RECIPE POST: Apple Stuffed Pork Loin Roast and Scallop Potatoes

Tonight, I made Mel's Apple Stuffed Pork Loin Roast (posted HERE) accompanied by some scallop potatoes. I made a few modifications. Here are my versions of my family's newest favorite dishes:

APPLE STUFFED PORK LOIN ROAST

1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cut in quarters, core removed  and thinly   sliced
1 medium yellow onion, cut into thin slices
2 T. packed brown sugar
1 T. mustard

Spread:
2 cloves  of minced garlic
1 t. dried rosemary
1/2 t. dried thyme

1 Hormel Pork Center Cut Loin Filet 24oz
Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté sliced apples and sliced yellow onions with 2 T. olive oil until al dente.  (I used a mandolin to thinly cut the apples and onions.) Stir in brown sugar and mustard.  Set aside.

Combine garlic, rosemary and thyme in a small bowl. (I recommend doubling this part of the recipe.) Cut lengthwise down the roast almost to but not through the bottom.  Open like a book. Sprinkle cut surface lightly with McCormick Seasoning.

Spread apple mixture evenly down the center of a lightly greased roasting dish/pan.  Place the roast – seasoned side down – over the apple mixture.

Rub the spread on the top side of the roast.  Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees or until center reads 155 on a meat thermometer. Let the pork roast rest for 10 min. then cut roast into 1/2” slices. If you prefer to have the pork cooked further, return to oven and check in 10 minutes.

Serve with SCALLOP POTATOES below * Uncle Mike said this is the best pork roast he's ever had!

NOTE: Costco sells a double pack of pork loin roasts. Each side of the double pack holds two roasts. Open one side and remove two roasts. Slice each loin down the entire length and double recipe above.

SCALLOP POTATOES 

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

4 cups thinly sliced potatoes

1 thinly sliced small yellow onion
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 dash cayenne pepper
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated cheese, to sprinkle on top
paprika, pepper and garlic salt

Directions:

1.  In a small sauce pan, melt butter and blend in flour.
2.  Let sit for a minute.
3.  Add all of cold milk, stirring with a whisk.
4.  Season with salt and cayenne to taste.
5.  Cook sauce on low until smooth and boiling, stirring occasionally with a whisk.
6.  Reduce heat and stir in cheese.
7.  Place a half of the sliced potatoes and half of the sliced onion in a lightly greased one quart casserole dish.

8.  Pour half of cheese sauce over potatoes.
9.  Repeat with second layer of potatoes and cheese sauce.
10. Top with a light sprinkle of garlic salt and pepper.

11. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top then sprinkle some paprika for color.

12. Bake uncovered for about 1 1/2 hour at 350°F.

Served 3/8/2014 at a Saturday Night Dinner.

I also made this super simple crock pot chicken dish and it received rave reviews as well:

Crock Pot Pesto Ranch Chicken

Ingredients

·         4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced lengthwise into smaller fillets

·         7 ounce jar of pesto

·         1 package Ranch Dressing Seasoning Mix

·         1/2 cup chicken broth

   

Directions

1.    Turn crock pot to high setting. Place chicken, pesto, ranch dressing and chicken broth into crock pot. Stir gently to combine all seasonings. Close with lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours (or on low for 6-8 hours).

2.    Serve with a side of scallop potatoes and a simple salad

Makes 4 servings

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS:Easter Basket Ideas

This first basket starts out with a 6" square piece of DSP. That will give you 4 baskets from one 12" x 12" piece of DSP and that is SWEET if you need to make a bunch of these for family and friends!

 Click HERE for the original pin

and Nancy Mergan's blog post can

be found HERE.

I made these versions below for the Card Chicks to make at our next card party. I wanted bigger baskets, so I increased the original paper size to 9" x 9" and scored at 3" instead of 2":

Back View

Back View

If you've discovered the joys of using the envelope punch board, then check out this lovely basket:

Unfortunately, the original pin did not lead to a blog or a set of instructions. Do a search for Punch Board Easter Basket on YouTube to find one you'd enjoy making!

CUPCAKES IN A JAR, ETC.

This was the favor from our newest neighbor's first birthday party! Her mother said she found them on Etsy HERE and they look like a wonderful favor we crafty types could make ourselves..but sometimes...you have more money than time! (The adaptation of this idea for all sorts of occasions is ENDLESS --- Happy dance in progress!)

...and this was the card I made to go with the book we gave to this wonderful one-year-old:

Some other projects I've just completed include some birthday cards using the BIRTHDAY BAKERY and CREATE A CUPCAKE sets from Stampin' UP. Once I completed the coloring with Copic markers, I added some Crystal STICKLES to give the card some bling!

...and here's a pink version:

SU's WORD WINDOW PUNCH was used to create the awning. I attached each alternating colored piece of the awning to the center of a 3/4" x 4 1/4" strip of card stock that was covered with a piece of 1/2" sticky tape down the entire 4 1/4" length. After attaching all 11 strips, I scored the entire awning 1/4" from the top and 1/4" from the bottom. I secured the top of the awning to the card with a strip of 1/8" red sticky tape and trimmed the far right side of the card so that I got 11 full segments of the awning across the top.

...and my WONDERFUL pen pal and talented card maker, Leslie-Ann in British Columbia, also asked me to provide some directions for a card I posted recently. She wanted to know how to make the Kleenex box found on the inside of this card, so here goes:

NOTE: The bottom lattice piece on the inside of the card was made with a Martha Stewart punch.

To make the pop-up Kleenex box, start with a 6" x 3" piece of medium weight card stock. Score along the 6" side at 1.5", 3" and 4.5". Then use a die to cut the oval in the center of the 2nd panel. I used the 2nd smallest die from Spellbinders' Small Classic Scallop Ovals set.

To make the Kleenex panel to put through the hole, I cut a full-size tissue in half and then cut each half in half again. I took a quarter piece and placed it as shown below:

Then I folded it in half so that two mountain peaks are created at the top:

(This technique also works well when adding several pieces of tissue paper into a gift bag - but you would use a full sheet of tissue paper and add 4 or more sheets folded as shown here and in the next step before placing them into the bag.)

Now gather up the Kleenex at the bottom:

Put the Kleenex through the hole and checked on the outside or RIGHT side to see how you want to arrange the tissue. Once you're happy with the way the Kleenex is coming out of the box...

...tape the end of the Kleenex to the third panel on the INSIDE of your box. NOTE: Be sure to place the tape BELOW the score line:

Now add red sticky tape on the RIGHT side - or the design side - of your card stock on the first and last panel as shown:

Finally, remove the sticky tape backing, fold the card stock in half with the sticky tape facing out and the tissue on top. Open up your card to the inside, center the closed tissue box inside the card just ever so slightly off of the center fold of your card base, close your card down and press to adhere the box to the front and back panel of your card. When you open the card back up, viola...you have a Kleenex box that pops up!

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS:Birthday Cake Box

The creativity from talented crafters

always amazing me and here's a 

cake box by Sam Donald that is
a PERFECT example
of BRILLIANT creativity:

Here's my version:

Sam made a wonderful video tutorial (see end of post) and included the measurements but they were in centimeters, so I made a similar version in inches:

Take a 12" x 7.5" piece of DSP

and score along the 12" side score at

1", 3.5" and 7 3/4" then mark 

a pencil point at 4 1/4" and

the same point on the opposite side -

...and along the 7.5" side 

score at 2", 2.5", 5" and 5.5"

Here's what it looked like once

the cake box was scored

and completely cut out:

To create the scalloped pink frosting on top, I put the box together, turned it upside down, traced along the edges of the box, added a 1/2" border around the triangle, cut it out, scored on the traced lines and used a decorative punch on all edges. Adhesive pearls put the finishing touches on the frosted edges.

Click HERE for the original post.

and click below to watch Sam's video tutorial:

THANK YOU, Sam, for your free tutorial!

MORE CARDS = MORE HAPPY DANCING

My birthday celebrations are coming to an end. The last one will be tonight when my sons come over to make us a breakfast dinner --- one of my favorite birthday gifts each year!...and here are some more clever cards that came in last week:

To reveal the inside of the card,

there's a brad hidden under the flower

that lets the top piece move

once the paper clip at the top is removed! 

 Loved this card and flowers

from K and K!

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Butterflies

Love these butterfly favors! Click HERE for the Pinterest pin...and here is a thank you card I made with a new birthday toy from Memory Box called Isabella Butterfly and it also includes the die for the antennae and body part!

Here are a few more projects I completed recently:

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Purses, Valentine's and More

I saw these cute purses on Pinterest this week and I can't wait to make these purses for a spring project! Many thanks to Pootles in the UK! Find her wonderful video tutorial and all necessary measurements HERE.

See the original pin HERE.

Now...for the rays of sunshine that my talented card making friends delivered to my mailbox over the past few days for Valentine's Day and for my birthday  --- THANK YOU, LADIES! (Click in the corner of any photo to view at full size.)

Inside View

Inside Sentiment

Clever Opening!