Recipe: Skillet Barbecue Pork Chops

Here is my Skillet Barbecued Pork Chops. The first time I prepared this recipe was about 50 years ago.  I served it to our first dinner guests, a fellow university student and his wife. It came from a magazine, and I thought it was great.

When our children came along, they, like most kids, would not eat everything and it seems like the only meat we ever had then was ground beef - hamburgers, meat loaf, spaghetti, etc. Somehow, I drifted away from this recipe.  I have been using it again for the past 2 or 3 years.  I can't say that it is my favorite recipe.......but it is good for a change.

Skillet Barbecued Pork Chops                          
4 -6 pork chops  (I used only three which is what I needed.)
1 tbsp. Wesson oil (optional)
1/3 c. chopped celery  (I use more.)
2 tbsp. lemon juice  (Of course, fresh is nice, but usually I only have bottled lemon juice.)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon Pepper
1 -2 8 oz cans Hunts Tomato Sauce
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard   

In a large skillet with a tight fitting lid, brown pork chops in oil over medium heat about 5 minutes on each side. Actually, I omitted the oil, heated the dry skillet on medium heat until drops of water sprinkled in it danced, placed the chops in the skillet for about 5 minutes until they released easily from the pan, turned them and gave them a couple of minutes to brown on the other side.

Drain off excess fat. Sprinkle celery, (I used 2/3 cup), brown sugar, lemon juice and seasonings evenly over pork chops. Pour tomato sauce over all. Cover; simmer over low heat 1 hour or until chops are tender. It takes at least an hour.

Here is dinner served.... And it was good! The cabbage and black-eyed peas give away the fact that I am from the South.  Baked potatoes are good with this dish also.

Menus and Grocery Shopping

Yesterday, I planned my menus for the week, made my grocery list, and went to the grocery store.  This is the one thing I do that always makes me feel as if I have a handle on things (whether or not I really do), and I usually am pretty consistent with it.  Since most of the time there is just the two of us, I usually only plan 3 or 4 menus per week as each menu usually is enough for 2 meals. We eat out with friends once a week.

This is what we are eating this week:

1. Skillet Barbecued Pork Chops/Black Eyed Peas/Sauteed Cabbage/Leftover carrots
2. Chicken Stir Fry/Rice/Chilled Mandarin Oranges
3. Oven Pot Roast/Potatoes and Carrots/Green Beans/Tropical Fruit with Cheese Salad

I rarely see anyone at the grocery store who appears to be shopping from a list.  I always have one. The other day I was talking with a neighbor about this. She admitted she never does - she always "knows" what she needs.  Now I am wondering if there is something wrong with me because her home and her life seem much more organized than mine.  Maybe I spend too much time making lists!

Years ago I made a project of marking down all the aisle numbers where items that I bought were located in the grocery store and using that information to make my Publix Grocery List.  This is the store where I buy most of my groceries.  Occasionally, I go to Sam's to buy meat. I have never believed that I saved much money by running around from store to store chasing sales. I don't really enjoy grocery shopping!

An objection I have heard to a list like mine has been that stores are always moving things around.  I only remember that happening one time at Publix.  (The key words here are "I only remember".  I have shopped there for years, and they must have changed more than once.) By that time, my husband (who loves to go grocery shopping) was so hooked on my list that he took a tour around the store, noted all the changes, came home and edited my chart for me.

Tomorrow I will post the Pork Chop recipe. Have a great day!!

Thrifting: Estate Sales

I wish that I had known about estate sales when I was a young wife and homemaker.  I could have furnished our home a lot quicker and a lot cheaper. 

Several days ago I wrote about the valentine that I bought for my husband at an estate sale.  Here are the other bargains I got at that sale.  

This cake plate and server cost $2.50.  I love the rose design.  Roses are my thing!

 

This floral picture (roses again) in a gorgeous gold frame was $7.50.

 

A teapot for $2.50 (more roses, apparently also the "thing" of the woman who had previously lived where the sale was held)..... The ivy is from Joann's. I had a coupon.

I got all of these at half price because I was there on the last afternoon of the sale when they had reduced the prices of whatever was leftover.

I subscribe to Estate Sales.Net, a web site that emails notifications of estate sales in certain areas. 

Click to enlarge the photos!

Today's Pursuit: Yardwork

This time of year in Central Florida our big oaks start shedding their leaves.  I have already raked one time just a few days ago, but you would never know it. Though there were other things that I would much rather have done today, those leaves were calling me. They look messy, but they do make good mulch for our azalea bushes.

We have a lot of big oak trees on our street though not as many as we had before Hurricane Charley.  There were 8 big trees blown down across the street.

There is also a lot of work to be done in the back of our house.  My husband has already trimmed a lot of dead limbs, etc. that were a result of the freezes we had this winter.  The lanatanas that I planted around a Florida Holly tree in the back were damaged, but they are very hardy.  I gave them a haircut and they will come back. Today I did a little more weeding in that bed. The pavers that surround the bed have become buried in the ground so I started digging them up and will reposition them.

My husband had planned to spray Round Up on the patio as there are a lot of weeds peaking up between the pavers, but there is too much wind this afternoon. The patio also needs to be sprayed with bleach for the midldew on the pavers.

There are big beds along the back that need to be weeded and mulched.......a lot to do.  I don't like yardwork!

**Clicking on the photos will make them larger.

Blog Reading

It is Sunday morning. My granddaughters, who spent last night with us, are still asleep on the pull-out sofa in the family room.  Our guest room is currently occupied by my son-in-law who has been staying with us. He and my daughter and granddaughter are moving to another country (oh, wait....another state....just feels like another country) and he has been in job transition while my daughter has already gone ahead.  Since I can't go out to watch news, knit, and have my cup of coffee, I am in the computer room (also the sewing and ironing room) trying to catch up on reading blogs.

My list of blogs to read and check out gets longer and longer.  I feel a little frustrated that I can't keep up with all of them.  One site leads to another and another...........I was on I'm an Organizing Junkie this morning and found another great-looking site, Reluctant Entertainer.

I here someone rattling around in the kitchen.  Guess I'd better go check.

There is a lot going on at my house this weekend, and I don't have time to blog........so here is a funny joke that I plagarized from Grandma P's blog.  She admitted she had plagarized it so I guess it will be ok if I do.

This doctor has some unique ideas that I thought you would appreciate.

Doctor

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true? 
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap. 
 
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables? 
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products. 
 
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake? 
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made out of grain. Bottoms up! 
 
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio? 
A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc. 
 
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program? 
A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain...Good! 
 
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you? 
A: YOU NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables be bad for you? 
 
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? 
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach. 
 
Q: Is chocolate bad for me? 
A: You crazy? HELLO ... Cocoa beans! Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food around! 
 
Q: Is swimming good for your figure? 
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whales to me. 
 
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle? 
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape! 
 
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. 
 

More Menus and Blogging

I spent time yesterday writing the "About Me" post in the sidebar and working on my template - also researching some blogs.  I found a site called Blogging Basics 101 that promises to be helpful with my blogging and  also this site,  another interesting blog listing the ten top blogs in all kinds of subjects.  I have spent some time - using instructions in Blogging Basics to insert an RSS feed.  I have taken all of my "blogging time" with these things which has not left much time to post. I have to get up and start house cleaning as we are having a little company this weekend.

However, as I wrote about menus last, here is a photo of the Pinto Bean menu.  This was dinner for Tuesday night.  I ended up making just a quick tossed salad with what I could find in the frig as Tuesday nights are Little League Games right now and I did not have time to make the Columbia Salad.

Everything was good anyway.  As far as I am concerned, you can't beat pinto beans with fresh chopped onions and cornbread.  It's cheap, too!

I never use placemats.  (I do use tablecloths when we have company) This place setting would look much better with a placemat - I keep thinking I am going to make some.

Menus and Columbia Restaurant Salad Recipe

In searching the web looking for blogs by older people, I came acress this post by Nicholas Carr entitled "Blogging: a great pastime for the elderly".  He talks about a survey that says young people think blogging is uncool and only older people do it.  Oh well, everything always seems to be out before I am in.

I did get my menus planned for this week.  They are;

1. Pinto Beans/Cornbread/Columbia Restaurant Salad
2. Old Fashioned Beef Stew/Rice/Green Peas/Pear and Cheese Salad
3. Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes/Broccoli and Cheese Sauce/Canned Tropical Fruit Salad
4. Chicken Dressing Casserole/Quick Candied Yams/Green Beans/Fruit Salad

This allows for leftovers and for eating out at least once. The Columbia Salad Restaurant Salad is a signature recipe from a restaurant here in Florida.  It is very good.

Columbia Salad Recipe

1/2 head Iceberg Lettuce, torn

2 Tomatoes, diced

1 stalk Celery, diced

3 oz. Swiss Cheese, julienned

3 oz. Ham, julienned

1/4 cup Spanish Olives, pitted

2 tablesp. Romano Cheese

Dressing:

1 clove Garlic, minced

1 tsp Oregano

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 Lemon, juiced

1/2 cup Olive Oil

2 tablesp. White Vinegar

Salt and Pepper to taste

Arrange salad ingredients in serving bowl or individual salad plates.  To prepare the dressing mince garlic and put in a bowl.. Add oregano, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice.  Beat with a wire wisk until smooth.  Add the oil gradually and finally add the vinegar, beating continuously.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  When well-mixed, pour dressing over salad and toss.

Housekeeping and More Thrifty Finds

Many times I have made schedules - some simple, some complicated - for getting my housework done.  Somehow I've never really hit on one that works for me.  I have read all the housework organizing books, Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, Side-Tracked Executives, Speed Cleaning, The Messies Manual, etc.and when the web came along, I would read all the home organizing sites that I could find.  I would get very enthusiastic about it, but in all too short order, it would become boring, or impossible to keep up with, or something would come along to get me off track.

Now, I have been keeping house for over 50 years and I still haven't solved the problem - so I guess it is hopeless.  In my defense, a good bit of that time I had 4 children and worked part time.

Hope springs eternal, I guess, and I still keep trying because disorder does bother me. My idea of  heaven includes having everything in place and clean.........all done by someone else, of course!

I've said all that to say this - I have got to get menus planned for next week or we will spend too many evenings eating out!  And I have got to clean my house for company next weekend!

Here are other thrift store, etc. decorating finds. The little glass jar was 75 cents and the red and white saucer 50 cents.  The flowers were cut from one stem at the dollar store.  They sorta match my wall paper and the salt and pepper shakers that were given to me by one of my children who knows I like floral (especially roses) designs. The vase  was recycled from a candle jar.

Yardwork, Thrifting, and Knitting

Well, it 's a very nice day outside today which means...........yardwork!  It was nice to be outside but I am not a yardwork person.  However, since I don't have one (yardwork person), I got out and raked those leaves and started pruning the lantanas in the back yard.  And that is just a start!

Back to knitting:  that afghan I said was simple - well, lately it has been driving me nuts. Morning before yesterday I pulled out 4 looong rows  because I discovered a mistake. This morning I thought I had knitted an extra row in the pattern, pulled it out, and then discovered that it was not a mistake and had to knit it back in.

Probably nobody would have noticed those mistakes except me.  However, I have made a lot of mistakes in my life that I could not go back and correct.  These I could and so I did. (The italics are because I said something profound!)

Like many women, I love bargains.  I think garage sales, thrift shops, and estate sales are great.  Some of my favorite things in my home have come from them.  Recently I went to an estate sale and got several good buys.  Here is the one I thought was the best bargain.  It was my husband's valentine and it cost a quarter (we've been married 53 years so he appreciates any valentine he gets).  In addition to being a copy of a Mary Engelbreit print, it plays music to the tune of "Just the Way You Are".......and that is the way I have to take him. (and also how he has to take me)