{MWW} Sweet-and-Sour Pork

Today I am sharing a recipe for Sweet-and-Sour Pork from my Pillsbury Slow Cooker book. 
This meal has been given the 'thumbs up' and made the way into our regular meal rotation.
I hope you'll make it and enjoy it too!

Pillsbury photo documentation of this meal:

 

My photo documentation of this meal:

Continue to read below for my tutorial and commentary on preparing this meal.

Sweet-and-Sour Pork 

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Start to Finish: 5 hours

Servings: 4

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 boneless pork shoulder blade roast (2 lb)
1 jar (10oz) sweet-and-sour sauce
1/2 cup Progresso chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
I used Meijer brand chicken broth from a carton
1 can (20oz) pineapple chunks in juice, drained
1/4 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch


Directions:
Directly from my Pillsbury Slow Cooker Cook Book

In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. 
Add pork roast; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until browned.

Spray 3.5 to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. 
Into cooker, pour sweet-and-sour sauce.
Add pork, broth and pineapple.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours.

About 15minutes before serving, in small bowl, mix water and cornstarch until smooth.Remove pork from cooker; place on cutting board or serving platter. 
Stir cornstarch mixture into liquid in cooker.
Return pork to cooker.
Increase heat setting to High. 
Cover; cook 10minutes longer or until sauce has slight thickened.

Cut pork into slices; serve with sauce.

My commentary on directions:
I do know if spraying the slow cooker is advantageous or not.  Mine still browns and gets icky.  If you try and cook it for a short time period on the High setting, you will dry out the meat.  Plan accordingly to cook on Low for 4.5 hrs.  Be sure to cook the full 10minutes on High after adding the cornstarch or it will have a weird texture.  We serve our pork with rice.

Marathon Motivation

Congratulations to all individuals who completed the Chicago Marathon! Do you know anyone who ran in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday?  I have quite a few individuals near and dear to my heart that were victorious in completing the 26.2 miles!  Each individual I personally know who competed in the event were not running for their own good but for the good of others.  Below I have highlighted each organization that my friends represented in the Chicago Marathon to educate and inspire you. Have you ever considered the possibility of partnering with an organization committed to changing lives through the venue of endurance events?  I can guarantee your life will be changed!
Click on the images below to view the website of each organization.

My friend, Dan, ran the Marathon as a commitment to THE HALL STEPS FOUNDATION. 
 
Founded in late 2009 by professional runners Ryan and Sara Hall, The Hall Steps Foundation is a non-profit movement to fight global poverty through better health. Our goal is to build a community and provide each member an opportunity to take their own STEPS toward relieving suffering and helping the poor rise out of poverty. We are a lifestyle philanthropy that encourages our supporters to make a personal commitment to their own health and wellness, using that as a catalyst to ignite change and make a difference in the lives of others.

If you have followed my "Journey with Jordan" posts you have been introduced to Team In Training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Jordan's mother, Andrea completed the Chicago Marathon on Sunday with Jordan's two brothers, Wes and Kyle.  It was a celebratory race honoring the milestone of Jordan being 5 years out of treatment and 'cured'!

The video below showcases Jordan's journey of life. Jordan was one of the special speakers at this year's Team In Training Pasta Dinner Saturday evening before the race.  It is an incredible blessing for my husband, my sister and myself to be featured in a few of the photos.  We are truly inspired by this amazing family and their story.

Team World Vision

 Our church, NorthRidge, partnered with Team World Vision and had 250+ individuals commit to participate in the Chicago Marathon and fundraise to bring clean water to Zambia, Africa.  The team goal was to raise $500,000 and they achieved it and then some...like an addition $30,000 beyond their initial goal!!! The money raised will bring clean water to 10,000 people and make a positive influence on the generations to come.  Yeah God!  I personally know some of the team members and I admire the devotion and discipline they exemplified throughout their training.  Just as I mentioned above; they made a commitment to change the lives of others and through it all, their life changed as well.

 Pastor Sean, who officiated my wedding, ran the Chicago Marathon as a commitment to Share Your Soles. 
 Share Your Soles began after Mona Purdy traveled through Central America and discovered that the people did not have protective wear for their feet. She committed to collecting shoes and since that day, Share Your Soles has donated over tens of thousands shoes. Share Your Soles is not affiliated with any government, church, political group or other organization. We do not claim to know the causes of poverty throughout the world. We only know it exists, and we do what we can to help. We are a growing group of people who think it's all pretty simple: by giving whatever you can, maybe just an hour or two each month, it's easy to become involved and change the world.  They believe "We can't walk in their shoes...let them walk in ours."  

 

{Monday Motivation} want / have

It is so easy to want more in life.
My personal struggle is being content with what I have...shelter, food, clothing.
I am in a Bible study that is reading from the book of Matthew - specifically the Sermon on the Mount.  The study book, Mocha on the Mount, defines a materially wealthy person as one who possesses a change of clothing and food for the next meal before having to earn it first.  May I remember that the things I have been given are a blessing and the things I want are more than likely just that...wants...not needs. I must remember I am materially wealthy and the things I already have should meet my current needs.  I am blessed!

{etsy} L & H

Miracles still happen! My sister has a dear friend, J who is married to L. {Yes, I am keeping their full names private} About two years ago J & L received the news that they were pregnant!  And not just pregnant with one precious girl...but TWO precious girls! TWINS!  This truly was a miracle from God.  J & L had endured a long journey trying to conceive a child knowing that God had chosen them to be parents. They prayed, waited, prayed and prayed some more and God honored the desires of their hearts beyond what they could imagine!  Their two precious girls, Lucy and Hannah, celebrated their 1st birthday this month and my sister was honored to attend the celebration.  My sister placed a custom order for me to make Hannah and Lucy name tiles including their initial and the phrase "you are a child of God" for their gift.  I can't think of a better explanation of their existence. God orchestrated a perfect plan for each of their lives.  I pray that they will grow up to know Him personally and serve Him, the creator of all.  It was an honor to make their gift.  Below are photos documenting the name tiles given to Hannah and Lucy.

   

birthday boy!

10.4.12
Today and every day I give thanks for my handsome husband!  Yesterday was his birthday and he is now officially older than me for the next 9 months...but who's counting?  In all seriousness though, I am so blessed.  My love is a man after God's own heart, one who desires to lead his family, provide for his family, and enjoy life during the journey.  I love you, husband and am honored to be your wife!

Chicago!

Hello!  Do you miss me?  Okay...do you miss my blog posts?  Husband had to attend a conference in Chicago Sunday - Wednesday so little love and I went with to visit family and friends as well as see him as often as possible between sessions.  We got home last night at 10:15p and I am exhausted!!  It was an early morning today attending our 2nd MOPS meeting and unfortunately little love took a short nap this afternoon.  So, with all that being said, please forgive me for my lack of posts.  I am hoping to have things back in order asap; including the blog!  Have a good night!

promise

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.  Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.  Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.  Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.  Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.  Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you! 
                                                                           -Christian D. Larson


And that, my friends, is my Monday motivation!  The quote comes from a magnet my sister has hanging on her fridge.  My twin sister has a love for quotes and the written word and her home decor reflects her passion.  I love to visit her and be inspired by the words she has creatively displayed in her home.
You can check out quotable magnets and products of the like at quotablecards.com.