Me... Day 1

After I stripped the bed this morning, Bing

and Leo had to find another place to hang out...

Another place to watch birds, lick, snooze and hang, while I went out to

my orientation for hot yoga, to have a facial and relax with a pedicure!

When I returned from my pampering, this was the scene in the solarium!

By the way... Me-days usually mean good things for Army Dad too!

Because while I'm being pampered and have time to relax and

let my mind wander is usually when I do my best thinking!

And, one thing I was thinking about as I was being pampered

was how much I bet he would enjoy my pork chops for dinner!

But before I talk pork chops, look what Mr. UPS brought me!

It's the Bistro butter dish from Williams-Sonoma! I also ordered

this and this and a few of the other Bistro-line items; however, so far

it's just little Beurre and me. Maybe it's just me... But the French word

for butter always makes me think of Brer Rabbit. Just me. I know...

So back to my pork chops!

This is my own recipe... Totally easy, totally made up and totally delicious. You

can do it in your crockpot or in your Dutch oven  - Either way works just fine!

First, rinse and pat your pork chops dry with a paper towel. Then heat a little

olive oil in a cast iron skillet and brown the chops on both sides. I'm using my

crockpot but if you're using a Dutch oven, just brown your chops in it instead

While your chops brown in the skillet, core and slice up a few

apples. Now, Army Dad likes a little applesauce with his pork chops

but he really loves apples cooked with his pork chops even more!

I'm using Fuji and Granny Smith because these varieties stand up to slow

cooking better than golden or red delicious. Those apples turn to mush!

And, not in a good applesauce way! To keep apple slices from turning

brown before I'm ready for them, I squish lemon juice over them...

After the chops were browned on both sides I tossed my apple

slices into my lined crockpot and added one chopped white onion... 

Then I added a cup of soy sauce mixed with a cup

of Trop50 and drizzled honey over the whole thing!

A little butcher's salt, a little fresh cracked pepper,

a little brown sugar... And, a little more honey!

Add the pork chops, set on high for four'ish hours and just walk away!

While my pork chops cooked and the kitties snoozed

in the solarium, I busied myself around the house!

I decided it was time to de-Christmas the console...

From this...

To this!

I'm not done tweaking and fiddling with

this arrangement... But for now, this will do!

Another thing that will do is this lovely little Bee pillow! It arrived with

the box I got today from Williams-Sonoma and was quite the surprise! In

fact, when I saw the label from Ballard Designs I told UPS it couldn't

be mine because I wasn't expecting anything from them. But, it was

absolutely meant for me... With a note, which read, Love Mom!

Thanks Mom...

Your gift was the perfect ending to my

first all-me day of this long weekend!