A cookbook? I know, I know. Shelves are replete with cookbooks and Pinterest is crammed with delightful dishes⎯but⎯I can personally vouch for this one.
I’ve been a full-fledged fan of Robyn Stone’s food blog “Add A Pinch” for years. Her Honey Soy Pork loin and Balsamic Beef dishes are mainstays of our family table. And, oh, did I mention they’re both crockpot recipes?
My copy arrived in the mail this week and I’d love to share four specific things I’m loving about this cookbook.
Four Reasons You’ll Love This Cookbook:
The photography is stunning. I don’t know about you, but I like to see what a finished recipe should look like. Not that mine will appear anything like the finished product but you never know.
Her table of contents includes my favorites. Can anyone say Slow Cooker Suppers? I also love Skillet Suppers, One-Dish Suppers, Simple Sides, and Biscuits & Breads. There are more, but these are my faves.
The book has smart sidebars. Each includes suggestions and solutions for the modern home cook.
Robyn delivers on the Southern Classics. Five favorites⎯some I’ve tried, and some I look forward to trying: Strawberry shortcakes with sweet cream cheese biscuits {need I go on?}, Cranberry Chicken Bites, Grandmother’s Chicken and Dumplings, Citrus Shrimp, and Roasted Okra. Lighter dishes are also included.
Sharing a favorite cookbook with you is not my norm, mainly because I don’t purchase many, but I couldn’t keep this one a secret. Yes, it’s that good! {And yes, it was on my Amazon wishlist so sharing it was inevitable.}
To close out 2014 in the blogosphere, I decided to share ten things I’ve learned this year. Hopefully, I learned more than ten (ha!) but it was first come, first serve in the memory bank so here goes (in no particular order):
1. I have two new favorite authors!
Actually, it’s because of Emily P. Freeman that this post exists at all. The idea originated on her site, Chatting at the Sky. Emily’s book, A Million Little Ways, remains at the top of my all time fave books.
2. Every choice I make either moves me closer to my goals or draws me
further away from them.
When I consider my self-talk at the brink of an unwise choice it often goes like this: What difference will one frappe make in the big scheme of things? Truth is, that one frappe does make a difference. Every single time I say “no” to an unhealthy choice I’m actually saying “yes” to my goal of becoming healthier.
5 Reasons Why You Should Start Writing Morning Pages – Right Now!
by Nicky Hajal
“For years I’ve wanted to write daily but been unable to. The proof is 5 or 6 journals filled with just a single entry. Then, I came across Morning pages in The Artists’ Way, by Julia Cameron. The idea is to wake up and immediately write three pages about anything, simply transcribing your thoughts.Their purpose is not to be shared with
others or even reread by yourself but simply to create awareness and to
free your mind of all the chatter. They work incredibly well and have had a huge impact on me since I started consistently writing in December. I know you have a ton of things to accomplish and I want you to accomplish them. That’s why I want you to write morning pages. But before I go into the how of getting into morning pages (next post) I want to go more deeply into the why.” To read the article in its entirety, click here.
Honey Soy Pork Tenderloin, by Robyn Stone @ Add A Pinch
This has become a go-to favorite for these empty nesters! The aroma alone should require Weight Watcher points. It’s very simple and anything in a crock pot grabs my attention. Add the crock pot liner and you’ll also have an easy clean up. Add Jasmine Rice and a veggie. Voila! I’d love to know what you think when you give it a try.
This recipe is a favorite, but so is Robyn’s site, Add A Pinch. It’s filled with great recipes, travel tips, homeschooling ideas and much more. Enjoy!
Do you spend time trying to earn approval from others? From God? Jennifer Dukes Lee Love Idol was recently released and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. You know if Susan Stilwell promotes it, the book is slam full of truth with little fluff. My kind of book! I’m considering trying an online study group for Love Idol this summer via Google Hangout. If you might be interested, leave a comment on the blog and stay tuned!
Studying God’s Word, eating healthy, spending time/money wisely and spiffing up our skills all enhance the fragrance we have to offer each other and the world. Don’t you agree?
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
The closer we get to Christmas, the busier our days tend to become — which is why today’s idea has to do with slowing down, savoring the senses, and enjoying more quality time with the Lord, family and friends.
Grab your crock-pot and set the timer for five minutes! That’s all the prep time you’ll need for one of our favorite recipes, Balsamic Pork Tenderloin. It’s quick, easy, and due to the multiple meals it creates, you’ll also find it budget-friendly.
I’ll send you to Addapinch.com for instructions (Warning: photos may cause swoon-like symptoms) but here’s the ingredient list to give you a peek:
(1) 2-3 pound boneless pork tenderloin
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
½ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, chopped
I didn’t use the red pepper flakes and I substituted the 2 cloves with 2 T of minced onion from my fridge due to convenience. I also used low-sodium soy sauce to cut down on the sodium.
No doubt you’ll want to bookmark this Web site. It’s a go-to favorite of ours!
Enjoy the meal, the extra time in your day, and especially those who surround your table.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Cathy Baker
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Four Reasons You’ll Love This Cookbook:
Four Reasons You’ll Love This Cookbook:
