Crock Pot Mongolian Beef

I don't ordinarily blog about food this often...but it's winter....and I live in Iowa...and I'm cold....and hungry.  So there.  Today is your lucky day though friends because I have discovered what may be one of my FAVE crockpot concoctions ever.  Crockpot Mongolian Beef....who woulda thunk it? Not I.  

Go forth...make Crockpot Mongolian Beef.  You can thank me later...oh and I like tulips and chocolates.  

Crockpot Mongolian Beef
1 1/2 lb. ball tip steak or flank steak (from Wallace Farms if you're nearby...Nick rocks)
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 sliced green onions
1 tsp. dried onion
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. white wine
1/4 c. cooking sherry
1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. molasses
1 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. red chili flakes
1/2 tablespoon peanut butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch

1) Slice meat thin, put in baggie with cornstarch.
2) Put all liquid and dry spices into crockpot, add PB, mix well.
3) Add garlic and 3 green onions.  Put meat on top, toss gingerly.
4) Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours (mine took around 4).

Holiday Tour 2011...just a teensy late

Did you hear? Our home was included in the Clarence Friends of the Library 2011 Holiday Home Tour.  The preparation is nothing short of a type of torture that I'm SURE has been outlawed by the Geneva Convention.  HOWEVER, the benefit is that all those nagging little (and big) projects that had been hanging out there in la la land got DONE.  Go grab a snack, a drink, and some toothpicks to keep your eyes open as you peruse the next 30 something photos of the house....in all its CLEANESS.  Did I mention I have an eight year old boy, a four year old boy and a 35 year old boy?  They all live here...at the same time....at the same time I had to keep the ENTIRE house clean.  I deserve a trophy for that.  Or a tiara.

Have I mentioned how much I love my kitchen now?  I'm going to share that love AGAIN soon in a Before and After post.   

The dining room.  I managed to hide my oakey oak dining room table...the hubster put the kabosh on painting or staining it.   Little does he know the plans afoot when he leaves on his next business travel overseas.  BWAHAHAHA.

Hedge apples....just because they're cool. 

God bless my husband and friend for lugging the cabinet out of the basement.  I love this thing.  Love.  The weight...well....just shy of elephant.

The $1 chair.  More on that to come too....I'm such a tease. 

So here's the deal.  When a person hides their oakey oak dining table...well...you have to do something about those oakey oak dining CHAIRS.  Solution?  Hide them in the basement and scrounge the house.  I kinda love the bench there.  That might stay...at least until I find permanent "new" chairs.  Actually what I would sorta totally love is to have mismatched...just all in the same wood tone....or painted....

The den....because my dad is a genius bookcase builder.  Love that guy.

Master bedroom. Makes me want a nap.

Guest room.  Uh yes, I'm a ding dong and this is the only shot I took.

Back to being a tease.  This is the new downstairs bath....that deserves its own post.  Its own blog really.  Its own country to run to be honest.

Back stairs.  Do I have a photo of the beautiful front stair case and foyer tree you ask?  Uh no.  Woops.

Upstairs bath.  Artwork by a very famous artiste named Marshall V.  He was two.  Genius. Pure genius.

Boys' room

If you're still awake I thank you for taking the time to go through my virtual Holiday Home Tour. Oh, it's January you say?  Just pretend it's Dec. 25 and you're delighted to look at Christmas photos. ;-)

Cranberry Pork Roast (Tenderloin)

Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum.  I have a new "thing" for my crockpot.  Who knew?  This could possibly be the best invention for busy moms since the electric sweeper.  I actually have TWO crockpots now.  A little one and a big one....because recipes call for different sizes, did you know?  I mean, who wants to make a gallon of cheese dip?  Not I.  But a gallon of  yummy soup, yes please.

ANYWAY, tonight I tried a new recipe and it was the bomb.  Cranberry Pork Roast.  Well actually mine was Cranberry Pork Tenderloin because that's what I had in the freezer....and I only get meat from Nick from Wallace Farms....and my next meat delivery isn't for a couple weeks.  Don't get me started...but you should get a meat guy...it will change your life for the better.

Here's the deets peeps....you'd better try it...you'll thank me.

Cranberry Pork Roast (Tenderloin)

Pork Roast (2.5-3lbs) or Tenderloin

1 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 T. cornstarch

1 c. fresh cranberries 

1/4 c. white sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/3 c. golden raisins

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/3 c. cranberry juice

1/2 small lemon, sliced

In a zipper bag combine dry spices, cornstarch and meat.  Shake.  Plop into crockpot.  Dump other ingredients on top.  Top the whole show with sliced lemons.

Cover, cook on low 8 hours.  Enjoy!

Oh, and on a side note. RUN, do not walk, to your grocery store RIGHT NOW and grab every bag of fresh cranberries you see.  Bring them home and throw them all in your freezer.  

Just try finding fresh cranberries in July....dare ya.

Well Hello There Loveys

What the.....what?  I know, right?  I'm POSTING.  Seriously...it's a small piece of miracle.  Okay, maybe a large piece of miracle.  How ya'll been?  We only have oh.....400,000 months to catch up on...yes?  I think everyone goes through this, right?  You go along fine for a while, thinking of lots of things to talk about, yammering endlessly.  Then, whammo.  You hit the wall.  Or in my case, I got busy as H-E-double hockey sticks!!  I haven't been brave enough to count how many signs I painted before Christmas.  Seriously folks, it was crazy.  Then I landed my lil ole self in the hospital...I'm fine....but don't overdo it ladies (and gentlemen)...stress catches up with your body.  

Our elf, Elfy, kept us company all through December.  I kinda wish our bathroom sink was bigger...who wouldn't want to take a marshmallow bath with a guy from the North Pole?  Okay that sounded weird.  

Think of it in a "non weird" way.

Anywho, the sign painting has been going along swimmingly.  I have lots of favorites from this year that I'll share soon....there are a bajillion. 

And my friends....seriously??!!  My friends are having knockout years....while I've been not blogging, they've been lighting up the night sky!  Did you hear that my dear Loo Who (Michael from Inspired by Charm) was published in a REAL LIFE magazine!!  Shut up, you say?  No, really!  Awesome, right??  If you haven't seen Folk you must run out into the street THIS MINUTE and find a copy.  I'm going to stalk my favorite flower farmer until her shipment comes in...then I'm on it like white on rice.  I mean, he's so famous now that I feel like a groupie. Okay, who am I kidding....I'm a Loo Who groupie. You rock Michael!!  

Remember the little people. ;-)

Then there's my friend Kim...yeah you know her....Kim at The NewlyWoodwards.   She's awesome all on her own...I mean really? Anyone who can set monthly goals and actually accomplish them...crazy.  But then she goes and gets herself in the FAMILY WAY!!  Shut up, you say?  No, really!!  Kim is going to have a BEEBEE!!  And that beebee will undoubtedly reside in the snazziest room, with the snazziest jammies, with snazzy stuff to do.  All made by my Kim.

And if I don't feel sluggy and boring enough....my friend CATHY goes and gets her flower farm  listed with Silos and Smokestacks!!!!   That's a big deal folks.  BIG.  STINKIN'.  DEAL.

And , well,  everyone else has been up to all kinds of cool stuff too.....==================>

I can't promise I'll be all bloggy everyday...but I promise to try harder!  See ya soon!

It's POTTY Time!

I will say, this post seems a little like cruel and unusual punishment for you fine readers.  I get all lazy-pants on posting lately...and the first thing I come up with is a potty post.  That's how I roll folks.  Three men = need for two potties. This is a big deal-e-o around these parts.   First, have a look-see at my plumber up there.  It's always great to see him....it means progress will happen.  Thankyoulord. 

And no plumber butt is ever involved....double bonus.

It's alllllmmmmmoooooossssttttt time.

She's in!   Water flowing.  Flushable.  She's a beaut.  Look at those beautiful square lines. 

Now this is a potty. 

A pretty potty.

Here's the deets if you're interested....because I know this post was riveting. ;-)

Pots for Sale

I have A.LOT. of catching up to do.  I blogged a total of 1.5 times over the summer....and SO MUCH happened!  To kick off catch up week we'll take a look at a recent sign!  My friend Becky ,of Willow Avenue Pottery ,asked me to paint another sign for her.  Do you remember the first?  One of my favorites.

  This time she asked for a sign to help folks realize the pots in her studio are FOR SALE...not just shelf decoration. ;-)  We played around with some ideas....and landed here.  Becky was so sweet to share the sign photo on Facebook....to which her first response was, "I feel like I can get a hot shave next door! And a nickle root beer!" 

That was a HUGE compliment....that's exactly what we were going for!!

Becky and I don't deal in dollars.  We deal in pottery.  The first sign netted me a GORGEOUS. CUSTOM. GIGANTO fruit bowl.  I love it.  I fill it with fruit and take lots of photos of it.  I protect it from crazy boys.  I proudly tell the story of the fruit bowl everytime someone asks...and sometimes when they don't. ;-)  NOW, my fruit bowl has friends!!   Matching friends to be exact.  Two pretty tumblers and a beautiful deep little bowl.  Becky is a master with the glaze....she creates the most amazing finishes.

Right now Becky is busy with the fall harvest here in Iowa....but the snow will fly soon and she'll be back in the studio.  EVERYONE needs a piece of Willow Avenue pottery for Christmas.  Just sayin'.

You can check out Becky on Facebook

her blog

or her website!

Smiling Spoons

Shortly after our kitchen remodel wrapped up my boys discovered something really neat.  Every morning their cereal spoons smile at them.  Every morning.  Awesome. 

Two pendant lights + chalkboard bulkhead = smiling spoons. :-)