Birthday Celebration and Amazing Recipes

The birthday dinner is complete.  Emily chose her favorite pork tenderloin for her birthday dinner.  

 

...and here's what's left of it...and even that poor piece was eaten by the time the table was cleared. Now, I know everyone has the best pork marinade, but I'm telling you, no you don't (bold, I know).  This recipe is from my doll of a cousin, Kathy, who lives outside of Atlanta and I'm just sayin', if it's a pork recipe from the south, well, it's gotta be good.  Plus, it comes with a mustard sauce to serve along side it.  I could bathe in that stuff:

This salad was delish too!  So simple but amazing.  I added bacon and you can also add chopped pecans.  The poppy seed dressing was incredible. Recipe courtesy of my friend Josie.

And here is the sad aftermath...empty plates, full bellies and happy hearts! 

Below are the recipes to both.  I think you'll love them!  Let me know if you do...

Cousin Kathy's Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce

For 1 pork tenderloin combine:

1/2 c soy sauce

2 T grated onion

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 T cider vinegar

1/2 tsp ground red pepper

1 tsp sugar

Marinate pork overnight or all day

Bake at 350 for 1 hour

Mustard sauce

Combine 1/3 c mayo

1/3 c sour cream

1 tsp dry mustard

2 T chopped green onions

dash salt

Poppy Seed Dressing

In a blender combine:

1 c sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp dry mustard

1 1/2 c canola OR grape seed oil

1/2 c apple cider vinegar

2 tsp poppy seed

5 T orange juice

1/2 sweet or yellow onion, chopped

ENJOY!!

Intentional

So I've been MIA for awhile.  I didn't even notice how long it had been.  In my head I had posted about all the things I want to do and need to do, all the recipes I've cataloged and decorating "beginnings" that are cluttering my dining room table, but reality reared it's ugly head and reminded me that I've been too inundated with life to do much creative.  Which leads me to the wonderful teaching I heard this weekend.

A sweet Bible teacher and godly man spoke at a service on Saturday that I was privileged to attend.  He spoke words that landed deep in my spirit... being intentional about our time with Christ...allowing Him to remove the distractions that hinder us from the quiet moments with Him and keep us from that which is eternal.    Let me assure you I was only encouraged by his message. As a result, I've begun to take a little "inventory" of the things I do that really don't mean much (like canceling some of my TIVO recordings and ignoring the calls of Facebook).  I had such a sweet time sitting in my bed just chatting with the girls last night instead of watching my normal Sunday night show.  Intentional...eternal...

 

Speaking of time, my precious, beautiful Miss Em turns 16 tomorrow.  Writing the words brings me to the brink of weeping, but at the same time, inside, my heart stirs, knowing what a beautiful young woman she's becoming and knowing this transformation of life is truly a gift from my precious heavenly Father. 

Hoping you'll find time this week to be intentional too.

Friday Night Comfort Food: Penne with Almond Sauce

I have a really yummy recipe to share with you. Friday nights are not usually my "stay at home and cook" nights, but it's been a crazy day and I felt like we needed a little comfort food...plus fast and easy is nice too!
The recipe is actually Giada De Laurentiis' and I've made it before, but I've made a little change or two to it.. This time I really loved it! (I've placed the recipe as a link, so to get to it just click on the blog title and it will get you right there!)

Before you make it (and I hope you do!)I'm going to tell you what I changed, then you can decide.

Remember this if you make it: when you blend the almond mixture it's difficult (at least for me) to get it really smooth and my girls didn't love the texture...so, I made the mixture then strained out the little almond grinds. It made a smooth sauce though not quite as thick so you may want to add a little rue (flour and water mixture) to thicken it. Also, save your pennies. I only used 1 rotisserie chicken and it was PLENTY!
So enjoy. We have a busy weekend in our house! Have a great one!

Silhouttes on totes and more!

Good Tuesday friends!

Martha's "Today's Craft" is the cutest silhouette tote! (I love the bird tote too, but I'm not the greatest at cross-stitching)...

Isn't that adorable?  You can find directions HERE!

Unfortunately, it reminded me of the silhouettes I want to do of my girls and still have not even attempted !  I'd like to do something like these:

 You can find out how to make these HERE

at the More Ways to Waste Time blog (don't you love that title?)

or these HERE

this one might be my fav...see how to do it  HERE.

at Restyled Home blog.

So, okay, plenty to do...bags and portraits!  Who wants to come and help?! :)

Window treatments? Finally?

    So, I've lived in my little house for four, yes four years and I've never really had curtains that I love in  my sunroom (part of my kitchen) or my living room.  I have some up in both rooms but they've always just kind of been a "for now" type situation.  

HOWEVER, I have been inspired!  Maybe it's the warm weather this week or just the fact that it's time to get moving on this project!  Either way, I'm going to order the material to make both.  

I really love these

seen at 6th Street Design School but upon further investigation Fabric.com no longer carries that material at the $6/yard this blogger got it for...sad. I also really love both of these for my sun room

both from Anthropologie, or course.  But at 200 plus dollars PER PANEL, I think not!

So, back to the search and I've come up with these swatches over which I'm DROOLING!

For the living room...

OR

And for the sunroom...

 OR

Maybe all of you can come over and help me decide???

By the way, all of these fabrics are by

and can be found at Fabric.com

Free Paint!

I'm so excited to share this with you!!! 

If you are one of the first 1000 people a day to go to Valsparpaint.com you can receive an 8 oz. paint sample FREE and in YOUR COLOR CHOICE! They are doing the giveaway until they've given away 100,000 samples.  But, HERE'S THE THING...the giveaway starts every day at 9am CENTRAL TIME, so do the math and be sure to get there before they run out.  Oh, and you'll also receive a $5 off coupon!  Woohoo!  I've already ordered mine and can't wait!  Let me know what you plan to do with yours...

 

My Favorite Chili (Thanks Jamie Deen!)

 Yeah, yeah, I know...the groundhog didn't see his shadow...I'm sorry, I'm just not ready to believe some stupid rodent adorable woodland creature just because of a shadow or lack thereof...so, I wanted to share my all time favorite chili recipe just in case (PLUS, it's a SUPERBOWL freebie, so consider yourself twice blessed! haha)

Now I have made LOTS of chili in my cooking years (It was one thing I made really well when I first got married because I had made it under my mother's direction so many times).  But, guess what?  I have a new recipe thanks to Jamie Deen and my life will never be the same.  It is so DELICIOUS!  Even Emily, my pickiest of all picky children loves it!  Yes, loves it! So go HERE to see Paula's precious baby's recipe.  You won't be sorry!