porky goodness

Baked Pork Chops and Apples

2 bone in pork chops at least 1" thick

2 red delicious apples sliced into 1/2" thick rings (core removed)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1-1/2 tablespoons sugar

3/4 teaspoons cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

Place pork chops on rimmed baking sheet. Pour on soy sauce making sure to coat both sides. Top with apple slices, each pork chop should have at least two apple slices. In a small bowl mix together sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle apples with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake for 40 minutes. Apples should be tender but shouldn't fall apart and pork chops should be cooked through.

Serving Suggestions: We really like this with Kraft Mac and Cheese. I'm kind of embarrassed to say that, but that's how my mom always served this dish and they pair very well, and I can't come close to making a homemade mac and cheese for anywhere near the price of the blue box.

This recipe come from my mom, I have no idea who she got it from. I just know she has been making for it as long as I can remember. Hope you enjoy.

julie

anniversary day

Yesterday was Matt and my second anniversary. I managed to get Matt to take the day off. Not an easy feat. This is only the second time he has taken vacation time. The first time was for our wedding and honeymoon.

We started the day by sleeping in, and then playing with Mr. Indy a little.
 

matt and indy

Then we went to Le Peep for breakfast. They have the best eggs benedict in town (at least that I've tried). After breakfast we went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where we had our wedding reception in the Cullen Gems and Mineral Hall. They currently have an exhibit on the Silk Road (no pictures please). They have some gorgeous textiles, cool carvings, and a pretty awesome mummy; you can even see her eyelashes. We then looked through the fossils and gems and minerals.

   

the brontosaurus (i know it has a different name now but i haven't bothered to learn what it is)

And now pretty rocks. I love gems and minerals which is why we had our wedding reception here. I hate to say it but this love most likely came from my mom. She has a bachelor's degree in geology, and while she didn't use her degree for her career she still loves rocks. On every family vacation she would explain how the rock formation we were passing formed and what types of minerals were found in the area. It doesn't hurt that rocks have the potential to be really pretty.

Sorry the picture quality isn't great on those pictures. I needed to use a tripod, which I didn't have. But the formations and colors are so beautiful I wanted to share them.

After the museum we went to an eye doctor appointment for Matt, then went to get some ice cream. Yummy. We headed home, and after a couple of hours we took Indy to his advanced puppy class. It was graduation night. Indy passed his test with flying colors. He even let me do this.

Now we just need to get him to follow the commands every time, instead of just when he wants to do them.

I love you Matt. I had a great day. It has been a wonderful two years, and I look forward to a lifetime of great days to come.

Love,

julie