Pineapple Pork

Here's a recipe for you to try.  Straight from my electric skillet.

1 small pork loin roast (1-2 lbs), cut into bite-size pieces
1 can pineapple chinks (or tidbits) in pineapple juice (not syrup), drained, reserve juice
1-2 tbsp. corn starch
3 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
3Tbsp. lower sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. dark honey (or whatever you have, I have local buckwheat honey.)
salt
pepper
sesame seeds
rice
asian veggie blend (I use birdseye brand)
cooking spray

Sprinkle corn starch, salt, & pepper over pork & toss to coat while preheating a non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray (with a lid, I use my electric skillet).  Place pork into skillet on high heat in a single layer & brown on both sides.

Add pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce & water.  Simmer on medium-high, covered for 8 minutes.  Uncover & continue simmering until the liquid is cooked down & thicker. Add pineapple & honey. Continue cooking another minute or two to heat the pineapple through. Turn off.

Serve with steamed asian veggies & rice.  Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

I know it sounds like a lot of ingredients that you might not have on hand, but I have found that we eat this for dinner several times a month and once you have the vinegar, soy sauce, sesame seeds, etc. you can make this as a "pantry meal."  We keep pork roast & asian veggies in the freezer all the time.

If you try it, let me how how you like it!  I threw this together one night after a long day out and about, hoping for a tasty, quick dinner.  It took several times to "perfect" it, but I personally think it is quite tasty.  I keep forgetting to take a photo of it, but next time we have it, I promise I will take one.  It not only tastes good, it looks really nice on the plate! The whole thing takes about 20 minutes to make- if you're cooking your rice & vegetables at the same time as the pork.  Yum!

Busted Lip. No joke.

So gross. Aaron tripped & fell yesterday, smacked his face off the the driveway at a miniature horse farm up north (Mercer County.) His bottom teeth came very close to all the way through his lip. We took him to the ER in Sharon, PA.  It was that bad... Quite a lot of blood & and a huge fat lip, but didn't end up getting stitches. I wonder if it would have been the same outcome if we'd been here in Pittsburgh at Children's... 

This morning he woke up really grumpy and fussing that his ear hurt, so off to the pediatrician we went.  Turns out Aaron's ear is fine, but his throat is red (strep negative, thank God!) and Aaron's pedi says he probably would have put a stitch in it if he had seen it yesterday, but today it was already healing & there's nothing we can do but wait & make sure it doesn't get infected.  


Poor Aaron.  I have so much mommy-guilt about his life. 

Be Warned:  the pictures are graphic & gross. They'll make your knees hurt.

A Day At Old Economy Village

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Today we went with Grandma & Grandpa Bishop to the Old Economy Village in Ambridge, PA.  It was REALLY neat! If you haven't been there, you should consider going. 

A new naptime ritual & some smiles

I got the camera today so I could capture a quick shot of the newest heart-melting naptime ritual.  Ian already has such a deep love for his sister.

Lauren smiling at mommy 9/23/10

Aaron playing legos with Ian & daddy

Woody/Aaron laughing at daddy after bath

ERGO carrier Giveaway

http://www.heavenlyhold.com/pages/contest.htm

Just click the link. You won't be sorry!!!

You know how I feel about babywearing, so go right ahead and try to win the Ergo.  It's my 2nd favorite overall, first-favorite for older/heavier babies!

2 Months Old

Already?!  SLoooow down, Princess!  I have no stats for her because her appointment isn't until next week.

Also, she was *so* not having the photo shoot today... maybe later we'll try again for some smiles.

So sweet

Lauren at 2 months

Ian at 2 Months

Aaron at 2 months

Self Portrait & Baby Carriers

I got a Moby Wrap from my girlfriends when Aaron was teeny.  I love it.  Best. Carrier. Ever.  You might also see me in a Maya Ring Sling, an Ergo Carrier, a Peanut Shell, Patapum, or even the Evenflo Hiking Backpack.  They all serve very specific purposes in my mothering and child wearing.  But I'll never tell you otherwise, the Moby is my favorite of all of them.

**Just so you know, I only paid full price for one of these! The rest were either gifts or hand-me-downs.  That's part of the beauty of baby carriers... they are good for multiple babies and/or sharing!

Occasionally, we have a sweet time.

I just got done reading Ian stories for naptime.  Aaron already had his stories & was in his crib.  Lauren, who was in her crib, was fussing so I went and got her before going to Ian's room to read.  We read stories & I said,

"Tell Ian night night, Lauren.  Tell Lauren night night, Ian."

And he asked if Lauren could lay with him.  So I laid her down (awake) next to him in bed (next to the bed rail so she could not fall out) and went to the living room to get Ian his water cup. I returned to fin him laying on his side looking at her, her eyes closed.  It was so sweet.  I wish I had the camera. (it is in the car still from our zoo trip yesterday and would've caused too much commotion anyway.)


It almost makes up for the ridiculous trouble Ian gave me while trying to get out the door to school this morning.  I swear, that kid is so.... three.

Cool Fall Days

Make me feel like baking bread.

It isn't relaxing when you have little fingers helping you.

It is kinda silly (and gross?) when you turn around and find them licking and tasting everything...

But it is nice to see the delight on your child's face when he's so proud of what he's doing.

Don't let me forget to take a photo of Ian's first loaf of bread after we're done. (It's rising now.)

**Update**

And homemade strawberry jam on our bread for breakfast. Yum.

A New School Year

Today was Ian's Offiicial first day of preschool.  He's in the two-days-a-week 3 year old class.  This morning was 1/2 the class & parents, so Thursday is the big day! He'll go all by himself with the whole class.  Lauren came with mommy to Ian's class.  She was quiet as a mouse in her Moby wrap. 

Something dawned on me this morning... my kids are going to learn patience one way or another... Ian was called last twice today because his last name begins with V.  There aren't any kids with WXY or Z last names in his class...

He was his spirited self & had most of the parents smiling & chuckling.  The teachers too.  And Mrs. K even said, "I have a feeling you are going to have us laughing a lot in here, Ian." 

Oh My.

Ian cried when it was time to go.

Aaron went to Kids Day Out this morning & he was fine.  Never batted an eyelash at me going was happy to see me when I came back, but sad to have to leave. 

I'd call this morning a wild success.  Lets pray for continued love for school & happy mornings!

Friday.