Pork Chops in the Crock Pot

My mom has made this when we have visited in Arkansas. She's even told me how to make it, but I haven't, even though it's pretty simple. I just needed the visual. Now I have it!

Pork Chops in the Crock Pot
from my mom

Pork Chops or Boneless Pork Chops (cut from the pork loin)
Cream of Mushroom soup (size dependent on number of pork chops)
Milk (1/2 soup can for whatever can size you use)
Flour
Salt
Pepper
Eggs

Beat eggs (probably a couple for most people) in a one bowl. Put flour in a second bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. In a third bowl mix the cream of mushroom soup with half a soup can of milk; set aside.

Dip pork chops in egg mixture and then dip in flour mixture, turning to coat well, one at a time. Then place the pork chops in a pan filled with a little bit of heated vegetable oil. Cook about three to four minutes per side, just until browned. Remove pork chops to the crock pot.

Turn the heat off on the burner. If you have an electric stove you will need to remove your pan from the heat as well. If you have a lot of oil left in your pan use a spoon to remove as much of it as possible. Take your soup/milk mixture and add it to the pan, stirring as you do. It will splatter a little at first. Stir until you get all the pan drippings mixed in well, then pour directly on top of the pork chops in the crock pot.

Take a spatula and go around the sides of your crock pot, lifting the pork chops slightly to let the gravy mixture down to the bottom of the dish. Cook on high for about 5-6 hours, until the pork chops are done. They will probably be falling apart they are so tender.

Well, there are six of us and we have two visitors, we accidentally bought a larger pack of boneless pork loin chops than we thought it was, and so we had 21. My mom says they are very good as leftovers. I sure hope so! I also used the very large can of soup from Sam's Club that is 50 oz. and two pans to cook the pork chops.

Dip pork chops in egg mixture and then dip in flour mixture, turning to coat well, one at a time.


Then place the pork chops in a pan filled with a little bit of heated vegetable oil. Cook about three to four minutes per side, just until browned.



Remove pork chops to the crock pot.

Turn the heat off on the burner. If you have an electric stove you will need to remove your pan from the heat as well. If you have a lot of oil left in your pan use a spoon to remove as much of it as possible. Take your soup/milk mixture and add it to the pan, stirring as you do. It will splatter a little at first. Stir until you get all the pan drippings mixed in well, then pour directly on top of the pork chops in the crock pot.


Here it is after cooking a little while.

And here it is right before we served it. We drained the oil off the top with a spoon first.

Here's one of the dinner plates...not mine or nothing would have been touching the gravy.

In Caboose's words, "It doesn't look good, but it sure does taste good."

This post is linked to Slow Cooking Thursday at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

It Took Eight Months, But Boy, Was It Worth It!

I've been looking for the perfect picture for my bathroom wall since we moved into our house the week before Thanksgiving. Last year.

It needed to be large since it would be on the wall above the bathtub. And not just large, but large in a rectangular way.

All the other pictures I found that I thought would be perfect were square, or too small, or they were part of a matching set that didn't really seem to go together quite right, or weren't the right colors, or were black and white...well, you get the picture.

Did I mention that daisies were extremely high on my list? Like of utmost importance.

So if the picture didn't include daisies it was probably not going to work, or it was going to have to be something really special. Pretty daisies were a given. Not the ones that are stemless on posters you see around that are often unusual not-normal daisy colors. They are cute, but not adult bathroom cute.

Well, today I took my mom (and Caboose and Chatty) to Garden Ridge on the way to Sam's Club. It was an unplanned stop, and not even for pictures. I just said, "Let's look at the pictures while we're here. I haven't been here since Christmastime."

Lo and behold, there was the perfect picture, and it was rectangular. Now, it was a little damaged on the black parts, and there was a little chip in the glazing on the front, and the paper on the back was gashed in about six places. So I did what anyone would do. I asked the check-out girl if I could get a little bit marked off. You know what she said?

"We don't give discounts."

Let me just say that this picture was $79.99. With a little damage. But perfect otherwise. And I could take a Sharpie marker to the black parts and you'd never know the difference. Plus I'd been looking eight months!!!

I also found out that if it went on sale later, they wouldn't do a price adjustment. And it was the only one in the store.

But you know what, she scanned it, and it must have been put in the wrong area. It was on sale for $19.99!

Please don't get too verklempt on me when you're looking at it. I'm still trying to get over it.

But it may take me a while. I keep walking in there just to stare at it.

Menu Plan Monday — July 13th

There were a couple of grilling recipes from last week that were excellent. The first one was the Basil Grilled Chicken. Doesn't it look yummy?

The second recipe that we enjoyed was for a Cajun Spice Rub. You can put it on your choice of beef, chicken, or pork. The family-sized package of boneless sirloin steaks was on sale at one of the local grocery stores last week, so that was our choice. We had about 6 1/2 pounds of steak when we started (from the package weights), and I tripled the recipe for the rub. It seemed to work out pretty well. I had plenty and the steaks were seasoned perfectly. They were really tasty, too. I think sometime I'll try this rub on some chicken or pork, but I definitely will do the steak again. This recipe was a keeper!

I'm sorry to say that we didn't get very excited about the Lexington-Style Grilled Chicken. A couple of the kids didn't really like it at all, and the others weren't too excited about it. I wasn't that crazy about it, although I could eat it. Hubby said it tasted like the seasoning some people use for their wings. I probably won't make this again.

We have company this week, which I still have yet to tell you about, but on to the menu anyway!

Monday — Tacos made with Homemade Taco Seasoning and Loaded Tostadas. The Loaded Tostadas are a new recipe, so I'm going to have taco shells on hand for the kids.

Tuesday — Basil Grilled Chicken. I'm also going to try these Cheesy Potatoes in Foil.

Wednesday — Family Fun Night at church, and they are supplying food, so I don't have to worry about dinner!

Thursday — Pork Chops in the Crock Pot. Recipe to follow later in the week. I've had my mom show me this before and I always forget exactly how much of what to use, and it's not complicated so I should be able to do it, but I can't.

Friday — Maui Chicken. This sounds like an Hawaiian Chicken that I used to eat at a local cafeteria in Arkansas that is no longer in business. I'm going to serve it with white rice. I have high hopes for this recipe, so I hope that doesn't immediately doom it.

Saturday — Hamburgers, hot dogs, and brauts on the grill.

Sunday — Eat out since we ate in all week!

Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more great ideas!

Tag — with a Guest Blogger!

I was tagged in a new way by both Mari and Bonnie. In this version of tag, the person who is 'it' tells a story with a bunch of different blog names in the story, and if your blog name is in the story, consider yourself tagged.

Get it?

And like in the original, real, game of tag, I think you can be it more than once. You know, if you're slow. So I felt free to use Mari and Bonnie's blog names in the story.

Except that I didn't write it. I had a guest blogger. My very first one. My hubby! He wrote a story for me.

I gave him a piece of paper with blog names and said, "Please put as many of these into as short and funny of a story as you can," and that was it. He wrote it in Word, and I copied it and pasted it over here.

Only his story isn't short. But it is funny.

And since he's guest blogging, please read it.

Thank you.

My Vacation.

Oh, I Take Joy in telling you the story of my vacation to Cherry Hill Cottage for the celebration of Callapidder Days. I say this of course with facetiousness leaping off my tongue. In My Little Corner of the World vacations are a rarity, but being the Money Saving Mom this was the year. A lot of people like to take vacations to exotic destinations, but not us; we were going to be Kicking It In Crazyville. Yep, that’s where the cottage is located, Crazyville. Really, Take 90 West until it ends, spits you right out in Crazyville. The name fits the place.

It started harmlessly enough; the day was a Simple Beauty. With a little Creative Organizing in the back of the van, we finally got all of our luggage loaded. You see, when it comes to traveling I’m not The Simple Wife. I like my own pillows — all four of them. I like my children to have their own pillows — all four of them. There are just certain necessities. To be honest, my husband is really The Lazy Organizer, and doesn’t enjoy trying to fit the entire Home Sanctuary into the minivan. I'm an Organizing Junkie and look forward to the challenge! My husband’s idea for “Controlling My Chaos” is packing one change of clothes and a tent. That is so…….native, and definitely would not make me The Happy Housewife.

Tuesday was our first full day in Crazyville. It was over a hundred degrees outside so all I wanted to do was stay in The Inspired Room of the Heritage Schoolhouse. It was named so because that’s where Mr. Reece and Mr. Jeather, pronounced like an 'H' because he was of Spanish descent, had the "inspiration" to change the name of the town from Heritage to Crazyville. The room inspired me to stay inside where it was cool. That evening we went to a small local playhouse and saw a rendition of the famous play “Confessions of a Pioneer Woman.” Hubby’s theory is that they took Little House on the Prairie storylines and changed Laura’s name to Bea. Needless to say, Our Quiverfull as a whole was not happy. We had a couple of boy “arrows” that were “so bored I think I’m going to die.” That’s ok, the next night was their night.

Wednesday was just as hot, if not hotter than Tuesday. The highlight of the day was our introduction to Lady Beatrice de’Ville. So famous was she, that the town folk just knew her as The Queen B. We’d never met such a popular stray cat. A little later we went to the local fudge shop and had vanilla pencils and Chocolate Ink pens. Very creative! Other than that the day was spent sitting by the pond watching each other sweat. That evening we had big things planned. First, we were going to an open air, albeit hot air, concert featuring My Five Men, and then we were going to be treated to a big Crazyville tradition (they wouldn’t tell us what). The concert was interesting, you might even say entertaining in a comedic sort of way. It seems that My Five Men had a lot in common with Milli Vanilli. Unfortunately, when man number five succumbed to the heat, they had no one left to play their tape. You might say they instantly transitioned into the 4 Reluctant Entertainers. After dark our host told us it was about time for us to go to Farmer Joe’s and see what Crazyville was all about. The boys went Crazy when we found out that we were Goin’ Cow Tippin’. Now we had a couple of girl “arrows” that refused to leave the quiver. I’m with the girls — this night I’m MomE & Loving It. Hubby says that Joe turns out to be quite the Tip Junkie. Cool thing was he was quite the tipper on tippin’. He lived up to his reputation in these parts as the top tipper, and is now the envy of my boys.

Thursday was another hundred degree day. Hubby and the boys couldn’t fathom the thought of returning to the playhouse to see the production of “Confessions of an Apron Queen.” Hubby said he feared it may be a play about Martha Stewart. Don’t even ask what my thoughts were about Ol' Mother Nature. I’ll just say that I started referring to her as the Big BooMama. The day started relatively cool, and my initial thought was It's a Bubble Bath Day. Unfortunately, the only bubbles I saw this day were the ones resulting from the sweat boiling on my skin. I don’t think a cold bubble bath would be much fun. Hubby was very supportive. He reminded me that his idea was to camp in Yellowstone Park, and the high temperature that day was seventy-one. It slapped me right back to reality. Sleeping on the ground in a tent, watching my family getting eaten by a bear, or a wolf pack, or….do buffalo eat people too? I now found appreciation in hundred degree days. That night I said a small, simple prayer, “God, please Bring The Rain.”

I woke up early on Friday thankful it was the last day of our vacation. We would be heading home tomorrow on 90 East. A soft rain was falling, an answered prayer. Hubby was watching the History Channel. The kids were lined up at the window quietly watching the Backyard Birds. I got on the computer, and while surfing the net and Blogging Along, our Blissfully Domestic cottage turned into a house of horrors. You see, on this otherwise quiet rainy day, The Queen B invaded The Sparrow's Nest. The Bless Our Nest sign the kids had made at the craft shop earlier in the week and which Hubby had nailed under the nest was knocked down. As I ran outside to assess the damage, I hit the wet porch and the next thing I know I’m Looking Towards Heaven. Though slow in responding and initially a bit irritated, Hubby came to my resue. He had been watching the Ignorant Historian explain how General Lee led the Union Forces across the Potomac River into Canada during Operation Desert Storm, but he took me to the hospital where everything checked out ok. When we got back to the cottage Hubby showed the kids how the hospital had Freebies 4 Mom; namely, a neck brace for precautionary purposes, nice yellow socks with grippies (which Hubby joked would help on the slick porch) and a large bottle of Motrin. Then Hubby broke the news; turns out that the Sparrows had found a new Nesting Place and hadn’t set up residence in their nest this year.

We returned home on Saturday. I recovered. Hubby unloaded and cleaned, although he didn’t check the boys pants pockets prior to washing and drying the clothes. I’m beginning to think I need to start Learning to Trust Hubby to plan our vacations, but right now I’m really enjoying My Blessed Life at home where I have more than 5 Minutes for Books.

Oh no, gotta go. I hope what I hear is not Hubby drying Rocks In My Dryer again.


Thanks for the story, Hubby. You did a great job! I also appreciate how you told everyone how many pillows I have and how you put all my current Yellowstone issues into the story. Really.

And in case you forgot, that was ink pens you were drying in my dryer. Please don't try rocks.

Oh, My Kids

Recently Mari did a post with some familiar, and not so familiar, sayings, and how they were completed by first graders. Just for fun, I thought I'd run them by my kids, just finishing up 3rd, 6th and 9th grades. In their defense, they did get some of them exactly right, so I didn't even bother to put those down. I just put the ones down that were funny...but, I didn't tell you who said what.

Except that I will tell you that Caboose doesn't think much of kissing.

Unless you get married.

Which he never plans on doing.

Except when I asked him before I did this post he said, "I might." Although I don't know how he's going to get around the kissing part.

Okay, here goes:

People in glass houses shouldn't . . . get undressed without having any blinds.
. . . dance naked.
. . . sing bad that would break the glass.

Strike while the . . . moon is up.

Never underestimate the power of . . . pink.
. . . youth.
. . . love.
. . . babies.

You can lead a horse to water but . . . you can't lead water to the horse.

Laugh and the world laughs with you . . . cry and the world cries with you.
. . . don't laugh otherwise.

A miss is as good as a . . . mister.
. . . guess.
. . . strike.

A bird in the hand . . . eats crackers.

The pen is mightier than . . . the pig.
. . . the mouth.

An idle mind is . . . stupid.

Where there is smoke, there is . . . cigarettes.

Happy is the bride who . . . kisses the man.

Children should be seen and not . . . kissed.

You get out of something what you . . . paid for it.

When the blind lead the blind . . . they run into a tree.

Seems a little bit like what my kids were doing with each other. Good thing there were no trees in the house.

The Great Changeover

Last week it was time.

So I went to the top of my closet and got another perfect purse.

Because it was time to change from the perfect purse in spring green, to the perfect purse in a bright summer pink.

I store the ones I'm not using with old towels or t-shirts, or some combination of the two. It helps them to keep their shape.

All the stuff moved over

and ready to go.

Whether it feels like summer here or not!

A Delicious Dinner

All four of the kids oohed and aahed over this one. I hadn't made it in at least a year, maybe two, so they didn't really remember it. I bought the really big bag of frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts from Sam's Club, so I doubled everything in the recipe for our family. We only had two pieces of chicken left. I think three of my four kids ate two pieces each!

I served the chicken with fresh vegetables and ranch dressing, and a spinach salad. I put sliced strawberries, some almonds, shredded cheese from a bag and Marzetti's spinach salad dressing on it. I mix the dressing up half dressing/half water so it's not quite so thick before I toss the salad.

Basil Grilled Chicken
reprinted from a Southern Living recipe card I got in the mail years ago

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
3/4 tsp coarsely ground pepper
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 Tbsp minced fresh basil
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
Fresh basil sprigs (optional)

Press 3/4 tsp pepper into meaty sides of chicken breast halves. Combine 1/3 cup melted butter and 1/4 cup chopped basil; stir well. Brush chicken lightly with melted butter mixture.

Combine 1/2 cup softened butter, 2 tablespoons basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Beat at low speed of an electric mixer until mixture is well blended and smooth. Transfer to a small serving bowl; set aside. (I just mixed it up really well with a spoon. I also used regular basil from the spice aisle here, even though I used fresh basil in the first step. I know, I'm a rebel.)

Grill chicken over medium coals 8 - 10 minutes on each side, basting frequently with remaining melted butter mixture. Serve grilled chicken with basil-butter mixture (I didn't do this; we used it all basting). Garnish with fresh basil sprigs, if desired (I didn't do this either).

We will be making this next week when company comes!