Amazing Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

I LOVE my crock pot!!  It makes things so easy on my busy days.  I should use it more often!!  Last week, I veered from my menu plan and tried this pork tenderloin recipe I found.   I'm usually not a fan of pork, because it's so hard for me to fix without being tough or dry!!  I made just a couple of changes,  but the results were still AMAZING!!!!!

Here's what you need:
          2-3 pound pork tenderloin
          1 tsp garlic powder
          salt and pepper
          1 envelope onion soup mix (I use homemade)
          1 cup water
          1 cup chicken broth
          3 tbsp soy sauce

Use salt, pepper, and garlic powder to make a rub for the pork.  I didn't give specific amounts, because I didn't measure.  I just sprinkled and rubbed it into the pork.

 Heat a tbsp of olive oil in a skillet and sear the pork before putting it in the crock pot.  While the pork is browning in the skillet;  whisk together the  water, chicken broth, and soy sauce.

Once the pork is seared, place it in the crock pot and pour the dry onion soup mix over it.  While the skillet is still hot,  pour the liquid mixture in and stir it around to get all the flavors from searing the meat.  Then, pour that over the pork.

 The original recipe called for this to be cooked on low for 4 hours.  However on my crock pot, the 4 hour setting is high.  I went ahead and used the 4 hour setting and it came out absolutely delicious.

My hubby and oldest child was into this before it ever got to the table.  It was also requested again the next day.  Unfortunately,  there weren't any leftovers to be had!!!  This recipe is definitely a keeper!!!  I paired it with some roasted potatoes and glazed carrots.  DELICIOUS Sunday afternoon meal.

Menu Plan October 14, 2013

It's already the middle of October?  Time flies when you're having fun!!

We have a lot of extra things to get finished this week in addition to our normal busy routine!

Here are the top priorities:

decorating the porch for fall

finish up the GREAT CLOTHING SWITCH OUT

couple of school papers for the boys

fall art projects for the girls

My inspiration for the porch.

(This is our porch last year, but will hopefully be looking like this again this week.)

All that means the menu plan this week is simple, quick, and easy.

MONDAY - Chicken gravy biscuits, mashed potatoes, corn

TUESDAY - Vegetable soup

WEDNESDAY - Chicken casserole, green beans, glazed carrots

THURSDAY - Hamburgers, french fries

FRIDAY - Truth for Youth outing/HAUNTED HOUSE!!!  ScAry!!

SATURDAY - Pizza

SUNDAY - Zaxby's (I have to work, so hubby stops after church and gets their lunch and mine.  Ain't he sweet?) 

This time of year just seems to zoom by on me. I'm not sure why, but it seems like once fall gets here, it's Christmas before I know it.  How does that happen?  It's nice to keep one thing on track and Menu Plan Monday from Organizing Junkie sure helps that.  Head on over to see what others are planning to eat this week,  get some recipes, and menu ideas for your weeks ahead.  Have a great week.  

Menu Plan Monday October 7, 2013

Time sure does fly when you're having fun.  I can not believe we are in October already. Only 78 days til Christmas!!!

Christmas Countdown

I haven't even started my shopping.  Yet another reason to have my menu's planned so there's not as much to worry about.

On to the menu for this week (there are a couple new ones I'm trying):
 
MONDAY - Baked chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans

TUESDAY - Chili

WEDNESDAY - Grilled Mahi Mahi with lemon sauce, glazed carrots, crunchy cranberry waldorf salad

THURSDAY - Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic - parmesan bread

FRIDAY - Potato soup, grilled cheese

SATURDAY - Hibachi chicken and rice       

SUNDAY - Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin, Roasted Potatoes, Corn

Visit Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie for more meal planning ideas.

Oh Henry Bars

This quick and easy dessert is one of my very favorites.  It's one my mom made quite often and they disappeared rather quickly.  A combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and Special K cereal for a bit of crunch.  How can it be wrong???  It's peanut butter and Special K cereal!!

Here's what you need:
         1 cup sugar
         1 cup Karo syrup
         1 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
         6 cups Special K cereal

         6 oz milk chocolate chips
         6 oz peanut butter chips

Place the chocolate and peanut butter chips in a double boiler to melt while you are preparing the rest.

Put sugar and Karo syrup in large pan, bring to boil and boil for 1 minute.  Remove from heat, add peanut butter, then cereal and mix well.  Pour and press evenly into a 9 x 13 cake pan.

Pour the melted chips over the cereal base and then you just have to wait for it to cool.  That's the hardest part.  Ours usually get cut before the chocolate is set good.  They are soooooooo good.

Such fond memories of my mom when I make and eat these yummy treats.  I make them every year at Christmas and they are my go to dessert for church dinners.  A favorite of all the children (except the crazy one that doesn't like peanut butter).

Menu Plan Monday September 16, 2013

Fall is almost officially here.  I am so excited.  I LOVE fall!  I enjoy the cooler weather, but it's not too cold.  Plus,  football season is in full swing.  Have I mentioned my two oldest play football???  Well of course I have.  They have played 4 games total and have won 2 and lost 2.  We'll get into all that in another post!!

I am also excited because with the fall season comes the time for soup!!  I have a couple new soup recipes I hope to try on the family this year.  We'll start with what we know though, cause my kiddos aren't much for trying new stuff (unfortunately they got that from me, but I grew out of it).

Here is the plan for this busy week:

MONDAY - Chicken nuggets, cooked carrots, roasted potatoes

TUESDAY - Potato soup, grilled cheese

WEDNESDAY - TACO night (carry over from last week)

THURSDAY - Teriyaki chicken and rice

FRIDAY - Grilled Hamburgers, mac n cheese, green beans

SATURDAY - Chicken Giardino

SUNDAY - Roast, potatoes, and carrots in the crock pot

For more menu ideas and recipes to try, visit Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie

Homemade Nesquik Powder

My family LOVES chocolate milk.  We go through about a gallon of milk per day with most of it being in the form of chocolate milk.  

Baby Samuel has a cup full EVERY morning.  It's the first thing he asks for when he gets up.  You can imagine my horror one morning when there wasn't any left!!  How do you explain that to an impatient 2 year old???  

Does that look like a patient face??  I think NOT!!!

I immediately got on the internet and found this recipe for some homemade Nesquik powder.  SCORE!!!  

I gave him, Mini-Me, both of the Princesses, and Mr Helper a cup and NO ONE knew the difference.  That means, this is my new chocolate powder.  I haven't figured out if it's any cheaper,  but I know and can pronounce ALL of the ingredients in it!!

All you need is:

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

pinch of salt

Place the ingredients in an airtight container and shake, shake, shake!!!  

A triple batch will fill a 1 pt mason jar according to the blog I found it at.  I use a MUCH BIGGER container as we go through a LOT of this in a week!!!

The blog site I found this at said you need to dissolve the powder with a bit of warm water and then add the milk.  I did that with the older kiddos milk, but didn't have to in the sippy cups (I shake them to mix).  So go ahead,  enjoy a big ole glass of chocolate milk.  I think I will too.

Menu Plan Monday September 9, 2013

My poor blog has obviously been neglected!  I have gotten so wrapped up in getting school started, the start of football season for our boys, work, and life in general.  

While I have been busy,  it's no excuse to let my planning fall by the wayside.  It's time to get back into the routine of menu planning. My family can tell a big difference in their dinners when I don't plan ahead.  It's usually whatever I can find to throw together, since I didn't make a plan or a specific grocery list.  I don't know about your family, but mine starts asking about the next meal as soon as they get up from the table!!!! 

So,  here's the plan:

MONDAY - Crock Pot Chicken,  mashed potatoes, corn, rolls

TUESDAY - Spaghetti and meatballs

WEDNESDAY - Hamburgers, Mac n Cheese, green beans

THURSDAY - Taco night

FRIDAY - Homemade Pizza

SATURDAY - FOOTBALL GAME / out to eat

SUNDAY - Crock pot roast, potatoes, carrots

Now, I'm ready for our busy week.  I know what I need to buy at the store today and I can tell everyone what's for dinner.  Feels good to be back in planning mode!!  

Head on over to Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie for more meal planning ideas.