Favorite Fall Food

As the first cool breeze of fall blows through the windows I am filled with a renewed energy in the kitchen. Like most of you, we have favorite fall recipes that stir our senses and signal a shift in season. I was set to share our anticipated annual debut of Cranberry Oat Bars with you, but Husband reminded me of something even better.

When I told Husband I was sharing a favorite fall recipe at Today’s Housewife this week he quickly cheered me on “Oh you have to give them the bacon wrapped pork recipe. And will you make it for us too?”

If Husband’s endorsement isn’t enough, all four Littles love this meal! Simple ingredients sizzled together in a cast iron skillet place this easy and satisfying meal at the top of my fall favorites!

Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 lb)
¾ tsp kosher salt
¾ tsp black pepper
4 sprigs fresh thyme (or ¾ tsp dried)
4 slices bacon
1 TBS olive oil
1 yellow or white onion, cut into about 8 wedges
2 carrots, sliced
8 new potatoes

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.  Rinse and pat pork dry with paper towels.  Season with 1/2 t. of the salt, 1/2 t. of the pepper, and the thyme. Wrap the pork with the bacon (no need to secure the bacon with toothpicks or anything). Heat the oil in large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the pork, vegetables, and season with the remaining salt and pepper. (The pan may seem crowded, but everything will shrink as it cooks down.)  Cook the pork for 2 - 4 min. on each side, until the bacon starts to brown.  Stir the veggies around a little.  Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 25 minutes.  (I turn the pork over half way through and give the veggies a stir).  Let rest for 5-10 minutes and serve with the vegetables.

Tips:

• This recipe is best cooked in a cast iron skillet. If you do not have cast iron, use a pan that will transfer from stove to oven.

• Don’t worry about the exact quantity of vegetables. I actually use more carrots and fewer potatoes. Do whatever suits your family’s preference.

• Don’t miss the juices at the bottom of the pan! Trust me this is the very best part. When serving, make sure to top your meat and veggies with a spoonful of the yummy sauce. Or mop it up with slices of warm French bread.

• This recipe will feed our family of 6, but barely. I usually cook two pork tenders and double the veggies in my largest cast iron skillet. Husband loves to take the leftovers to lunch the next day!

Kristin chronicles life as a wife and mother of four with daily musings about what’s cooking at The Schell Café. Passionate about cooking and gathering family around the table, she knows that man cannot live by bread alone and shares her faith story and love for Jesus Christ at The Kitchen Mission. You can find Kristin at her blogs or on twitter @theschellcafe.

An Apple a Day

I have mentioned before that I love the smell of fall. Nothing is better than cooking up some sweet treats in your own home!

Two weeks ago my family took a day and headed to the mountains to pick apples. Unfortunately, there were not any apples on the trees. But they did have some bagged for me to take home--half a bushel. I had my list of recipes ready to go! The next week was a baking week.

Apple Butter : Apple Dumplings

Apple Bread : Apple Pie

My favorite item this year was by far the apple dumplings. Super easy and so delicious.

2 large apples, peeled and cored (I used Gala)
2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Mountain Dew ™

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.

Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the apple dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew™ over the dumplings.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown.

My next venture is pumpkin. Do you have any pumpkin recipes you are willing to share? Post a link in the comments!

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Being in Texas, my favorite thing about Fall is that the weather starts to cool off a little! We can finally resume our morning or evening walks that were put on hold for the summer! I also LOVE candy corn pumpkins! Did I mention that I've already eaten 2 large bags...by myself? Yum!

Fall Kick-Off

I love football. I grew-up watching games every weekend with my dad. My first date with Lee was to a college football game. But I know not everyone loves football at much as I do. Here are a few things about football you need to know to start enjoying the game!

Here are the basics (for you true football fans, I’m just giving the basics!):

• The Teams- You have twenty-two players on the field, eleven for each team. The team who has the ball and is trying to score is the offense. The team defending their end zone is the defense. There are also special teams players who come out when the ball is kicked (kick off, punt, or extra point attempt).
• The Field- It is one hundred yards long and marked off in ten yard sections. There is an end zone at each end, with a goal post.
• Playing- Each team has four chances to get ten yards closer to their opponent’s end zone.  These are numbered and called downs. You will often hear, “First and ten!” That means this is their first chance to go ten more yards. The lower the second number the better for the offense.  “Second and two” is better than “Second and fifteen.”
• Scoring- A touchdown is worth six points. After a team gets a touch down, they can kick the extra point (one point) or “go for two” by running or throwing it in. A field goal is worth three points. Rarely, a team will tackle their opponent who has possession of the ball in their own end zone. This is called a safety and is worth two points.
• Penalties- Penalties are assessed on anything from too many players on the field to a player just being in the wrong spot. It’s hard to keep up with all the rules. You can enjoy the game without knowing all the details of penalties.

You may never love football or have your own fantasy team, but learning a little about the game may help you enjoy football more. And, if nothing else, you could try out new recipes that go great with watching the game, like this one for pumpkin dip I’m going to fix for Monday Night Football tonight!

This Week: Favorite Things about Fall

We're sharing our favorite things about fall this week! So put on your corduroy pants, grab a mug of apple cider, open the windows to let in the cool breeze and talk fall favorites with us!

Our guest post will be from Kristin from The Schell Cafe! She'll be sharing one of her favorite fall recipes.

Fuel Yourself for Exercise

Hello! I’m Sarah, and I blog at The Pajama Chef.  I’ve been a runner for about 13 years, including 10 years of competitive team running.  Currently, I am in the early stages of training for a marathon (my second) and trying to convince my husband, Ben, to run one with me!  Though I have sat through countless lectures on nutrition as part of team education and read many articles about healthy eating, it has only been over the past few years that I have truly begun to understand the connection between nutrition and exercise.  It may seem elementary, but what you eat contributes to how well you can exercise.  Nutrition needs do vary based on your exercise goals (training for a marathon versus general fitness), but regardless of your aspirations, there are five basic tips I have learned and seek to practice in my life to fuel myself for exercise.

• Stay hydrated. Water is the best way to do this.  Find out what temperature your prefer water (I like it ice cold), and how many ounces your favorite water bottle/glass holds.  Then drink and fill it up enough times each day to get in at least 8- 8 ounce glasses!  Water doesn’t have to be boring either—try adding lemon, cucumber, or orange slices to your water to make it fancy.  Staying hydrated fuels your muscles to help you move well and not feel weak during exercise.

• Eat regularly. Life is busy, and regardless of your life status, it can be hard eat three meals a day.  There are many ways to plan ahead so you can have healthy and tasty meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Making a meal plan, setting out breakfast the night before, and freezer cooking are just some of the ways I make sure that my husband and I will be well-fed and not tempted to get take-out.

• Eat a variety of foods.  All foods provide our bodies with different vitamins and minerals.  We need carbs and fats and protein and more, which can be found in a variety of foods.  Don’t worry about knowing specific about each vegetable or fruit or grain—no one food is perfect, and different colors equal different nutrients.  So fill your plate with colors!

• Be educated about your food choices. There is a lot of hype surrounding eating organic, vegetarian, local, etc.  I personally am not a vegetarian and do not eat all organic or all local.  However, I do believe in knowing where my food comes from and being educated about nutrition and issues with food production in this country.  Some of the most helpful resources I’ve found in educating myself have been by reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, as well as In Defense of Food and Food Rules by Michael Pollan.  These books have made me consider the nutritional benefits found in foods that have been packaged in different ways: frozen, canned, or fresh—local or sent from 2,000 miles away, and has also challenged me to consider the effects processed foods can have on my body, especially as an athlete.  This applies also to everyone too—even if you don’t consider yourself to be an “athlete!”

• Be flexible, and give yourself grace.  No one is going to eat completely healthy all the time.  Sometimes we crave sweets or salty foods, and it’s okay to indulge your cravings at times.  Some people try to eat healthy and clean about 80% of the time, and indulge the other 20%.  Others may follow stricter guidelines.  Moderation is key.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in the technicalities of eating and nutrition to the extent that it becomes the end all, be all of our self-perception and life.  That is not healthy.  What is healthy is enjoying food for what it is and what it does for us, without becoming obsessive.  God gives us grace in all areas of life, including our food choices and nutrition.  Let’s believe that!

Let's Get Together

Back in January I began to exercise with a group from church. There were 8 of us meeting together in the student worship room. None of us had exercised in ages, but we had a plan and we stuck to it. P90X was the name of the game. Oh mercy!

Our middle school minister had a plan to do "B90X" over the summer with his students. It was a summer of reading the entire Bible in 90 days. He knew that reading the Bible through would change their hearts, but he had to have evidence that change really would take place. In preparation for this he wanted do P90X to show what happens to our outer bodies when we exercise and eat right for 90 days. The results? He lost over 100 lbs!! There was no denying that change can occur! And even better, I loved hearing how the hearts of those middle schoolers were changed for Christ over the summer!

But back to the exercising. I thought P90X would kick my tail. And it did. The first few weeks I definitely could not complete the videos. But, I did what I could and rested when my body said stop. And I didn't do it 7 days a week, but 3-4. As the weeks progressed, I could do more and more. But it was not something I could have done on my own. Having 7 other friends with me made all the difference. Accountability (something I have mentioned before) is HUGE! The days when I had to do it at home, I found myself making excuses.

There were 4 little ones running around. We would have to take a break here and there to attend to their needs, but we were still there and committed to finishing what we started. We brought toys and colors and snacks to entertain. And LilE would even participate some! You can see our afternoons through my daughter's eyes by clicking HERE.

Downward Dog with Daddy

You don't have to go out and buy a program or a membership (unless you come across a great deal like Kama), but get a buddy, set up a routine, and get moving! I know I feel so much better when I am treating my body as the temple God intended it to be.

10 Reasons I Work Out

I recently ran across a 3 year deal at Costco for 24 Hour Fitness. It works out to be $12.50 a month, which I thought was a great price! My husband and I used to work out at 24 Hour before having kids, so I was familiar with the gym. I decided to buy the membership and I'm so glad that I did! Here are my top 10 reasons:

10. I can fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes.
9. It gives me something to do every day (or every day that we go over there).
8. I get to see other adults!
7. They have cable TV (and I don't).
6. My boys like the playland...unless #2 is grumpy and they have to call me back in the middle of my workout (which has happened pretty much every time so far).
5. I feel better about myself.
4. I actually like getting sore after a workout--like I've actually accomplished something.
3. My husband says I'm looking good!
2. I am thinking about training to run a 5K.
1. There is FREE childcare.

I figure if I work out 20 times a month, I'll be paying less than $.75 for all of the above benefits every time I go. Who can get an hour's worth of childcare for $.75? For me, it's totally worth it!

Family Exercise

I've never been sporty or a work-out type girl. But last week at my physical, when the doctor said, "Do you exercise" I could say "Yes!" My boys and I start out each homeschooling day with a walk around the block, some days we even make it around twice. I know it's a small step (pun intended!) to better fitness, but at least we're moving! As a family we also like to play basketball in the driveway, play t-ball in the backyard, and play the Wii inside. My boys keep me moving, so we have fun moving together!

What do you and your family do to keep active together?

This Week: Health & Exercise!

This week we are talking about health and exercise! We aren't experts, but we are going to share what works for us and our families. We would also love to hear what works for you in the comments this week, and on our Facebook page.

Our guest post is from Sarah, who blogs at The Pajama Chef! She began blogging in order to chronicle her adventures in and love of cooking and baking. Sarah is currently a graduate student at Indiana University working towards a Master of Library Science and a Master of Arts in African Studies. Sarah's efforts in the kitchen would not be possible without the assistance of her husband, Ben, and his stellar dish-washing and sous-chef skills. Sarah and Ben were married in May 2009 and enjoy running, reading, involvement in a local church, and spoiling their kitty, Sheba.

From Home-Ec Sewing to an Etsy Shop!

Sewing is not something that I have done all my life, but something that I definitely love to do now. My mom did a lot of sewing when I was little and so I guess when I got married -- that's what I thought I was supposed to do, because I bought my first sewing machine weeks after we were married.  I didn't know much about sewing - apart from my junior high home ec "sweatshirt" making experience.

Sewing really took off when I found out I was having a girl - several dresses lined her closet, until they were packed away when we found out the doctor was WRONG!  In 2007, my husband knew I was really wanting an embroidery machine, so with an unexpected bonus from work, he bought me an embroidery/sewing machine from overstock.com.  That poor baby didn't know what hit it and in 2008 when I finally brought a daughter home, my machine has gone in overdrive!

Now that I have a little princess, I thought it would be appropriate to share my latest project.  Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favorite kid's movies and with the new movie coming out soon, I just knew I wanted to make this dress.  I started searching for Belle patterns online and found a general direction that I used as a basis for the skirt here and used my trusty peasant dress pattern top from here and got to work creating the dress.  I got the top and the top two tiers of the skirt done and was frustrated when I realized that it was nowhere near long enough... So I kinda threw it to the wayside and worked on some other projects for a little while.  Then I came back to it last week and decided to do the same thing I had done for my other layers -- but the last layer about double (I didn't want to have to do four layers!)  All in all, it was about 8 hours of sewing/pulling out stitches/cut time.  Since it was inexpensive satin from Hobby Lobby it frayed like CRAZY, so I heat sealed the edges of the entire dress (probably about 3 of the 7 hours!)

Once I was finished with the sewing portion of the dress, I adjusted my tension and put elastic thread that was hand wound onto my bobbin to shirr the dress. (great tutorial found here) to go over the top of each of the seams of the skirt.  Then with the steam of my iron (don't put it directly on the dress, it will melt the satin!) I put a cloth over it and held the iron on top to cinch the elastic.

My daughter is 2 and not a very big critic - but she loves it and has worn it to McDonalds, Wal-Mart, and to pick up her brother at preschool.

the completed dress

my daughter modeling her new princess dress

My biggest advice for someone who doesn't sew -- yet, is to just dive right in.  Start with something simple - a pair of curtains, or sewing straight stitches on rags - just get started.  There are literally thousands (if not more) blogs and tutorials with almost anything that you can imagine - someone has a site where they are guiding you through it.  And if there's not, you can often find a pattern tutorial to purchase with the instructions. Making a Belle dress is not something I would have ever attempted even six months ago, but as I do trial and error, I learn new techniques, new tricks, and just go for it. Give it a try -- you might fall in love with a fun, worthwhile craft that you can bless family members with - and give special gifts to family and friends!

When I'm not spending hours making a Belle dress, or expanding my daughter's wardrobe... I am working on projects for my Etsy Shop.  Some of my recent projects include:

A fun bright outfit for my daughter with fabric I have been eyeing for about a year!

a cupcake bib with brown dimple dot minky

a custom birthday set for my nephew's 1st birthday

a birthday hat fit for a princess -- or a diva!

Kristen is a stay-at-home mom in Northwest Arkansas who has been married for ten years.  She and her husband have three children; boys that are 7 and 4, and her daughter Bekah Addison who is two and the inspiration for many of the products in her etsy shop - which bears her name.

Cameo's Creations

My name is Cameo Robinson and I am a SAHM of 3 beautiful children. Before I decided to stay at home with these angels, I was a teacher. I loved my job but it left little time to do anything I loved and the stress took its toll on me. So I decided that it was time to go after my two passions: raising my kiddos and being crafty. I didn't initially think that sewing was my passion but quickly found it very therapeutic. I'm not sure if it's the humming of the machine or the fact that I can create something in the matter of minutes, that makes this my all time favorite thing to do. I feel that sewing has allowed me to be imaginative and a seeker of all things cute. I am constantly looking for new ideas of things to make for either my girls or for me. My current love is FLoWeRS. I just can't get enough of these wonderful creations. Whether they are ones I created or ones that other crafters have created, I just love adding that touch to anyones wardrobe.

As you can imagine I don't have much spare time but I do try to make time to create/sew as much as I can, which has been daily lately. I have decided to take my creations to craft shows this fall, this has been a very challenging task to accomplish. I am currently still trying to get cuteness sew together and make sure that I have enough stock to last for two days at a time. And with little time inbetween shows, this means I must get it all done before the shows. But as much stress as it seems it might be, sewing in my eyes has kept me sane. As most moms know, staying at home requires you to almost lose yourself to your childrens every whim. I know that when I sew, I might be creating for them, but I am allowing my personality to shine.

I hope that someday my girls will love to be as creative as much as I do. I know for the time being, they both love to sit with me at the machine and watch the fabric turn into dresses. My oldest has the best expressions when she has a new dress to wear and she never fails to tell me that she loves feeling pretty! I can't wait until they can both learn from me all the wonderful ways to make something even more beautiful and unique.
Happy sewing to all!

Cameo blogs at Cameo's Angels!

Ready to Start

Summer was a time for slacking off on the sewing for me. LilE is now back in the swing of school, which means I now have time to sit down at the machine. But to be completely honest, I haven't had a chance the last two weeks. I did get to go buy some fabric though and I want to share my upcoming projects with you!

Quilted Letters--Come on, Every one's doing it! Sandra got me hooked. I have birthday presents and Christmas presents to make! I am so excited to make these! I will be using the plaid on the bottom and the blue alphabet print.

Ruffle pants with matching applique shirt--The orange polka dot will make these pants with matching pumpkin on the shirt be so stinkin' cute!

Obviously, they will be longer for fall wear!

Tiered skirt, coordinating ruffle pants, and applique shirt--I made this skirt for a friend and I can't wait to make it for my skirt wearing girl. And the trusted ruffle pant pattern and you have two outfits for Christmas. I will use the lime polka dot and the light blue present print. And having two 'bottoms' will stretch the shirt even further. The shirt will have a square "present" topped with a 3-D ribbon for the bow.

Burp clothes and paci clips--Babies are everywhere these days. I am finally going to tackle these easy gifts. See the little pink and blue fat quarters on top? Now you know what they are for.

Hooded towels--LilE is in need of some big girl towels. I found a set of towels (actually two sets) at Walmart for $5! Great find! I picked up a hot pink and royal blue. Now that I have matching ribbons, they will be done super quick. I make mine similar to this tutorial, but I do not put the pleat in which makes it even easier!

What projects are on your "to-do" list?

Happy Sewing Month!

I really enjoy spending time sewing, but the only time I can find to do it is during naptime if both boys are sleeping. Lately, I've been able to work on quite a few projects which I really love! Here are some that I have been doing lately:

* Name Blessing Cross Stitch from Joyful Expressions--You can find the ones I have for both of my boys. Cross stitching is fun, but it takes a long time! Check out the website--she can make a chart for any name and any verse that you want for a great price!

* Soft Football--My guys love playing with these. Especially since one is Dad's team and one is covered in trucks!

* Nursing cover for my sister-in-law who is due at the start of next month.

* Quilt for my soon-to-arrive nephew. Here is a preview.

* Reuseable Coffee Cup Sleeve--These are super easy and a great way to use up scraps! Plus, it's a nice homemade gift for Christmas or birthday! I have added rick rack and embroidered letters to a few of mine too!

* Car pillow--Mine looks slightly different because I did puffy tires, but Dietrich loves it. I was just excited that he knew it was a "truck" when he saw it!

* Embroidered items for new babies using my new embroidery machine!

Quilted Letters

Of all the sewing projects and seamstresses we'll see this week, I'm probably the least talented! I got a sewing machine a few years ago so I could make window treatments and hem my own pants (I'm five feet tall, so every pair of pants I get have to be hemmed!). I do enjoy sewing though and am excited to share my current favorite project!

Right now I only  have one sewing project I do regularly- quilted letters. I first saw the idea on Happy Together, through a link Kama sent me. I did a set for my boys and they loved them! So I did another set for my niece for her birthday and she loved them. A couple months ago we had an adoption fund raiser on the blog and I wanted to contribute something to sell, so I made another set. Since then, I've gotten four orders for more. So my fun sewing project has been a way to raise money for our adoption! What a blessing!

Please see Happy Together's post for her great tutorial if you are interested in making some. Your little ones will love them!

This Week: Sewing Projects

This week we're sharing our latest sewing projects! It's fun to inspire and encourage creativity in each other. Hope you enjoy seeing what we've been working on lately!

Alicia's Growing Family!

Alicia will be on maternity leave for a couple months, but she did want to share pictures of the newest addition to her family with you! Sweet baby girl Caroline Grace was born August 23rd. Big brothers Mark and Luke were happy to welcome her home!

Out and About

Seriously, it is September already? Where did the summer go? Oh, it was one of the busiest summers I have ever had. Maybe that is why it flashed before my eyes. It was a great summer, but I am definitely ready to settle back down into a consistent routine. But you aren't interested in the fall, you want the summer showdown. (just click the links to get the full story)

-Lots of Letterboxing. We got up early and headed out to beat the heat. We are loving our new hobby!

-365 Project. I am still working hard. It won't quite be 365 at the end of the year as I usually miss at least one (if not four) days a week. You can see them all here, but this is one of my better weeks.

-Water activities. In order to beat the heat we got wet. Lake day, swimming lessons, and whitewater rafting.

-After all of JD's events were completed we were able to slip out of town. We made a quick, last minute trip to Texas. We had lots of fun and saw lots of family. We also were able to head to the beach for a week. We loved every minute of our family time together!

-School started. We have a great weekday program at our church. LilE is in her third week of K4. She loves school!

We had a fantabulous summer! Hope you enjoyed yours as well!

Ketchup with Kama

Months ago, I decided to take some time off from blogging to have Baby #2. He was born on January 7 and we named him Hudson, mostly after Hudson Taylor, the Christian missionary to China. His middle name is a combination of mine and my husband's middle names.

He has grown a lot in the past 8 months and is already crawling around, pulling up and trying to catch up with his big brother who will turn 2 this month. He loves his big brother, but Dietrich is still learning to share!

Most days, you will find us heading to the gym (with free childcare) early in the morning, hanging out at home (it's so hot outside) and you'll find me doing some type of craft during naptime (more about that in a post later this month). Life has definitely gotten more interesting, more fun and more active with 2 going and growing boys under 2!

Hitting the Highlights!

Doesn't it seem like each summer goes by faster and faster? July and August went by like a flash! Here are just a few highlights from our house in the last couple months: Lee and I celebrated seven years of marriage! The weekend of our anniversary was the weekend a couple from church who are also friends of our got married. So we had a wonderful time celebrating our seven years together, and being part of the start of new marriage! We also raised and saved the funds we needed to continue with the adoption process (you can read more about it at our family blog). Below is a picture of my husband and boys mailing off the paper work! We are now working on the home study and dossier packet. We hope to have our son home by the end of next year!

Another highlight was attending the She Speaks conference. It was a wonderful time of learning and getting to meet in real life bloggers I love- like Kristi Stephens and Teri Lynne Underwood (who have both guested for us here on Today's Housewife). We had a great time together!

The summer wasn't all work and no play--we did make it to the beach one day! We also visited family and took day trips around the area.

I hope everyone made some fun memories this summer!

What We Did This Summer

Remember when you went back to school and had to give a report or write a paper about all the fun you had over the summer? Well, that's what we'll be doing this week!

We have a lot to catch up on! Kama is back and will be posting on Tuesdays. Alicia had a sweet baby girl last month so she'll be on maternity leave for a couple months (don't worry- you'll get to see pictures on Thursday!).

We would love to have you guest post this month! Here are the topics:
Sept. 13- Sewing Projects
Sept. 20- Health/Exercise
Sept. 27- Favorite Things about Fall

Just send us an email (todayshousewife @ hotmail.com - take out the spaces) and let us know which week you'd like and we'll send you the details.