~ Foodie Friday~ featuring ~Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples~

Welcome to Foodie Friday hosted by our lovely Gollum @ Designs By Gollum. Please visit, as she has a host of others participants with tasty recipes for all of us to try!

My contribution for today is:

Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples

Here I've gathered are all of my ingredients

I started with my sauce. This sauce is soooooooo good!

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

Then I seasoned my pork, and it's ready for the grill.

1teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
I used crushed red peppers, I didn't have any ground

Smokeless inside grill, always put water in the bottom to keep it smokless. When ever I cook on it, the food is always so tender. Maybe it's because the water in the bottom keeps it moist.

Almost ready for sauce and it smells delightful!

Here I have brushed on that wonderful sauce, I cheated and added a 1/8 teaspoon of dried mustard to my sauce, which made it perfect!

Here's the finish! I also had steamed cabbage, sauteed apples, purple hull peas and cornbread patties. I know a little juice from the apples is on the plate but, that's for the cornbread. YUMMY! Thanks for stopping by my first Foodie Friday, hosted by Designs By Gollum. Don't forget to stop over for a taste of the many other participant's selections. My recipe is listed below.

Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

Remaining Ingredients:

6 (6oz) bone-in center cut pork chops

(about 1/2 inch thick)

1teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Cooking spray

Sauteed Apples

Parsley sprigs (optional)

1. Prepare grill or broiler.

2. To prepare the sauce, combine brown sugar and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl (makes about 1/2 cup). Place 1/4 cup of the brown sugar sauce in another small bowl, and set aside.

3. Trim fat from pork chops. Combine thyme, garlic salt, and ground red pepper, spinkle pork chops with thyme mixture. Place pork chops on a grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray, and cook six minutes on each side, basting with 1/4 cup brown sugar sauce. Serve pork chops with Sauteed Apples and reserved 1/4 cup sauce. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop, 2/3 cup of Sauteed Apples, and about 1-1/2 brown sugar sauce).

Sauteed Apples:

3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine

6 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apples

(about 2 pounds)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Melt butter in a larg skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples, saute' 6 minutes or until apples are just tender. Stir in brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Cook for 1 minute or until sugar melts. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 2/3 cup).

~Sail ~ Sand~ and ~ Sea~

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday hosted by our lovely Susan, @ Between Naps On The Porch. Please stop by to see Susan's lovely tablescapes, which are always breathtaking, along with her host of other participants.

Today, I'll call my Tablescape "Sail Sand and Sea". This is a picture I ran across, that I thought I could use in my tablescape but, I couldn't make it work. So I'll just use it as an introduction.

My tablescape was inspired by this lovely platter. It's Homer Laughlin China, and his GOTHIC style. When I saw these, I thought of seafood on the large platter. Each platter was only 3.99.

The detail almost took my breath away. The gloss look, was also pretty.

They even had the smaller plate that I thought could be used for salad or breakfast! They were 2.99 each. They are restaurant plates in surplus, that's why I was able to get them for so little.

I used this napkin ring and a candle ring that I already had. I took the candle ring apart to couple with the napkin ring for the effect below.

Soooooo pretty! This is my everyday flatware. The table mats are from Big Lots for 1.00 each, in the softest shade of blue.

I found these two, joined at the cheek at Ross for 3.99. I thought they were cute and the two fish are my sign. It's also a candle holder and I have a candle glowing inside.

Then I found the lighthouse to match, same price. They both fit perfectly into the scheme.

The large seashells I've had for a while, I got them at Marshall's for 4.99

The centerpiece, is a hurricane, on a wood base, I found it at Ross for 6.99 added a little lift and faux greenery. The cute little gobblets are by Libby, four to a box for 5.99 and I was lucky enough to find two boxes.

Thank you for visiting my calm little table by the sea, as I look forward to visiting you and your beautiful Tablescapes. Deb

~MY WORLD TODAY~

MY WEAKNESS! A bag of Circus Peanuts! What do they taste like? NOTHING! No flavor that I can determine, just plain sugar! But for some reason I can't pass them up. I think it's something in the way that they chew. This bag, was opened this morning. I have to go out in a little bit and didn't want to burden myself fixing breakfast so, this light went on in my head, and the caption read, "What about that bag of Circus Peanuts, all you need is a little sugar and you'll be alright till you get back". Well the results are what you see above. Now, mind you that it's only about five left, I pushed them in the little window to get a picture, however, they don't fill up the window because it's a large bag.


It doesn't help any to stand here in the kitchen (EATING THEM) and look into the dining room and see this! I had another light go on in my head that the caption read, "If you bring the Ab Lounger upstairs, it will be so much easier to use it because you won't have to go down stairs alone". So, I had my husband go down and get it. That's been two weeks ago and the only time I used it was the day he brought it up!

Well now I want it OUT OF THERE! It's totally messing with my decor. LOL!!! But I hate to hear I told you so, because my husband knew that he would be taking back downstairs again. SO NOW IT'S TIME! Well this is my world today, what's yours. Deb

To Be Or Not To Be

This is a new posting for Metamorphosis Monday, what I originally submitted didn't go over well but, it was pertaining to things changing.

If I offended anyone, mainly Susan, I apologize as it was not my intent. So I went back into my archives and found this. It is when I first started blogging and I think my third post. So I have an anniversary coming up. I began blogging last year March, 26. I wish I had a before picture of the chair, but believe me, it was a mess.

Metamorphosis Monday, is hosted by our lovely Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. Please visit, as there are a host of participants with lovely before and after projects and here is mine.

After losing his mother, my husband and a family member had been doing some repairs at her home which is now his family’s home house. One night he brought home this chair. He said, we were getting rid of some things and this looked like something you would like. I love flea markets and yard sales. I looked at it, it was covered in dust and grime, and had a very unflattering fabric. I said to myself, "cute chair, I can work with this ".

The next day I took out the "Mean Green", for those of you not familiar with this product, it’s an all purpose cleaner and I know for a fact, if used on furniture it will strip away old dirt and "varnish" and for this reason it is advised not to use on wood furniture. But that’s what I wanted it to do. I got the chair cleaned up and after it was dry I painted on a satin polyurethane. I found a piece of gingham fabric that I had left over after making a cushion for the bench at my dinning room table, and recovered the seat.

I stood there admiring how well it had turn out, but then for the first time noticed that it was much smaller than your normal sized chair. I thought to myself, maybe it will work out as an extra chair in an overflow situation. After finding a place for it, I sat in it. It was not the scale of the furniture already in the room, so it looked out of place. It was also not comfortable to sit in because it was so small. I couldn't’t think of any other room that it would compliment.

Then I thought of my husband, he was so sure that I could find a place for it and even though he didn’t say it, it possibly had some sentimental value to him. This is what I came up with, it is now a plant stand and it sits by the window and it’s plants drink up the Alabama sunshine and they’ve never looked healthier. So with a little imagination, something you think you can’t use, can very well turn out to be "quite" useful. Deb
Posted

Tablescape Thursday - The bunny is over here

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday! It's hosted by our lovely Susan at, Between Naps On The Porch. Susan's tablescapes are tough to beat, so stop by and see her's, and the host of other participants. They're Growing!

Today my tablescape will start with these beautiful Bordallo Pinheiro plates. I'd seen them around blogland and often thought how nice they were. I'd seen a few in green but, I was blown away when I saw them in YELLOW. I knew immediately that they would make a very beautiful spring tablescape. Mine has a bunny in the center, and little bunches of carrots all around but, I've seen others had a rooster, or a pig.

I coupled them with the white dinnerware that I found at The Dollar Store.

I'm also using these guys, I couldn't remember for the life of me where I got them but I've had them forever. A he and she pair and they each sit on half of a beautiful hand painted egg.

This lovely couple was found at Big Lots back when I could hardly find anything in there that I didn't like. Look, he's serenading her.

Then how about this, on my purchase receipt, they were called panties. Good name, and look at the little chicken feet.

They only had the four and I bought them all for 1.99 each at Ross. They are holding faux eggs.

I'm using my everyday flatware, and linen napkins that I found for 1.99 each for a pack of four. I was lucky enough to find two packs. They are cream colored.

The flowers are from my husband, a just because. I love mixed flowers and prefer them over Roses any day.

See the little bunny on the left, I'd seen him somewhere but forgot where. He stayed on my mind and I had a time finding him again. I was actually shocked when I found him that he was still there. I've forgotten all over again where I got him but, I remember he was 11.00. The receipt said it was a watering can, but it's not.

I used this pedestal to raise the flowers and add height to my table. I used my cake plate to showcase pastries.

And here's the overall view, very springish I think. I'd not found placemats that I loved when I took these pictures, but yesterday I found the perfect ones. Well, re-doing my table was just out of the question, so I didn't buy them. I kinda like the color of the wood table against the other colors anyway.

Thanks for joining me again this week, I really enjoy it when you come by. Please leave comments as I love them too. I also look forward to visiting with all of you. Deb

~What I'm Toying With~

As you know, I hate to cook! Well, I was in my favorite dept store (Ross) and spotted this spice rack. The rack included 18 spices. I thought how neat, because normally when I find a recipe, it calls for spices that I've never bothered to buy and the thought of gathering all the ingredients makes me not want to try the recipe. So this made me think. I thought, this would be a great way to get started on my spices, and it was only 19.99. So I bought the rack, and these cook books. The one above...

And this one

Bought myself an apron too! I'll keep it right here on this little hook.

Now my first recipe was from neither books above, it was a recipe that I recieved in the mail. Beef and Broccoli and it looked so good. So I tried it. These are all the ingredients that was needed.

And this is the finished product. Well it had a fantastic flavor, and the only thing I messed up was that I didn't use fresh broccoli and my frozen broccoli sort of over cooked but, next time everything will be perfect. As a side, I chose Wild Rice.

Then I tried Shrimp Linguine, it was perfect, only in my picture I had not added the croutons, shredded cheese, and dressing to my salad but, this was a great meal. My husband loved both!

Then yesterday I cooked from my Light Cooking cook book. I made Chicken with Garlic and Lime. This is not the picture in the book but, the recipe is on the same page.

This is what it looked like before it went into the oven. Fresh garlic, ground cumin, oregano, white vinegar, lime juice, and chopped fresh cilantro to garnish. My sides are garlic butter rice, green beans, salad; and rolls.

I set the coffee table, and this is what the finished product look like. It was a great, light, meal, and quite tasty!

I also made Paula Dean's fried apple pies. A very quick recipe made from biscuit dough, apple pie filling, and powdered sugar.

Afterwards, we had a little wine and all in all it was a lovely meal! Now maybe, just maybe, I can join in with Foodie Friday (SOMETIMES)!!!. LOL!!! I don't want to over do it. But I'm sort of excited about something new at meal time. This is what I'm toying with! Deb

Tablescape Thursday ~A Romantic Table For Two~

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, hosted by our lovely Susan, at Between Naps On The Porch. Please stop by to visit her many, many, other participants as the numbers continue to grow.

My tablescape idea for this week, all began with this bowl. I found two at my favorite store (Ross) for 2.99 each.

I needed something to compliment them, and I found these plates and thought they were perfect together. A jeweled look for myself, and a masculine look for my husband, as I will be using these two together, for an intimate dinner for two.

I've added to the above, a silver charger...

...and to below, this beautiful flatware that I found at Marshall's moving sale a couple of months ago. It's an eight piece service, with serving set. I only paid 42.00 at 60% off.

Here, you see all the silver effects. The table cloth is silver and brown. I found it at Ross for 5.49. The brand name is Berkshire. I love how all these things compliment each other.

A close-up of the main characters...

...and everthing put together. My husband and I always eat in our den, so I set the coffee table so we can dine and do our favorite thing (watch TV) LOL!!!

The stemware is Luigi Bormioli (found them at Ross) they are 20 and 22oz glasses.

This ice bucket was found at a little Antique shop, it has a top that goes with it. The silver tray I found at a thrift shop it's the middle size of a set of three and I paid about 19.00 for all three. I wish I could use them all the time but I would be constantly cleaning them.

Everything here is not perfect as I would like, when I actually do this, I plan to have fresh flowers where I'm using faux. All in all I'm looking forward to this evening which will be soon. I'll tell you all about it.

Here I'm playing around with some effects on my camera. I think it's makes a pretty picture.

Thanks for joining me, as I look forward to visiting most of you! The number of participants keep growing and it is making it difficult to visit everyone, but I'll try! Deb