Smothered Pork Sandwiches

My family loves this dish. The ‘gravy’ can also be used on burgers to make what we call a ‘smothered burger’. This dish can also be served over rice or noodles instead of in buns.

Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 lbs pork loin, cut into thin strips
  • 4 T.butter or margarine
  • 4 T. oil
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 c. mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 1/2 – 2 c. beef broth
  • 2 T. Dijon mustard
  • 2 T. soy sauce
  • 3 T. cornstarch
  • 1/2 c. water
  • 8 – 10 hoagie rolls, or hot dog buns

Directions:

Heat 2 T. butter and 2 T. oil in a large skillet. Add onion and cook until starting to brown, add the mushrooms and cook 3-5 minutes more. Remove from pan and set aside.

Heat the remaining butter and oil in the same skillet. Add small portions of the pork and cook until done. Cook the remaining pork in batches. Remove from pan and set aside.

Add the broth, mustard, and soy sauce in the same pan. Use the whisk to scrape up any little bits in the pan. Mix the cornstarch and water together and add to the pan. Heat until slightly thickened. Return the onions and mushrooms to the pan. Heat through.

Fill the buns with the pork and spoon the gravy mixture over the top.

-Or-

You can also add the meat to the gravy before serving.

Enjoy!

March 26 – April 1, 2017 Meal Plan

This is our basic meal plan for the week. Sometimes we will switch the days around if I forgot to set something out or put something in the crock pot. Please feel free to use this or change it around to suit your family’s needs.

I have started trying to do easier meals on days that I have square dancing obligations. This helps me to be able to put a nice meal on the table without feeling guilty about having some much needed ‘Mommy Time’. Some of these meals may also help with those that have busy or irregular schedules due to work or extracurricular activities.

I do have ‘Snacks/Desserts’ listed as well. I always try to keep a bowl of fresh fruit out on the counter or table for the kids to snack on. Sometimes I will make a special snack or treat for us to enjoy.

Sunday

Breakfast:

Homemade Amish Cinnamon Rolls ** new recipe

Lunch:

soup, grilled cheese

Dinner:

Pintoshoe cakes, greens

Snacks/Desserts:

Easy Apple Dumplings


Monday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal

Lunch:

Tuna salad sandwiches, veggies

Dinner:

Sloppy Joes, French Fries, Cole Slaw

Snacks/Desserts:

root beer floats


Tuesday

Breakfast:

French Toast

Lunch:

hot dogs, fresh veggies

Dinner:

Breakfast for dinner

Snacks/Desserts:

Fruit


Wednesday

Breakfast:

Basic Muffins

Lunch:

PB & J Sandwiches, Fruit

Dinner:

Mississippi Pot RoastMashed Potatoes, veggies

Snacks/Desserts:

Muffins


Thursday

Breakfast:

Pancakes

Lunch:

leftovers

Dinner:

Crockpot Taco Soup, Rice, Chips

Snacks/Desserts:

Lazy Dazy Cookie Cake


Friday

Breakfast:

Cereal/Oatmeal

Lunch:

hot dogs, fresh veggies

Dinner:

Briarpatch Casserole, Salad, buttered bread

Snacks/Desserts:

popcorn


Saturday

Breakfast:

Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread, eggs, fruit

Lunch:

egg salad sandwiches, veggies

Dinner:

Land Your Man Baked BeansCole Slaw, rolls

Snacks/Desserts:

Sopapillas

Waffle Day

There are actually 2 calendar days to celebrate waffles. National Waffle Day is March 25th and International Waffle Day is August 24th. Click here to learn more about these holidays.

Listed below are some links to various waffle recipes. I have even included one for pecan waffles as March 25th is also Pecan Day.

My Pancakes recipe can also be used for Waffles.

Classic Waffles Recipe – Allrecipes.com

SIMPLE HOMEMADE WAFFLES recipe | Epicurious.com

Basic Batter Waffles Recipe – Food.com

Easy Waffles – Martha Stewart

Pecan Waffles Recipe | Taste of Home

Fruit-Topped Whole Grain Waffles Recipe – Pillsbury.com

Blueberry Waffles Recipe – Food.com

153 Waffle Recipes | MrBreakfast.com

10 Best Fruit Waffles Recipes – Yummly

11 easy waffle topping recipes: Cinnamon roll, berry, cheesy and more …

 

 

March 21, 2017

Good morning everyone! We are up and somewhat ‘at it’ this morning. I was so lazy yesterday! I did the basics like feeding the kids and washing up the dishes but not much else. I did finish up a load of laundry last night because it was sitting on my bed but the clothes are still sitting in a basket waiting to be put away.

Yesterday was just one of those ‘off days’ for me. I had been pushing myself a lot the past couple of weeks and it finally caught up with me. Well put that with the time change and dealing with kids who are exceptionally tired and cranky too and I was due for a lazy day.

I didn’t even make it to my closet yesterday morning. I did take a few moments here and there to talk with God but it wasn’t the same as my usual devoted time and I really needed that. So last night I stopped in the middle of folding laundry and headed to my closet for a bit. It was just what I needed. Each of the devotions and verses I happened to read last night were talking about the importance of rest. This really helped me not to feel so guilty about being so ‘lazy’.

Mark 6:31 (KJV)

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

One of the verses I read was Mark 6:31, it helped me to see that rest is just as important as work. It is also important for us to remember to take some quiet time to be with the Lord. He will refresh us and give us the strength to keep going, even on the toughest days.

Psalm 119:44 (KJV)

So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

This was another verse I read from ‘Starting Your Day Right‘ by Joyce Meyer. She reminds us that we don’t have to go into a private room to have time with God. We can talk to Him anytime, anywhere, about anything! Take every opportunity to spend time with Him and I guarantee you will see changes in your life.

I know how hard it is to be a parent, a single parent at that, and I know how busy life can get. I know how tough things can get and just when you’ve about reached the end of your rope the 3 year pulls the cereal out of the cabinet and pours it all over the kitchen floor. Or you decide to mop the floor instead of taking a nap only to have someone walk in with chicken poop on their shoes. I could go on and on but I won’t.

No matter what you are going through right now. God can help! He is there, waiting, just talk to Him. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it doesn’t have to be out loud, just talk. Tell Him about your troubles and ask Him for His help. He is there and He will help. All you need to do is ask.

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I want each and every one of you to know that I do pray for you and for whatever your circumstances are, I pray that God will supply your needs and bring you rest when you need it.

Have a blessed day!

Character Training Starts at Home

One of the benefits of homeschooling my children has been that I can focus more on character training. I will use this page to link to various resources that I have found and/or used in our homeschool.

Please feel free to add links to your favorite resources in the comments.

Honesty

Other Links:

Large Families on Purpose: Character Training For Children

Doorposts – Biblical Character Training

Teaching Character to Your Kids | Focus on the Family

Kids of Integrity: Free parenting resources for teaching kids Godly …

What Is Character? – Thoughts On The Importance of Good Character

Character Traits Kids Can Develop | DiscipleBlog.com

Christian Character Traits for Kids | Parenting Like Hannah

Joyful Heart Character Overview — Hubbard’s Cupboard

Teaching Character Qualities | – Preparing the Soil

49 Godly Character Qualities | Grace Online Library

100 Kids Activities To Build Character – Moments A Day

Character Building Activities for Kids – Kids lovetoknow

Character Building Activities for Kids: Ready-to-Use Character …

Also check out:

Homeschool: Character Training on Pinterest