Crock Pot Applesauce Pork Chops

The other day while on Pinterest I found this recipe from Frosted Bake Shop and adapted it slightly to make this delicious crock pot dinner for my family.  I was a little skeptical at first because of the ingredients but it was DELISH!  I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think.

Here's what you need:

4-6 Boneless pork chops
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
16 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup. apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper each pork chop on both sides and place in the bottom of the crock pot.

 

Pour applesauce over the top of the pork chops.

Next mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl then pour over the applesauce.

 

Pour the apple cider vinegar over the brown sugar mixture.

 

Next add the tomato sauce and stir a little to combine the sauce.

Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8 hours.

Super easy and extremely tasty weeknight crock pot dinner.

Enjoy!

Serves 4 - 6

Here's the handy printable - Crock Pot Applesauce Pork Chops 

You can find me each week linking up to these wonderful blogs.

Creative Thursday Link Party No. 25

Welcome to Creative Thursday No. 25

I hope everyone had an amazing week!  Mine was pretty normal around here.

  I actually got a couple of crafts made and posted this week,  Yea me!

I am off for the weekend with my girlfriends for a much needed trip to the mountains. Woohoo!  I will keep you posted via Twitter and FB on all our shenanigans :)

You guys have been linking up some amazing crafts for the Fall and some wonderful recipes and DIY's too.  I am finding it harder and harder to find featured favorites each week because everything is so wonderful!

I can't wait to see what you all share this week, but first, we have our weekly most viewed and featured favorites (in no particular order) to see.....

Pumpkin Carob Protien Donuts from Sensual Appeal a vegan recipe with lots of YUM!
Baked Apple Pie Tortilla Rolls from Sweet Little Bluebird.  Let me tell you these are AMAZING!  I know, I made them yesterday!

1.  Book Page Podge Shoes from Salt Tree I want to do this to all my shoes!
2.   Samoa Brownies from Flavors by Four no more waiting for Girl Scouts to sell cookies :)
3.  Jewelry Organization from Three Kendrick Blessings every woman needs this!
4.  Chicken Enchilada Lasagna from Go Ahead...Take A Bite! mouthwatering wonderful!
5.  Glittery Pumpkin Cookies from Lizy B beautiful Halloween cookies and a cute joke
6.   Pumpkin Maple Waffles from Sweet Boutique do I really need to say anything?  Just go make these!
7. Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf from What's Cooking, Love? looks delish!
8.  DIY countdown calendars from Tales of the Scotts I want one for every holiday.

Congrats to all who were featured ~ Don't forget to grab a button from the sidebar

Now on to the party!

Here’s the nitty gritty:

 Link to the specific post for something YOU have created – recipe, DIY, craft, idea.  Link to a specific post NOT your main blog page.

 Please NO ETSY shops or giveaways.

 Please link back to me somewhere in your post or post my button on your blog

 Party runs through Monday night each week so link up as many times as you like.

Be sure to spread the love and visit other posts and leave a comment.

Cheesy Jalapeno Artichoke Bread

In case you missed me over at DJ's Sugar Shack the other day, here is the recipe I guest posted for her.

While recipe hunting the other day (sounds like a profession, huh) I found several Cheesy Artichoke bread recipes on Pinterest.  None were actually what I was looking for so I decided to adapt my Cheesy Jalapeno Artichoke Dip and make the bread my own way.  And ya know what?  It was AMAZING!  Go ahead, go make some now.  You won't regret it, I promise :)

Here's what you need:
1- 1Lb. loaf of freshly baked french bread
1-14oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and minced
1/2 cup mayonnaise (I only use Best Foods)
1/4 cup sour cream
2 garlic cloves, pressed (I use a micro plane and "grate" them into the bowl)
1 cup Italian combo cheese, I use a pre-shredded
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
12 - 15 Jalapeno disks, I use a jarred deli brand, not fresh, minced

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

Finely dice the artichokes and jalapenos, then add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and mix well.

Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise.

Spread the mixture evenly over each half and place in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then broil on Hi until golden and bubbly.

 

Remove from oven and cool about 1-2 minutes then slice and serve. 

Great as an appetizer or with a meal.

Enjoy!

Serves - 8-12 or more

Here's the handy printable - Cheesy Jalapeno Artichoke Bread 

You can find me each week linking up to these wonderful blogs

Candy Corn Vases

Well here is project number two ~ and all in the same week's worth of time, whew!

Do you Pinterest?  I do and sometimes it's plain old addicting, huh?   

I do have one pet peeve with Pinteresters though.  Ya know when you find something you are REALLY excited to pin and you just can't wait until you have the recipe or the tutorial?  

Then you click on the picture and it takes you to......

The dreaded "WHO KNOW'S WHERE LAND" 

Well I have gotten to the point where I won't pin it if I can't get to the original site so I can have directions and give credit where credit is due.  

Anywho, back to my project.  It all ties in I promise :)

I found these totally cute bottles on Pinterest the other day all dressed up like candy corn and I so wanted to make them.  So I clicked on the picture and it took me to ANOTHER picture site, then another and FINALLY I got to The Swell Life (thank the Pinterest Gods) with directions on how to make these

Aren't they just the cutest?!  

I had a blast making these and I'm sharing what I did so you can make some too :)

You're welcome.

Here's what I bought

3 different sized vases at Michael's (You can use any bottle or vase for this)

spray paint in white, orange, and yellow

What I used from home

1 disposable rubber glove

1 piece of craft paper

Wash and dry the bottles really good.  If they have a label on them use a label remover or soak in hot soapy water then remove the label and glue then dry.

With the glove on one hand, paint the entire bottle white (I did the bottoms too because I placed them on plastic to dry, this is optional).

 You'll notice I didn't use the glove until AFTER I got white paint all over my fingers. 

Allow to dry completely between coatings.  I only used one healthy coating of paint, but depending on how it sprays on you might need more than one.  Be careful not to get large drips or runs of paint.

 Second is the orange.  I feathered it up on the white and all the way down to the bottom.

Dry completely.

 Lastly came the yellow which I feathered up a little on the orange so there isn't a definite line between colors then all the way to the bottom (including the bottom) and then I let them dry overnight.  

Candy Corn Vases ~ Everyone needs them  

~ Happy Crafting ~

You can find me each week linking up to these wonderful blogs

Guest Posting over at DJ's Sugar Shack

Good Monday Morning blogging friends!  

How was your weekend?  Mine was fun and productive.  I'll be showing you my newest craft later today.  I'm on a roll with crafting ~ Don't stop me now!

Today I'm guest posting over at DJ's Sugar Shack while Dawn is in Bali for almost a month.  I'm sharing my newest appetizer recipe for Cheesy Artichoke Jalapeno Bread, Yum.  Stop by and check out her amazing blog.

Have a wonderful week :)

Fall Front Porch Decorations

Happy Fall Y'all

I promised I'd show off my front porch decorating I did this week so here ya go.

I had such a fun time with this hay bale.  I've never really decorated my porch before (because it's tiny) but have always wanted to and I think it turned out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.

Here's a list of what I used:

1 large hay bale - from Michael's regularly $19.99 clearenced for $4.99 STEAL

1 Scarecrow on a dowel - from Michael's 

2 large (and I mean like 3 feet high, found in the regular floral not the holiday) leaf picks - from Michael's

2 small fall leaf picks - from Michael's 

2 small fall picks - from Michael's

3 Baby pumpkins - from Target

1 Ribbon bow I made from ribbon I buy at Costco

Here is the assembly process in color

I started by unwrapping the plastic from the hay bale and cutting the dowel on the scarecrow to the right length.

Next, I trimmed and arranged the two large leaf picks so they covered most of the hay bale. Next came the smaller leaf picks and I just stuck them in where they were needed and fluffed them.

 

Here are the cute small picks I used and I also just kind of stuck them in and fluffed them.

Next I tied a large bow around the hay bale and added three mini pumpkins in the corner.

 

This whole project was less than $20.00 and took me about 45 minutes start to finish.

I love how it turned out and will definitely make one again next year.

What homemade decorations have you made for Fall this year?

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Thumbprint Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

As I'm sure you've seen on most of the blogs and Pinterest lately, we've all gone a little bit pumpkin crazy!  I love the Fall and have been experimenting with several of my pumpkin recipes.  I decided to change my Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies into a Fall cookie by making it a Pumpkin Thumbprint with Cream Cheese frosting.   And let me tell you, it was SO worth the change.  This is a cookie that represents Fall to the fullest.  Not overly sweet with just the right amount of pumpkin and spices, all topped off with a wonderful cream cheese frosting.  Totally my new FAVORITE cookie!

Here's what you need:

Cookies
1/2 cup margarine, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter, unsalted at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2-1/2 cups flour, all purpose
1/2 tsp. salt

Frosting
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2 Tbs. butter, unsalted, at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer or a medium bowl beat the butter and margarine until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

 

Add the brown sugar and mix until well blended.

 

Add the pumpkin, egg, and spices and mix until well blended.

 

Add flour and salt and mix until combined.  

 

Drop by rounded tablespoonful's or using a medium Pampered Chef scoop onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

Using a well rounded teaspoon (dipped in flour) press into the very center of the dough to form the well for the frosting.

 

Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and remove the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Prepare the frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter until fluffy.  Add the vanilla and mix well.

 

Add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and thick.

 

Place frosting into a plastic zip bag and seal, removing the air as you go.  Snip a small corner off the end with scissors.

Frost each center well of the cookies.

Yum!  These cookies are not overly sweet but taste just like Fall should.  All spicy warmth and creamy frosting.  Go make these now!  You won't regret it, I promise :)

Enjoy!

Serves - 2 dozen  - Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days (Ha! If they last that long)

Here's the handy printable - Pumpkin Thumbprint Cookie with Cream Cheese Frosting 

You can find me each week linking up to these wonderful blogs.