Monday, January 31, 2011

slow cooker honey bbq pulled pork!

i love this recipe for an easy supper or for a party! so good on rolls, for pulled pork sandwiches!

i start with a 3 1/2 lb boneless port butt (this makes ALOT, we like leftovers in our house)...i marinate it over night in 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tbsp brown mustard, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp kosher salt and 1 tsp pepper.

add the meat and all the marinade into the slow cooker...and pour 1 bottle of beer ( i use whatever i have in the fridge) over meat...put the lid on the cooker and cook on high for about 6 hours, or until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork.

if there is too much cooking liquid, use a spoon and pour some off...pull apart the meat, discard any really fatty pieces...add 1 full bottle of "sweet baby ray's honey barbeque sauce", 1 tbsp honey, and a sprinle of salt & pepper... heat on low for another 30 minutes...ready to serve!

Monday, January 24, 2011

homemade remedy...

try my remedy for congestion/ sinus pain!

1 large mixing bowl, tea kettle full of hot water, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1 tbsp dried rosemary
pour the hot water over the lemon juice and rosemary... i put a towel over my head, and stick my face over bowl! the vapors really help :)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

8 years ago today...

8 years ago today, i gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy! my 1st baby, a healthy 6lb 14oz...came into this world at 7:08am. he lights up my life, in more ways than i can count! he makes everyday worth living...a true blessing. watching him grow and change has brought meaning to my life. i am so proud to be his mommy :)

Monday, January 17, 2011

toddlers are scary!


my little boo has officially entered the toddler stage! and she scares the HELL out of me! all of a sudden she has decided to climb the stairs...stand up two steps up...and try to walk down. of course she takes one step and falls to the bottom. did i mention she does this all in a blink of an eye, while i turn my back on her for 1 minute?!? not only that...she bee-lines for any toy left lying around by the boys, dumps any cup left on the edge of a table, and makes her way to the computer to turn the printer on & off 50+ times. its time to buy more babygates :)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

my little boo, enjoying some of my bread!


is anything better than homemade bread?!?


nope...easy to make...even easier to eat :)

2 packets of dry active yeast
2 1/4 cups warm water
3 tbsps + 2 tbsps local honey
4 tbsps melted butter + more for buttering the bowls and loaf pans
7 cups all purpose flour
2 tbsps kosher salt


1) whisk yeast into 1/2 cup of warm water and 3 tbsp honey; let sit for 5 minutes (until mixture becomes foamy)

2)add yeast mixture, 2tbsps honey, melted butter and 1 3/4 cups warm water, into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer (i used the dough hook attachment); whisk flour & salt together; add 3 cups of the flour/ salt to the yeast mixture; mix on low; add remaining flour/ salt in 1 cup at a time, until dough forms

3) knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes; shape into a ball; put dough ball into a buttered ball; cover ball with a clean kitchen towel; let rise for an hour (dough should double in size), in a warm & draft free spot

4) take the dough ball out of the bowl; punch the dough down; divide in 2; fill 2 buttered loaf pans with the dough; cover pans with clean kitchen towel, let the dough rise for another hour; preheat oven to 450 degrees

5) turn oven down to 400 degrees; bake loaves for 20 minutes
6) enjoy!





Wednesday, January 5, 2011

winter larger onion soup


nothing is better in the winter than SOUP! here is my recipe for "winter larger onion soup". i use sam adam's winter larger. but any good beer you like would work...this soup is excellent with a roast beef sandwich on the side!
4 small- medium yellow onions (roughly chopped)
3 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1 bottle of samuel adams "winter larger"
1 32 oz carton of beef stock
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried parsley
sea salt, pepper, garlic powder (to taste)
in a medium pot, heat butter over medium heat; add onions & season with salt and pepper; cook onions until the start to soften; add the flour, let the flour cook for 1 minute; add the beer a little at a time; stirring constantly to work in the flour; add the beef stock, bay leaf and parsley; season to taste with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, let simmer until onions cook (only 10 minutes or so).

more sledding fun!


the boys love sledding in the backyard...and i like getting them out of the house for a little while :)

homemade honey cornbread

with this cold weather... there is not much to do besides keeping warm indoors and cooking yummy food! this recipe is for a delicious honey cornbread! it is really good on its own...BUT even better with a hot bowl of chili!


1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 white sugar
1 cup milk or cream
1/4 cup local honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs (lightly beaten)

in a large mixing bowl; combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder; make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; add the oil, honey, eggs, milk; combine all ingredients; pour into a greased loaf pan, bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean!