All posts by NerdMom

Food

Cheap and Easy Recipes: Pork Loin Chops 2 Ways

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So here is an installment of my cheap and easy recipes. Pork Loin is something that is good for you and cheap. First, I get my pork loin chops at Costco. Usually it is 9 to a tray. I then cut them in half because they start about 1 1/2 inches thick. BTW, June 19th-June 25th there is a Passport Coupon at Costco for $5 off (an even better deal!).
Baked Pork Loin:
I take 1/2 bottle of Lawry’s Marinade (any liquid marinade would do) and marinade for anywhere from 20 minutes to hours. Then preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Put into any lipped baking dish. Pop it in the oven for 25 minutes and you are done!
Breaded Pork Loin:
This takes just a bit more effort. Make a mixture of 2:1 seasoned bread crumbs to shredded parmesan cheese. To save time, buy your pamesan preshredded in the deli area. Get a large skillet or griddle and heat it up at medium high heat. Bread both sides of the pork loin chop and put it the lightly oil skillet. Cook until done. One way to see if the pork is cooked through is to watch the side. When it is completely white and the pork is firm to the touch, it is done. Usually about 7 minutes a side.

And that is it. 2 easy and different ways to make pork loin chops!

Food

Almond Buttermilk Pancakes

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In honor of Pancake Day on February 5, 2008…
I found this recipe in the July 2007 Cooking Light and it has been a big hit. NerdDad isn’t real fond of the slice almonds so often I just leave them out.

**Make Ahead Tip: Mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately the night before. Then just combine and cook in the morning.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
1/4 cup Sliced Almonds, toasted
1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Salt
1 1/3 cups Nonfat Buttermilk
1/2 cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Water
2 tbls Canola Oil
1 Large Egg
Cooking Spray

Process
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl with a whisk. Mix wet ingredients (except cooking spray) and add to dry ingredients, mixing until smooth. Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot nonstick griddle or nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray. Cook 2 minutes or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges looked cooked. Carefully turn pancakes over; cook for 2 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.

Yield: 12 pancakes

Food

Freezer Friday: Snickerdoodles

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Welcome to Freezer Friday and yes, this is my standard Freezer Friday intro! Since I haven’t done a make ahead dessert, here is one of my favorites!

Due to the fact I have 4 little ones and homeschool, I need all the help I can find. Simply post a recipe that can be made, frozen and then later reheated(thawed, etc) and consumed. Make sure that you include freezing and reheating instructions in your post. Then come here and add you post (not your blog) into Mr. Linky.
Now for some disclaimers:
If it isn’t a recipe, I will delete it.
If it can’t be made ahead, I will delete it.
If you don’t have a family friendly site, I will delete it.
Now onto the food fun!

Snickerdoodles:

Here is an easy snickerdoodle. You can freeze the dough once in balls and cook later. It is a great recipe do make with kids. I have the 5 yr old roll the balls and the 3 yr old rolls them in cinnamon and sugar. So on with the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

cinnamon
sugar

Procedure
1. Mix shortening, sugar and eggs
2. Add dry ingredients
3. Roll into balls the size of walnuts
4. Roll in mixture of cinnamon(1) and sugar(2)
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes

life

All About NerdMom

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Recently it has come to my attention that I have real life people (that I know) who still don’t have any idea of who I am. Also it has come to my attention that many of you don’t know about my other blogs. So let us start at the beginning. My real name is Jackie Cromwell and ions ago was Jackie Little. I go to New Covenant Community Church in Fresno Ca.

Now the other blogs… Remember the are all having giveaways also!
NerdFamily Food
NerdFamily Things
Making Money, Keeping Money

Separately, here is my Cast of Characters:
NerdDad: My wonderful and loving husband
NerdBug: My eldest boy, who is now 6 years old
NerdPie: My sparkling little 4 year old girl
Nerdling: My cute 2 year old boy who is built like a linebacker
NerdPud: My 7 month old little girl. She is the Pud (short for Pudding) because she is the last course.

house management, life

WFMW: Life & Focus Help

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Yes, this is the secret, a notebook. I keep it around the house and in my purse. Then when a thought comes to me (about anything) I jot it down. This helps to make sure things aren’t missed (by forgetting it later) and helps me to focus on what I am doing. I don’t need to try to hold on to things while I am trying to do my Bible Study, play with my kids or out shopping. I have a spot for things to tell my husband, things to buy, things to study, etc. It has been a huge blessing! Try it and let me know what you think.

giveaway

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

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***Comments are closed, a winner will be announced soon!

So it is time for a giveaway ya’all. For those of you are new, please peruse the blog. Then come back and enter my drawing. I am giving away a Test Logic, grade 2. It is a great electronic tutor tool with a talking pen. It covers Language Arts, Math Concepts, Social Science and Science. This are great for kids to have some independent learning time. Just comment between now and Sunday February 3rd at noon pst. You need to make sure I have your email in case you win! This drawing is limited to US Residents only.

Want more drawings?

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Food

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

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***Comments are closed, a winner will be announced soon!

So it is time for a giveaway ya’all. For those of you are new, please peruse the blog. Then come back and enter my drawing. I am giving away a Pampered Chef package of goodies. It will include a mini-serving spatula, Quikut Paring Knife and a Season’s Best cookbook. Just comment between now and Sunday February 3rd at noon pst. You need to make sure I have your email in case you win! This drawing is limited to US Residents only.

Want more drawings?

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gift worthy, giveaway

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

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***Comments are closed, a winner will be announced soon!

So it is time for a giveaway ya’all. For those of you are new, please peruse the blog. Then come back and enter my drawing. I am giving away a PNY Attache 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive ( P-FD01GU20-RF ). This are great to keep on hand for transferring data from computers. I need to keep one in my purse because you never know when you will need a data transfer. Just last week I needed a mailing list and was alas, with out a flash drive;(. So don’t let this happen to you. Just comment between now and Sunday February 3rd at noon pst. You need to make sure I have your email in case you win! This drawing is limited to US Residents only.

Want more drawings?

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child rearing, Homeschoooling

Heart of the Matter

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I found out about this Friday meme over at Heart of the Matter where you post your thoughts about the following quote.

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
– William Butler Yeats

I love this imagery for a couple of reasons. A fire being is active versus a pail that is static. The pail is filled by someone else where as a fire consumes its own fuel and if you don’t provide it, it will reach out and grab it if it is near. A pail is the same filled or empty, but a fire will die without fuel. A pail can only carry so much but a fire can burn forever.

The imagery of the fire is what I desire for my children. It isn’t about individual facts but a love for learning and a yearn for more. The unquenchable fire…..

So what do you think?