Today I spent a large portion of the day reflecting. So much has changed and happened in these last 10 years, but I, like most of you, remember that Tuesday vividly.
I was a freshman at Baylor, barely beginning my collegiate experience. I had just stepped out of the shower, getting ready for my 9:30 chemistry class across campus. I switched on the Today show which has been my daily ritual for the past 15 years, and I remember watching as Katie Couric and Matt Lauer attempted to explain why airplanes had struck the WTC towers. As I watched, the first tower fell, the Pentagon was hit, and a hijacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania.
I wasn't sure what to do next. Baylor had an attendance policy, and as dumb as it seems now, I wasn't sure I would be allowed to miss class for this. So, I headed to class. As I was walking the second tower fell, and when I arrived at my class, Dr. Hassell began a prayer and updated us on the latest news. I remember feeling relieved that I was at a school where a faith and prayer-based response was the norm, and I was praying that everyone I knew was safe.
We held class as normal, and afterwards I headed to my 2nd class of the day. After a few minutes of listening to the radio for news, my teacher dismissed us from class and I headed back to my dorm to catch up on the news I had missed. It was tough being away from friends and family during such an uncertain time. In the days that followed, as the details became clear, I experienced a level of patriotism and pride that I had never known for my country.
This summer Jeff and I had the privilege of being at Ground Zero. During our honeymoon we both knew that a visit to the WTC sites was a priority for us. We sat and held hands as we watched construction crews working on Freedom Tower. I had no idea how emotional it would be, even as far removed as we were from the tragedy. We silently and prayerfully walked through St. Paul's Chapel where emergency workers and volunteers had come to rest or grab a hot meal while they worked to try to find survivors. We read signs and letters from supporters around the country. I cried as we roamed through a cemetery where debris and dust had once covered historic graves. Some would say that the church surviving without any damage was a miracle, but I know better. The Lord needed to do His work in that church during the days and weeks that followed this tragedy.
Later, Jeff and I visited the temporary museum across the street where the memorial plans could be viewed and souvenirs could be purchased. Jeff and I flipped through a book containing hundreds of pictures documenting September 11th. We added our signature and well wishes to the visitors book, and left hand-in-hand, forever changed. Earlier that day we had been notified that Jeff had lost his job. This day spent reflecting on such a tragedy put that news in perspective. We had each other. We had our families. We had our lives in front of us. We had a home. We shared a beautiful wedding 7 days earlier with those who are closest to us. I know God led us to Ground Zero on this particular day, when we could have visited on any other day of our honeymoon, to remind of us what's important and to turn us toward Him. It would have been easy to dwell on the fact that Jeff had lost his job on our honeymoon. We could have let it cast a shadow on our vacation and the start of our marriage. Instead, we faithfully prayed and stayed optimistic and Jeff had a new, better job within 2 weeks. How great is our God?I hope that today you have had time to reflect, and could see God's fingerprints touching your life. In what ways has He blessed you? In what ways has He met your needs? How have you seen Him move? My prayer today is that God's presence is made clear in your life. I pray that those who serve our country will be safe. I pray that I never take for granted the freedom and safety we have as citizens of the USA. I pray that I will remember to kiss my husband and hug my family and tell them that I love them as frequently as I can. I pray that I never forget.
I think slow cookers have a bad reputation. People love slow cookers for their convenience and ease of preparation, but I don't think anyone ever expects a really great meal out of them. I'm here to tell you that you can get a flavorful, fancy meal from a slow cooker with limited preparation.
A few things for a successful slow cooker meal:
- Look for meals that use cuts of meat that are best cooked low-and-slow. Pork shoulder (pork butt), ribs, chuck roast, and even dry beans do well in a slow cooker. Most people slow cook the wrong cuts of meat, resulting in over-done, rubbery meals.
- Meats that are extremely low-fat will dry out too soon (pork tenderloin, chicken breasts)
- Leave the lid on! Slow cookers only work when the heat can build-up. Removing the lid will release the hot air, and will increase the cooking time tremendously. Don't stir, and leave that lid on so the slow cooker can do it's job.
I often put together the meal the night before, stick the ceramic pot in my fridge for the night, and then all I have to do is stick it in the slow cooker in the morning! I don't have time to do a bunch of food prep in the morning, so this helps me a ton.
I'm going to share this recipe with you that I found in a Real Simple magazine. It's so yummy, and ridiculously easy. Jeff requests it often, so over time I've modified it just a little bit, but the original recipe is great, too.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups homemade or fresh salsa
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Zest of one lime
Kosher salt to taste (I use 1-2 teaspoons)
2 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder
Corn tortillas
Monterrey Jack cheese
Limes
Sour Cream
Cilantro
Mix first 6 ingredients together (through salt) and place in slow cooker. Trim the pork shoulder of visible fat, and place in slow cooker, turning to coat. Cook on low for 8 hours, until the meat falls apart and shreds easily. If it doesn't shred, place lid back on slow cooker and turn the slow cooker temp to high for 1 more hour.
Remove meat, shred meat using two forks, and return to sauce. Serve on corn tortillas with cheese, lime juice, sour cream, and cilantro. Cilantro and limes are the key to bringing the flavors all together.
I hope you enjoy!
We love eating at fancy restaurants, and it's always nice to save a few bucks. We have been eating at some fancy places for Restaurant Week the last few weeks. Restaurant Week puts together a list of some of the nicest restaurants in the area, and those restaurants put together a 3-course menu for only $35 per person. Plus, $7 from each meal goes to charity. Win-win for everyone!
Th first restaurant we visited was Abacus. We ate there on our wedding night, and it has since become our favorite restaurant. SOOO yummy!! So, we decided we would book-end our summer with another trip. Although their menu wasn't as extensive as our first visit, it was still full of wonderful options. We ordered the Lobster Shooters (off menu) which we just had to have, I had a blue cheese salad and a pork chop, Jeff had some pork pot stickers and rack of lamb. Then we shared a trio of desserts. It was so great, and such a deal! The only negatives were the crowded seating (because of the RW crowd) and that they limited our time there. We were only given an hour to dine, so we couldn't be as leisurely as we wanted. The food was as great as our first time though, and the price can't be beat!
Next, we went to Nick and Sam's. This was Jeff's choice as he had read such great reviews. The atmosphere was very romantic and dimly lit, and we were seated next to the jazz pianist who contributed nicely to the ambiance. I had a watermelon salad, and Jeff had a seafood bisque, both of which were great. We both ordered the beef tenderloin steak with a mushroom demi-glaze, and it came with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. We also added their lobster mac and cheese (off menu) that they are known for. For a "steakhouse" we weren't impressed with the steak. The spinach and mac and cheese were excellent. For dessert, I had bread pudding, and Jeff had a tres leches strawberry shortcake. My dessert was fine, but Jeff's was awful! Portions on everything were tiny, and presentation left something to be desired. Overall, we won't be returning, but again, the price was great because of RW.
Last, we visited Kenny's Wood-Fired Grill in Addison. This restaurant had been highly recommended, and I have to say, it did not disappoint. The atmosphere is very "cool", and we were impressed with the service. They offered us a 4-course menu to choose from, and the menu had lots of options and was extremely varied. I started with a caesar salad with fried polenta croutons, and Jeff had beef tenderloin crostini. Both were excellent! Jeff then had a french onion soup that was my favorite item of the night. For the main course, I had a delicious meatloaf, and Jeff ordered a beef tenderloin steak with a blue cheese sauce. Absolutely exceeded our expectations! We shared creme brulee for dessert. We will definitely return!
Did you go to RW? What do you recommend?
