Country Style Pork Ribs in the Crock Pot

If you are headed out for the day (7-8 hours) and want to let your crock pot cook dinner for you, here is an easy recipe for Country Style Pork Ribs. They turn out moist and oh so tasty!

Take 15 minutes to whip up some sides right before you sit down to eat and it makes dinner too easy.

I usually have everything, but the meat, on hand - makes for a quick-to-prepare meal. We enjoyed these for dinner a few nights ago, with Caesar salad, mashed taters and corn,  after a long day away from home. I hope you will get to enjoy them soon too!

Dinner is served!

Country Style Pork Ribs in the Crock Pot

Ingredients:
3 to 4 pounds boneless pork country-style ribs
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, halved, thinly sliced
1/2 cup apple juice
1 bottle (16 - 18 oz) barbecue sauce - Sweet Baby Ray's is our favorite!


Directions:
Lightly grease the crock pot. Wash pork and trim fat. Pat dry with paper towel.
Put sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker, then place the pork on top.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, brown sugar and minced garlic.
Turn pork ribs to coat all pieces. Pour apple juice evenly over the pork.
Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours.
Drain liquids from pork. Pour barbecue sauce over the pork and stir slightly.
Cover and cook on LOW for 1 hour longer.
(I think I cooked mine only 30 min longer as it was time to EAT!)

Thank you About.com for a great recipe!

The sides for this meal are limitless. Just think Southern and you will be fine  ;o)


Have a blessed weekend!




And along the lines of thinking Southern... here are some pics of our Southern Summer Living!

We paint, shirtless (at least the kids do anyways :o)

We pick peppers in 100 degree weather.

Thanks AESL for letting us enjoy your garden delicacies!

We visit the animals at First Monday Trade Days.

(stinky goats!)

And when the heat gets TOO HOT,

we cool off with a fruit bar and a dip in the pool!

Who knew a water hose would provide hours of summer fun!

We cool off and clean off at the same time,

with shaving cream!!!

I'm linked up with:

Proverbs 31 Study ~ Week 13 ~ Our Reward!

We are at the end of our Good Morning Girls summer book club/Bible study. (I know I skipped blogging about quite a few weeks, that's what happens when you are a wife and mom first :o) Our study has been on Proverbs 31. What a great encouragement and challenge this study has been to me, especially in the area of working hard in my home.

My sweet babies - my blessings!

This week we find out what the Proverbs 31 woman receives as her reward for all her hard labor. It is....

PRAISE!

"Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

 “Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

Proverbs 31:28-29

It may not seem like enough of a reward, but if you think about it, this reward is better than anything that fades - flowers, jewelry, chocolate, or a cruise (although that would be nice too :o).

When those I love the very most take note of my hard work it blesses my heart. Not that I care for my home and family to BE praised, but that will be my reward!

Blessing my husband is a joy for me. His praise is like music to my ears!

I have learned from Courtney, at Women Living Well, that even though our young children may not notice the hard worked we do to keep the home clean and healthy food on the table, they will "rise up" and call us blessed. When they are older, maybe not until they have children of their own, they will realize the sacrifices of time, energy, and finances that were given to bless them. They will rise and praise their momma!

How grateful I am for my own mother - an example of perseverance and faith in God. She taught me to bake, clean, and care for others. Her heart breaks for orphans around the world and her meals bless the body and soul of all who get to enjoy them. She is so very thoughtful and loving - a great blessing to all who know her!

My mother with my daughter, imparting her love of reading to her.

We, as women of the Word, are called to fear God not chase fashion. More important than our outward appearance is the state of our heart. Our honor and reverence of God will turn into diligence, excellence, and thoughtfulness when working in our homes and when serving strangers.

^"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. 
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:30-31

Verse 31 reminds me of another, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." Galatians 6:7. When we put effort and care into the details of our work, we will reap excellent results! A shabby job will produce shabby results. We will partake in the outcome of our work - whether a clean home, a balanced budget, or a healthy meal.

I pray that I daily take to heart that my work in my home and outside the home matters. Even the repetitive, monotonous work matters. When I work with excellence I bless my Father God, my family, and others!

Have a blessed week,


PS - Even though our online study is over, the Proverbs 31 study materials are still available. I highly recommend this study to every wife and mom - whether you have been married for a month or for 40 years. We can all learn from this Biblical example of a godly woman. Visit this page on the Women Living Well site for the free e-book and video series!

Today I'm linked up with Women Living Well , New Life Steward and Good Morning Girls.

Joy Comes in the Morning!

Just two weeks ago I walked through a dark valley. I experienced miscarriage firsthand.

My heart was broken, my hope for a new little life was gone.

Through it all, I held on the Jesus. Truer yet, He held onto me.

O, the little joys of life!

I couldn't help but cry out, "Enlarge my heart!" I didn't want to walk through this experience unchanged, unmoved. And after talking to a few friends who have been down the road of miscarriage before, it's possible to harden your heart. To not want to feel the pain, or maybe just not realize the loss of a life.

Through it all, through all the emotions, questions and concerns, the Lord was with me. He held my hand and my heart. He was my strong tower, and continues to be. He alone is faithful!


So today, I have a praise report to share!

His healing is here!

"O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me."

Psalm 30:2

His joy is here!

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:5

Dancing and gladness are here!

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,"

Psalm 30:11

My Shepherd is near!

He has sustained and cared for me,

even in the valley.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Psalm 23:4

I'm holding my little ones close and counting my blessings today! I'm expecting a double blessing for what the enemy has stolen from us. I'm speaking life over my family today and looking forward to the day that it expands!

Little, white flowers that my children picked for me on one

of the most difficult days in the valley.

Thank you so much for your prayers, encouraging words, and for just crying with me. I heard from so many dear friends that they too have lost sweet babies through miscarriage. Women I would never have imagined have walked through this valley too. They say that time is our friend, time heals. I believe it, and I know that I have a head start because I serve an awesome God!


Have a blessed week,

Goodbye For Now, Sweet Baby

           Sweet sister with her baby brother... we are blessed indeed.

I sit here... in "The Chair" and sob. My gut aches and my heart is heavy.

This is my third pregnancy. I am so very blessed by my two little ones but this third will be greatly missed. Smiles unseen, laughter unheard, until that day... that blessed day when I enter heaven's gates and meet my little one.

I am only about 6 to 7 weeks along, still to early to detect much from a sonogram. And even though I never heard a heartbeat or saw the little one it is still my baby - a precious gift from God.

My babies having fun with Daddy on the 4th of July!

My three-year-old was so very happy to welcome another baby into our family. When I told her yesterday, after returning from a visit with our midwife, that our baby wasn't going to be born, that it had died, she said, "Oh, that's so sad. Are you ready to go outside and play?" To have the heart of a child... able to take information in and feel emotion and then move on to the next thing.


Me... I am dwelling. I'm dwelling in the pain. Not that I want to sit around a sulk, but I want to live in the moment. I want to learn and grow from this experience, not shut my heart off to the feelings or harden my emotions. I want to be soft, moldable, teachable.


I believe with all my heart that the Lord will bless us with more children one day, but today I remember this one. This child that He created and loves. This baby that He blessed us with for a very short time. This baby counts. This baby is loved too.


And now to tell the world, all our friends and family that we aren't expecting anymore. It's something I dread. Even so, I pray that my life will be a testimony of God's goodness and love. That by my openness and transparency, many would be drawn to Christ. Even in pain the Lord is near... He is near to the broken-hearted.

Yes... we still are.

Here are a few verses that I'm clinging to now:

(I inserted my name to make it more personal)

"Because Megan has set her love upon Me,

Therefore I will deliver her;

I will set her on high, because she has known My name.

She shall call upon Me, and I will answer her;

I will be with her in trouble;

I will deliver her and honor her,

With long life I will satisfy her,

And show her My salvation."

Psalm 91:14-16

All of Psalm 34 is encouraging, but these verses are mine today:

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit."

Psalm 34:17and18

I searched the Psalms and complied a list, straight from the Word,

of what the Lord is to me.

He is:

• My support
• My shield
• My Shepherd
• My comforter
• The strength of my life
• Good
• My deliverer
• My provider
• My help
• My guide
• My place of rest
• My hope

"My beloved is mine, and I am his."

Song of Sol. 2:16

Resting in His tender mercies,

Peanut Butter Popcorn ~ A Childhood Favorite

Do you have a favorite food that brings back fond childhood memories?


This is one of those treats that takes me back a few decades. Memories like listening to my mother read aloud from a good book in front of our wood stove, playing "tickle time" with my dad and sister, and just being together as a family.

And now, when I say that I'm going to make popcorn for an evening snack my daughter asks me, "Can we have sweet popcorn?!" Looks like I have a mini-me on my hands. She has a sweet tooth just like her momma!

Here's the recipe. Hope you enjoy a bowl or two with some of your favorite people soon!

 

Peanut Butter Popcorn
(Thanks to Debbie J.)

Ingredients:
3 bags of microwaved popcorn, or 2 large bowls of air popped corn
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup Karo corn syrup
5 Tbl. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions:
In a medium sauce pan, bring the sugars, corn syrup and butter to a boil.
Allow to boil for one minute, stir the entire time.
Stir in vanilla and peanut butter.
Mix thoroughly and pour over popcorn.
Stir to coat evenly and enjoy!

*Caution: allow to cool just a bit before serving, mixture is very hot at first.*



God bless your weekend! I hope that you enjoyed your 4th of July with family and friends and remembered to thank the Lord for our costly freedom.


In His GREAT grace,

I'm linked up with: