Sweet & Spicy Pork

It's been so humid here that the thought of the stove, oven or grill just makes me sweat!
I have been trying to utilize my Crock Pot on those hot & sticky summer days.

Recently I have discovered an AWESOME sauce at Costco, 

Robert Rothschild Farm Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Sauce

It is great on everything I have tried it on.  

Shrimp, chicken, pork......it's all good!

With it being another hot one out there, I decided to bust out the crock pot and experiment!

Ingredients:
Pineapples in juice or syrup
2 lb pork tenderloin
Pineapple & Habanero sauce

 I started out with a can of pineapple slices in heavy syrup, I would have preferred juice.  Oh well
I placed pineapples at the bottom of the pot

Next I added the pork loins, each one was about 1 lb.

Then I poured in the syrup from the pineapple. 

I added a small can of pineapple chunks with juice & 

a few jalapenos with about a half cup of the juice from the jar of jalapenos.

I cooked the pork for 3 hours on low, then I put it on high for about 2 more hours.

They don't take very long to cook because they were only 1 pound each.

I tasted it without the sauce & it was sweet with the slightest hint of the jalapeno. 

Mason ended up eating it with BBQ sauce, so it's kid friendly 

before the pineapple & habanero sauce.

Next time I want to spice up the meat while it is cooking.   

I'm thinking I need to  add fresh jalapeno & definitely use pineapple JUICE.

I really suggest you make this Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Sauce 

part of your summer meals, you won't regret it. 

Have a great day & hang in there,  Friday is almost here!

At the pool with my 2 year old...

As we all know, no one can ever fully know what to expect with a toddler.

And being a first time mom, I had no idea our trips to the pool would be so different this year.  

Last year Mason was all about being held in the water, kicking away.  

This year, I felt like it took everything in me to coax this boy just close enough so I could put my legs in.  

Mind you, it is about 90 degrees & all I have been thinking about is breaking in my awesome 

new bathing suit from Lands End.

FYI-If you have a large chest, this is the bathing suit top for you!!!

It comes in cup sizes & has under-wire for extra support.

I don't like spending my day adjusting myself, hoping that one of the girls doesn't pop out.

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-beach-living-adjustable-scoopneck-tankini-top/id_231497

Ok, back to the pool...
After today, I have learned that my trips to the pool will be MUCH different from now on
and I've learned that I am NOT a fan of "baby" pools.

Why you ask?

#1 Pee       We all know it happens. I witnessed my own kid take a #2 while wading around the 1 ft pee bath.  It definitely didn't make me feel better when a 4 yr old not wearing a swim diaper makes direct eye contact with me & says "I peed".  Thanks for the confirmation!

#2 Bugs     I am not a fan of them.  Living or dead.  Usually the ones in the little pool are in buggy heaven. 

I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Creeps me out either way!

#3 Toys      I feel like I had to carefully investigate which toys Mason would like to play with.  All the while explaining to him that those boats & trucks weren't his, but I would be sure to get his very own next time.

#4 Parents    Some parents pay no attention to their children.  Maybe me being a first time mom, I am a little more observant than necessary.  But if your kid is throwing stuff & snatching things out of the other kids hands, maybe it's time for some discipline?

I felt like such a rookie!  

How did I know that trucks are just as cool cruising around the pool, as they are in dirt...

Pretend fishies are great & it is ok for the kids to squirt each other with water guns...

Back to basics, good 'ol fashion fun...I like it!

With a plan for tomorrows trip to the pool,
here is hoping that Mason warms up to the idea of the pool.