided to host his own fireworks display right in the middle of this guy's performance. Imagine a bunch of young boys given the choice between watching some guy dancing or watching fireworks. You guessed it - I felt bad for the dancer. But then some guy did what they call a "hoop dance" which held everyone's attention - really, really amazing stuff.

Following the Native Americans, we had a local group of re-enacters come tell us about kicking the British's butts on King's Mountain. They demonstrated a gun ceremony that ended with them firing off their muscats and rifles and whatnot - there were six guys and the last guy misfired - it sounded something like this: "KABLAM! KABLAM! KABLAM! KABLAM! KABLAM! poof."

We got up early this morning and watched the troop clean up the camp site and pack for home. Parents were not allowed to help. It was surreal.

Home again now. We're all showered and clean now.

Good times.

Fun at Scout Expo

Some highlights of our day. The tennis ball sling shot was our troop's contribution to the Expo - it was by far the most popular. You can't see the balls, but the first one hits the roof, and the second one clears it. Ben also worked on his Toten Chip requirements. Good times.

Nope - Nothin' Here But This Old Tire

A Portent of Posts to Come

Today is Scout Expo Day in the Tri-Cities. Which means, we all drive to the fair grounds and sleep on the ground.

Well, more specifically, we "camp-out". Mark is leaving first thing tomorrow morning for his annual "Managers Gone Wild" golf trip to Santee, which leaves me as the available parent. Ben is now a Boy Scout, and he does not have to have a parent with him. But Cub Scouts need a parent with them, and Daniel is a Cub Scout. And so I'm going to sleep on the ground.

I think it might be fun actually. I have had three camping experiences in my life. The first: way too cold. The second: way too rainy. And the third: no real problems. Jennifer and Heather and me. Heather stepped into mud up to her thigh at one point, but that's all I really remember. And we "camped" last summer at Camp Davy Crockett, but that was in ready-made tents with cots and cicadas. LOTS of cicadas.

So stay tuned....pictures and debriefings will likely follow in the days to come.