Cooking for 2

I used to love cooking with my girls & Travis, too, when he was younger. Once he turned a little older, he liked more manly pursuits, ahhh, testosterone. But I digress, I thought today, I feel like cooking with my family & this is as close as I can get. What are we making today? Hot Honey Spareribs! For you, Summer, our confirmed Pork detester, how about trying it with chicken or beef?

What I've got above is about 2 1/2 lbs. of meaty country pork ribs. Season each side with ground pepper & garlic salt.Then, place those seasoned ribs under the broiler.

Broil 4-5 minutes each side, till brown. Just like that in the picture. You're awesome! Now just leave them on their lonesome for a little bit while we mix up our spunky sauce.

Add a 1/4 c. honey to a measuring cup. I spray my cup with a little Pam spray just to make sure my honey will come out easily. Also, if you live in the North like I do, you might want to warm your honey by placing it in hot water so it will pour from the little bear more easily. Note- write "lil honey bear" on your grocery list if your lil' bear's tummy is empty like mine.

Add 1/8 c. ( or 1/8 c. = 2 TB.) sodium reduced soy sauce.

Add secret ingredient # 1 - 1/8 c. ( or 2 TB. ) of Hot Chili Garlic Sauce. This is found in the Chinese section at your Grocer's. Note- write this on grocery list too if you just used the last of it like I did.

Add secret ingredient # 2, 1/2 c. of Catalina dressing.

Before you whisk this lovely mixture together...

Add 1/2 tsp. of ginger.

Now, the grand finale- Add your lovely browned, perfectly seasoned ribs to your slo-cooker. Pour your spunky rib sauce over the ribs, mix it a bit to make sure they are coated on all sides.

Set your crockpot on High & let cook for 3-4 hours.

No peeking now. Trust me, it will really be done in 3-4 hours. If you're not ready to eat then, just turn that little dial to warm. Yep-you guessed it, it will keep them warm till you're ready to eat them. Ahhh,now to figure out what to have with them. . . cole slaw anyone?

e Shhhhh! Can you keep a secret? This card I made this morning is for my m-i-l's birthday on the 2nd. I'm absolutely delighted with how it came out. It's a flirty, feminine card-Fun! I'm not sure why but it seems everything I add my French stamp to turns out... well, ooh la la!!
I am trying to overcome cabin fever, winter doldrums, & grandchildren withdrawal, along with a nasty bout of flu last week. Phew! When Saturday rolled around I was ready for some excitement! My husband & I look at each other & kinda go.."hmm, just what would that be?".
Well, we decided to hunt for some car parts. Men, you see, don't shop, women shop, men hunt. So a-hunting we will go! We are looking to bag some carpet for the back of the Camaro. J & R Upholstery is where we'll head first. Unfortunately, the scent is dead there, we would have to order it, not in-store. But I, meanwhile, have got a free cd & bag of popcorn from my favorite radio personality, Glen Pitcher. As my son would say- sweeeet-!
We go to Sears next. Rats! Forgot the tools we need replaced. Drool over some workbench-toolbox arrangements.
My turn now. I want to look at luggage at J C Penny's. Rats, again!! Luggage is on sale but still more than I want to spend. Look at curtains for my bare dining room windows. Hate that they decided to subtly rip off the American people by no longer selling curtains in pairs but sell by single panels... like when did windows only come with one side?? & they charge more for the single panel than what I want to spend for the whole window. Make our exit, haven't bagged a thing yet. . .
Onward to the Speed Shop. This is an actual store that sells zoom-zoom go-really-fast car parts. Happy hunting grounds indeed! I opt to stay in the warm truck for this hunt. Ahh, the sweet smell of success, (it's very similiar to motor oil,) the happy hunter has returned with a bagged item! It is now a successful hunting day!
For the big finale, I want to go to an Aldi's & Weis Market I've never been to before. (We decide to throw in a sidetrip to Staples. What do you think of the Kindle's ? they had a display.) The grocery stores are my thing. I pick up a few good deals & we head home.
All this excitement has about done me in!! A post excitement nap is in my schedule next! Hope you had a great weekend too!!

"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61 :2
"From the ends of the earth"...... From the place in my life that seems farthest from any notion I have of your goodness.... from the the places I neither want nor expected to be.....from the places of enduring testing, the things I hate that never change.... from the place where life seems dark & bereft of hope.... from that place I will cry to you, call out to you with my sorrows & frustrations & despair & with the calling comes the turning.
A turning from all that is "me", that is finite & small & earthly. My strength is gone but as you look at me & I gaze at you,my heart steadies,my breathing calms. The small beginning of strength in You begins to solidify in me.
My Rock, my Strength, underneath it all, you remain-unshakable.

New Year's Resolution

I resolve to not over imagine all the things I'm going to get done. I will try to have one,yes that is-1 just ONE weekly goal besides all the everyday stuff to get done. I admire those women who write books on organizing your life. The one's who have a goal for every area of their life & go to a resort hotel with their hubby to plan it.
Don't you think if you had matching luggage to fly to Hawaii & sit on your private balcony with sultry, balmy breezes you, too, could have goals for every area of your life?!!! C'mon,let's break out the Coppertone & drink some long tall iced tea while being completely away from the laundry piling up, the baby needing to be fed,the dog let out & the two year old's demands.... would not life seem completely manageable????
Just you and a fresh white page & a January suntan....oh yeah, totally doable!
Enter-Real life: Go to the grocery store. Search purse for list. Search seat & floor. Try to think.
What is the grocery list wrote on? & where oh where did you leave it-it's not with you at the store that's for sure.... Attainable New Year Goal- Write list in small notebook, no loose sheets of paper to lose to get lost.
Happy New Year's!!!!