Two On Thursday

Two on Tuesday would sound better, wouldn't it? I guess I waited two days too long.

I made a comment on Facebook yesterday that I had dinner in the crock pot, and I had a swarm (meaning more than two) of comments requesting the recipe. I wanted to make sure it turned out good though before I posted it. So I have to say: It was YUMMY! One of my favorites. Very easy and very good is all it takes to be a favorite of mine these days.

I love the Crock Pot. It must have been invented by a mother. Probably a very busy mother. Yesterday I was able to put this together while Ansley worked on her math test and Christian checked out spider webs on the deck. All of a sudden, we have a LOT of spider webs all over our deck. I am very thankful that I haven't seen any spiders, just very cool webs. And I only say very cool because they kept Christian entertained for quite awhile. Quite awhile in my world is at least ten minutes. Long enough for Ansley to take a math test and me to get dinner in the crock pot.

But back to the recipe. Here it is! I love a great fall meal, don't you?

APPLE CIDER PORK AND VEGETABLES

4 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in 1/2 inch slices
1 7 oz package dried fruit mix
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1 1/2 lb lean boneless pork, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup apple cider

Place first 7 ingredients in a slow cooker. Dredge pork in flour; brown in hot oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Remove pork, reserving drippings in skillet. Place pork in slow cooker. Stir apple cider in reserved drippings; pour over pork. Cook, covered, on low 6 to 8 hours. Remove and discard bay leaf.

I wish I had a picture of it on the plate because it did look so pretty and yummy, but I was too busy eating.

--

John has a work dinner this evening, and sometimes I am tempted to only focus on the long day ahead of me, instead of enjoying the joy of these moments. Instead of knowing that God will provide what I need all day long, I think "What will we DO all day?"

And then God says "YOU WILL MAKE HOMEMADE CLAY."

Not really. I don't actually hear God speak to me. But I get these ideas, or I feel renewed strength, or just thankfulness that I am home with my kids and we can spend these days together. Where else on earth would I want to be? Maybe Hawaii, but just for a few days, a week tops, and then I'd definitely want to be back here, with the people I love the most.

So we took a break from school this morning to make some homemade clay. All natural homemade clay. It was super easy, the kids made the whole thing, and they have played with it for quite awhile now.

Huh? What? Where were we? Oh, right, the clay. I was seriously distracted by that adorable boy in the above picture.

I don't really like the smell of Play-Doh. It's kinda....gross. And it gets in my carpet and on the kids clothes and smushed in the table. Homemade clay? It smells like chocolate. Yummmm.

But it still gets stuck in the carpet and on kids clothes. It's not magical. But at least it smells good.

So here ya go - bonus on Thursday:

ALL NATURAL HOMEMADE CLAY

1 cup flour
3/8 cup salt
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
natural dye*

In a medium size bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in the oil and natural dye, and stir well. Knead the dough on a floured surface for a few minutes. If the clay is too soft, add a bit more flour. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

*NATURAL DYE

Brown - 3/8 cup plus one tablespoon hot water and 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
Orange - 3/8 cup hot water and 1 tablespoon paprika

My kids did think it was dough, but after I told them to try a bite, they both agreed that it tasted nasty.

But they are STILL playing with it!

Comments

[Amber]

Still playing with it? Well, that's all that counts! Who cares what it tastes like! :) Thanks for sharing both recipes.

I loved your comment about how east it is to start out a day thinking about how l-o-n-g it's going to be, but how we can turn that thought around by realizing that it's another day given to us to spend with and enjoy our children. It's so true.

[MiMi]

Two for Thursday is a good one but I'm still waiting for the good old "flashback Friday". We haven't seen one in soooo long and I miss it.

[Angie]

Thanks for the yummy recipe! I love his little hands pressing the clay down. So cute!

[Renee]

Thanks for the recipes. :) I agree about the little hands pressing the clay.

[Renee]

We ate the McGill version of your recipe last week. It was great to have a different crockpot meal on a chilly soccer practice night. I added some apples from our abundance from the orchard. I enjoyed it and think I'll make it again sometime with a roast instead of cutting up the pork. Thanks again!