Simply Delicious Pork

I just had to put a review out there for this recipe. I tried this last night and was blown away. Absolutely delicious!! Its very simple and very quick to make and for the calorie counter pretty low cal! I just got a crock pot slow cooker for Christmas and a recipe book specifically for crock pots. So having company last night I thought it was a great time to attempt something interesting. If you are like me and like applesauce with your pork chops I think you will definitely like it!
First thing I noticed you don’t add any liquid to the recipe, which I have found you usually do with the slow cooker, so I was kinda worried. But I followed the recipe putting my pork right in and adding 4 golden delicious apples sliced up on top. Then you mix together and sprinkle on top of that brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. I was beginning to feel like I was making apple pie on top of my pork! I turned on the crock pot and let her go. It was about an hour after I turned it on I got the first hints that this was going to be scrumptious. My whole house smelled like apple pie! Yummmmm
After letting it cook for 6-8 hours on low, I was ready to taste it.. The pork chops were falling apart! They were soooo tender and sooo moist and tasted unbelievable! The apples were turned to mush not quite apple sauce but not quite apple though they retained their sliced shapes until you tried to pick them up, but they tasted great! I am very happy with this recipe and I hope that you all will be too!!
The cook book that I used is a great one. It has a lot of different easy meals, sides, soups, desserts and drinks! Yea I know desserts from your slow cooker??? Drinks for your slow cooker??? Weird! I haven’t tried those yet but when I do will be sure to let you all know!

The recipe:
1 ½ lbs boneless pork loin, cut into 6 pieces or 6 boneless pork loin chops
4 medium Golden delicious apples, sliced
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt

1. Place pork in crock pot slow cooker. Cover with apples.
2. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in small bowl; sprinkle over apples. Cover; cook on LOW 6-8 hours. Enjoy!!

Pros: quick and simple, great taste, great as a left over! Incredibly moist..
Cons: nothing really except if you have texture issues the mush apples might bother you..
Over all: I have to say this is definitely a recipe that will make it into our rotation for family meals. It really was surprising as to how good it was. If you like pork and just need another idea for preparation try out this recipe, I don’t think you will be disappointed. If you like to cook in your slow cooker I really have to recommend the cook book Crock Pot *the original slow cooker* Best - Loved Slow cooker recipes.

Happy Dinning!

~Heather

Last Minute Christmas Gift - Cake in a Jar

Everyone knows about cookie mix in a jar, but what about actual CAKE in a jar? It's like a portable cupcake!


You will need:


1 pint canning jars (preferably with no necks, but any will do)
Cake mix (and all ingredients that the recipe calls for)
Butter


Directions:


Sanitize all canning jars and lids. Mix cake batter (I used red velvet) up as directed on box. Grease inside of canning jars with butter. Pour cake mix into jars 1/4 cup at a time, making 1 cup total in each jar. Be careful not to get any mix on upper part of the jars (it will burn!). Place canning jars on cookie sheet, or a pan with sides. 

Bake as directed on cake mix box, subtracting 10 minutes from total time. Place canning lids on stove 5 minutes before the cakes are set to come out. When the timer goes off, test with skewer to see if they are completely done. 


Let the cakes cool for 5 minutes (no longer). At this time you may add a spoonful of cake icing (or you can have the recipient use their own). Put (warm, from sitting on stove) lids on (careful not to screw on too tight). The lids will 'ping' as they cool. This means they are sealing. If you miss the 'ping', press on the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed. The cake will pull away from the sides of the jar slightly as it cools.


Mine aren't as pretty as they should be, because I didn't use quite a cup in each and they aren't full enough. I melted the icing and put it on top so it would drip down a bit. Nobody wants a half-iced cake in a jar!

This is where you get creative. You can add fabric to the top of the jar (wrap a rubberband or ribbon around it to keep it in place), or even add a zip-loc baggie with a plastic (or real!) fork or spoon inside. Add a little notecard to make it personal (and so people are not confused as to what's inside). The possibilities are endless -- I am using my Cricut to cut out everyone's names and then put mod podge over them to keep them in place. I will add pictures when I can (probably tomorrow).


I would love to see what you come up with.. feel free to post a link to your blog if you write about it.


Total cost: Less than $2 each.


**Unsealed cakes need to be refrigerated and eaten within a week. Sealed cakes can be frozen or stored in the refrigerator for months.**