Card: Celebrate with the July sotm

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy your summer celebrations with this fun card. The exclusive July stamp of the month is available in the month of July only. Purchase it for $22.95 or earn it at a discount with purchase, even FREE! I love stars especially this set. Look for more artwork created with this stamp in the near future.

June promotion reminder: Studio J free jpeg

If you haven't created a layout with Studio J, it is not too late. You have until midnight June 30th. I created mine and love it. Love the layout and love Studio J! It was so easy. While I love papercrafting, Studio J makes scrapbooking so easy especially for the multiple books I maintain. Below is the layout I created with Studio J. I plan to print a copy for each of my siblings and parents. With a membership, the layouts will cost $6.50 each and no additional time. I get to simply click 6 copies and checkout. Easy peasy lemon squeezey!

Paper Cake...magnificent

It is hard to write words or provide a worthy description since you are probably still gasping in awe. This paper cake was created by a fellow consultant, Tracey Mason as a gift for a friend's son's wedding. The cake is actually paper mache' round containers covered in paper textured by the cuttlebug (you can buy similar pre made paper), decorated with CTMH pearl opagues and Tracey's one of a kind swirl paper flowers, tiny pinecones from her yard and green 'twigs' are a punch from Martha Stewart (available at Hobby Lobby and Micheal's). The blue 'ribbon' is simply paper but real ribbon would be just as beautiful. My goal this summer is to re-create this gorgeous cake. Can't wait to share it with you.

Freezer meals: Pork Barbacoa

My family especially Abby loves this meal! She is definitely a carnivore. The recipe is from Macey's crock pot dinner solutions. I have made it as a crock pot meal and as a freezer meal. Listed is the crock pot instructions and afterwards my suggestions for converting it to a freezer meal.

Pork Barbacoa
Mix the following a bowl:
3 tsp garlic powder
4 tsp cumin
3 tsp molasses
5 cans tomato sauce
1 1/2 c brown sugar
4 c Dr. Pepper soda

Pour sauce mixture over pork roast in a crock pot and cook on low 6-7 hours.
Shred meat meat, return to pot and cook 1 hour in the sauce on low.
Keep warm until ready to serve.
Serve in flour tortillas. Garnish with lettuce, cheese and sour cream

Conversion Suggestion:
You have 2 options. First, follow the crock pot directions and freeze after meat has cooked for 6-7 hours. Then, shred meat and freeze in sauce. Reheat shredded meat and sauce when ready to serve. Or, secondly,  freeze raw meat and Dr. Pepper in a gallon size bag. Combine other ingredients in a quart size bag and freeze. When ready to use, thaw in fridge. Cook in crock pot as directed above.

Freezer meal: Diablo chicken

Another easy recipe from Macey's grocery store's crock pot dinner solutions. You can find all their recipes archived at www.maceys.com/crocktalk

Diablo Chicken
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 tbsp butter
1/2 c honey
1/4 c dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp curry powder

If making as a crock pot meal, place bottom in crock first and pour the sauce mixture over top. Cook on low for 8 hours.
If making into a freezer meal: place all ingredients together in to a freezer gallon sized bag. Seal and freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use. Place in a 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350' for 30 mins or until internal temperature reaches 165'.

Freezer meal: Pork Tenderloin

I have a new love with pork tenderloins. Baked correctly, these pieces of pork are tender and juicy. I purchase mine from a warehouse store for optimal pricing.

Pork Tenderloin

In a gallon freezer bag place:
1 pork tenderloin
2/3 c soy sauce
2 tsp garlic
1 tbsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 black pepper
1 c ketchup
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c white cooking wine (very inexpensive  about $1 at walmart)
1 oz honey

In a quart bag place:

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1/3 c vidalia onion, chopped
1/3 c celery, chopped
1/3 c carrot, chopped
1/3 c red pepper, chopped
1/3 c green bell pepper, chopped
1 c pineapple chunks

Seal bags. Place together inside a gallon size freezer bag. Label and freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use. Can be cooked in crock pot for 4-6 hours on low or placed in oven at 350' for 30 minutes.

Freezer meal: Polynesian Pork Chops

This recipe is courtesy of Macey's grocery store. They offer weekly crock pot dinner solutions. This is their recipe. I suggest serving it with rice and a yummy salad.

Polynesian Pork Chops:

In a gallon size freezer bag place:
4 3/4 inch think boneless pork chops
1 can of golden mushroom soup
20 oz can of pineapple chunks
1 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic
1/4 c water
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp honey

Label. Freeze. Thaw in fridge when ready to use.