Favorite Football Food- Rootbeer Pulled Pork

First off, sorry no picture.  We actually had this last Sunday and I forgot to take one.

I heart pulled pork!  It is one of my favorite foods, especially cooked this way.  I also love Cafe Rio style pulled pork, but this is just a fun twist.  We had it first at my friend Carrie's house this past February.  I'm so lucky she shows me all these yummy recipes.  I got the recipe from her and tweaked it a bit, then I saw it in the Betty Crocker cookbook just how I make it!  So here's the recipe via Betty Crocker.

Pulled Pork with Root Beer Sauce 

1 2 1/2-3 pound pork roast

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp oil

1-2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges 

6 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups root beer, divided

1 cup bottled chili sauce

1/4 tsp root beer concentrate (optional)

several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)

hamburger buns

cabbage(optional)

cheddar slices (optional)

1.  Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper.  In a large skillet, brown meat on all sides in hot oil.  Drain off fat and transfer meat to crock pot.  Add onion, one cup of the  rootbeer and the garlic.

2. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

3. For sauce- in a sauce pan stir together the remaining 3 cups of rootbeer and chili sauce.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 2 cups.(This usually takes about an hour for me so plan accordingly!) If desired add concentrate and hot pepper sauce.  

4. Transfer meat to a cutting board or plate.  Using 2 forks, pull meat apart into shreds.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion to plate, discard cooking juices.  Place meat on hamburger buns, with desired toppings and root beer sauce.

Oh man, this stuff is so good.  I must be hungry!  A couple of things- don't use diet rootbeer and watch carefully when the sauce starts to boil.   You do NOT want to clean this stuff up after it boils over! 

Joy Blocks

UPDATE!  I made these at Christmastime but I still love them and have some more beadboard cut to make something spring-y!

I loved these Joy Plaques on Shanty2Chic and wanted to give them a try for the holiday bazaar.  I think the whole black and white and burlap is really pretty.  But I had gotten a sheet of beadboard last time I was at the hardware store so I decided to use that instead of burlap.

Here is the first set I did.  I used vinyl letters on the beadboard then hot glued them to the wood blocks and pounded in some upholstery tacks.   I ended up not doing the candlestick thing because I didn't want to spend the money and time(it was a last minute addition to the lineup.)

I liked the black and white but I LOVE color and had an idea when I first started thinking about doing these to use a poinsetta for the "o".  I took all the plastic off of the flower and hotglued it back together, adding a vintage looking pearl button.  Then I glued it to the beadboard.  Also under the beadboard I mod podged on some scrapbook paper.  This is a really pretty green paper from the mistletoe line by Making Memories.

(sorry if its hard to tell I was taking pictures of these as I was wrapping them up at 11 pm!) 

This one is my favorite even though it doesn't match my Christmas decorations.  It is a paper I had in my stash that is aqua with red and cream on it.  Its hard to describe but I love the whole combination!

(Click on the pictures to get a better idea!)

 

 

 I painted these blocks red and used the black and white polka dot paper from the Mistletoe line.  These were my mom's favorite.  I must get my love of polka dots from her!

I'm giving Darin a break from cutting wood this week, but next week I'm gonna make another set, with the candlesticks I think.  And I need to make some for my Mom for being such a HUGE help this past weekend.  Let me know which ones you want Mama!

(EDITED) I'm linking these to DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land.

My first craft fair!

I did it!  I lived to tell the tale.  Let me tell you, these things are not for the procrastinator.  I tried really hard not to be but it caught up with me. 

Here's my main table.  I had countdown blocks with some really fun paper.  I actually have a couple more orders for my favorite so I'll put pictures of them in there.  I also made some JOY blocks and had wood signs, and some burlap banners.

 Sorry its hard to tell but with the light coming in the windows I couldn't get very good pictures

I also had fabric flower pins on the trees, a couple of pillows and sold just the vinyl for blocks and signs.  There was a line outside the door at 8:30.  The doors opened at nine.  I was impressed.  Until everyone beelined for the bake sale.  I guess the apple pies are the hot ticket.  They sold out in 10 minutes!

There was also some dresses and skirts, onesies, hats and barrettes.  I was right by the front door so I was maybe the second thing people saw when they came in and the last thing on the way out.  Good location?  Who knows.  The only downside really was the cold air every time the door was opened-which was constant.  Over 1600 people came to this thing!

It was really fun.  I now know what its like and more what to expect.   I don't know how people do these things all the time though.  I think I'm definitely taking a break and locking the craft room door.  for at least today!

Favorite Things Craft Fair

Come see me here!  I've got some countdown blocks, some other vinyl stuff that I love and then I made a bunch of pins, hair bows and barrettes.  I also have some little girls skirts and dresses and some other random stuff.  Come check it out!

Ruffly Christmas Tree

 I was sewing all last night for a holiday bazaar I am doing and was over it.  Then I saw this cuteness on Ruffles and Stuff.  I immediately went and grabbed a onesie from my stash since Ivy was asleep (it was midnight) and I couldn't get to one of her shirts. 

How cute is that?

I just grabbed a couple of strips of fabric from my scrap basket and ruffled it up.

The brown I stitched down the middle and the green I gathered at the top. Cut into the lengths you want and sew them on to what ever shirt you want.  So easy and SO cute.

 

Thanks Disney for such a cute idea! I can't wait to make one for Ivy, plus ten more!

Homework

Here's all of my fabric cut up for the scarf along! I didn't even have to buy anything.  I just waited to see what the measurements where gonna be used and went with what I had enough of.

I don't know why I've been so drawn to black and white lately but I love it.  Especially when there is a pop of red.  I really wanted to put houndstooth in there but I only had it in home dec. weight and didn't think that would be very cozy for a scarf.  Can't wait to get sewing.  And I'm also excited about the Honor Student Scarf Along at Cookie Mondays.  This is turning out to be a great way to get things done and use up my piles of fabric that are threatening to spill over. 

Just a couple of things

I've decided I should try and make a work apron so I will wear it, and not worry about getting it dirty!  I made this as a Halloween apron, but not too Halloweenish so I can wear it year round.  My favorite part is the pocket.

I try hard NOT to put ric rac on stuff. I can't stay away from it. Oh well.

I also added ruffles to this v-neck shirt.  I love when Old Navy has their 50% off the lowest marked price.  So I got this shirt and the shirt I used for the ruffles for $3 each! I just cut the bottom third off of one shirt and cut it into strips for ruffles.   I used the rest of that shirt for...

this dress.  I made a skirt and attached it to the top part of my cut shirt.  That kleo fabric is my favorite.  I love the colors.  I wore this dress to our friend Shannon and Skye's wedding Labor Day weekend.  It was the craziest, funnest wedding I have ever been to.  All I know is that LDS people don't get the whole "party" part of wedding receptions!  I should post about their wedding on our family blog before I forget.  Anyway.  I should get back to work.  I'm doing a craft fair next weekend and I'm not even close to being ready. 

Scarf Sew Along!

I'm "SEW" excited about this.  Julie of Joy's Hope is having a scarf sew-along.  Starting this week and she is getting us started on making eight scarves by Thanksgiving!  Don't be scared if you aren't very good at sewing.  In fact that is the whole point of this sew along.  I'm just excited for something to keep me on track and get some presents done!   The Scarf Sew Along starts today so head over and see what this weeks homework is.  Oh and while you are there cruise around her blog.   It is AWESOME!  Let me know if you are in!  I'd love to see what other people are doing.  And if you are in the Tri Cities area, maybe we can do the whole thing together! 

Christmas Dresses

I got a new dress pattern for Ivy and I love it.  I searched Etsy for a peasant dress and found the Perfect Party Dress by Heidi and Finn.  All of their patterns are super cute, I love the modern twists, like the tie on this peasant dress. 

The ends of the ties flare out a bit at the end.  The fabric I ended up using definitely gives it a Christmas dress vibe.   I'm resisting the urge to put up Christmas decorations every day.  I don't know if I will make it to Thanksgiving this year!

Ivy runs away screaming when I finish a dress and try and get her to put it on.  I end up chasing her around the house and she thinks it is so funny.  So I just have to wait until Sunday to get her ready for church to see if it even fits!   I've decided that I have to add about 6 inches to the bottom of every dress to make it long enough.  Other than being just a bit short it fit great!  Can't wait to make some more.

So since Christmas is coming up WAY faster than you think start thinking about Christmas outfits!  I'm taking orders now!! I love to put fabric together so let me know if you want anything!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

These cookies are our favorite.  I hate flat cookies so these are perfect, and they are great for fall and Halloween( I know its over, but its still fall!) because of the Reeses Pieces.  I wish that they changed the colors for other holidays like M&M's but so far no luck.  I was trying out my new camera when making these.  I am proof that its not the camera that takes good pictures its the photographer!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

(from Better Crocker fall baking 2006)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups Reeses Pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, beat sugars and butter with mixer on medium speed until creamy.  Beat in peanut butter, vanilla and egg.  Stir in flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Stir in candies.(I usually add 1 cup of candy to dough and reserve the rest to add on top so they look pretty!)

Using a cookie scoop(or tablespoon) place dough on cookie sheet.

  Bake 8-12 minutes or until edges are set (centers will be soft).  Cool one minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

See don't they look fallish?!

Ivy likes making these cuz it is about the only time in her life she gets candy!

We got boo-ed twice actually so I made these cookies and put them in some cute boo bags.  Yay for trying to be a good neighbor!

New (to me) camera and a camera strap.

Darin is the photographer around here.  He has been trying to get me to have an interest in it forever but I always say "Why?  Its your thing and you take such good photos."  He had a Nikon D70 until he upgraded about a year and a half ago to the D300.  We kept the D70 for back up and I'm sure he has been holding out hope for me.  A couple of weeks ago he asked me if I would want a lens for that D70 to take pictures of my crafts and stuff-for my birthday.   I said  Pssh that would be like me giving you fabric for your birthday.

Meet my new (to me) camera and lens!  He had already gotten me the lens when he asked me that.  Oh man did I feel bad when he gave it to me on Friday.  Actually he had some guts to go through with it after my reaction.  The lens is an 18-55 VR - if you know anything about that.  So now it looks like I have to make up for making him feel bad by learning about photography.

And to be honest I was most excited about making one of those cute camera strap covers I've seen.  This one is really basic, but I just winged it and wanted it to look cute.  I cut a strip of fabric 23 1/4 by 4 inches wide.  Then I turned under the short ends twice and stitched them with two rows of stitching.  After that I folded the fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together and stitched it with a quarter inch seam.  After turning it I pressed it with the seam to the back and slid it onto my strap.  Ta Da.  I instantly felt better about my camera!  I want to make a fancier one, but for a quick fix I love it!

Handmade Holidays III

The Sew Mama Sew blog is having a whole month of holiday gift giving ideas. I can't wait to get new ideas every day and thought I'd pass along the info to anyone who was interested!