So I have been trying to lose weight for...ever and have been unsuccessful. I'd like to say I've tried everything, you know diet, working out, but I'd be lying. I have tried to apply the whole "eat less move more" philosophy which is great in theory, but doesn't work for me without some kind of accountability.
I read something in a "biggest loser" cookbook that made me think. It said that if you multiply your weight by 7 that's the amount of calories you can eat and lose weight. So I figured out my number. It seemed like a really small number :(
I really want to lose weight so I decided to give it a shot. I also decided that I was going to eat my calories by 7:00 at night and not eat anything else after that time. I also increased my workouts to 5 days a week instead of just 3.
I lost 5 pounds! Unfortunately I found one of them again after a Christmas party but there's always tomorrow, right?

Pork loin was on sale at my grocery store this week so I bought enough for 9 meals. My son was home from school as I was wrapping the pork to store in my freezer. As I was cutting, I said, "Guess what's for dinner tonight?" He said, "Yeah!... Wait! How are you gonna cook it?"
I asked him, "How do you want it cooked?"
Right away he said, "Remember when you made it with brown sugar?"
Um, no.
"It was the day I got hurt remember?"
Still no.
I took out my recipe book that has all my "go to" recipes. It wasn't there. He was so disappointed.

My son loves to research things, all things weather, Bruins, sharks, countries, you name it, he'll research it and share all kinds of interesting facts, but he's never looked at any recipes. So I suggested he check online for a pork loin, brown sugar recipe. When I search for recipes, it takes me about an hour to make sure I've got the best one. Well, not him. Within 30 seconds he shouted out ingredients to see if we had them on hand. We did. So we tried a new recipe and it was a huge hit! Here it is...

Christopher's Brown Sugar Pork Roast

Oven-Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Brown Sugar Garlic Glaze

By Kittencalskitchen on November 25, 2005

Photo by Spirit Sparks

17 Reviews

• 
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Yield: 2 tenderloins

About This Recipe

"This is an easy and so delicious!"

Ingredients

• 2 pork tenderloins
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 -3 tablespoons olive oil

GLAZE

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons finey chopped garlic
• 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce ( or adjust to suit heat level)

Directions

1. In a small bowl stir together the salt, black pepper, cumin, chili powder and cinnamon.
2. Using clean hands rub the spice mixture over the pork to coat well.
3. Heat a large heavy oven-proof skillet with oil over medium-high heat until very hot.
4. Add in tenderloins (if you have a large enough skillet to brown both at the same time).
5. Brown the pork on all sides then leave in the skillet.
6. Set oven to 350 degrees F.
7. To make the glaze: Stir together brown sugar, garlic and Tabasco; pat onto the top of each tenderloin.
8. Roast in the middle of the oven for about 20-22 minutes, or until a thermometer registers 140°F.
9. Let sit in the skillet for 10 minutes at room temperature (the temperature of the pork will rise to about 155F while standing for the 10 minutes).
10. Remove to a board and slice.
11. Delicious!

 

Sandbox adventures!

I don't know about you, but at our house the sandbox was either a hit or miss activity. When it was new, the kids couldn't get enough of it and especially loved the shiny pails and shovels and various shaped toys that all the stores sold. But, they got old quick. Here are a few things we did that were definite hits! Warning: The kids were filthy from head to toe with some of these. Hose them off before they make it back into the house!

1.     Have a treasure hunt! - Grab handfuls of pennies (I usually tossed in around $1 or $2 worth) and sprinkle them over the top of the sand. Gently cover the pennies with sand using a shovel, rake, or your foot (like me). Call the kids out and tell them that you found a penny in the sand and wonder out loud if there are any more in there. Chances are, that'll be enough to get them digging. If you're a little more creative you could always collect some small rocks and spray paint them with gold paint and the children could dig for gold! Add water and a sieve and you’ll be a prospector! Wouldn't that be a great activity for a pirate or geologist themed birthday party??

2.    Take out some old pots and pans, mixing spoons and bowls…things you don’t need anymore and put them in the sand box. You’ll be surprised at how much more fun it is to use kitchen tools that look just like mom's! Kids can decorate their creations with rocks, twigs (for candles), and leaves or grass. Look out Duff!

If you are really laid back, take out your child's play kitchen for added fun. My rule for toys? Once it goes outside, it stays outside.

3.    Choose a few cars to keep outside. Use shovels and scoops to create roads and hills. There's nothing like crashing your car through a freshly made sandcastle...especially if it's your brother's castle ;)

4.    My family loves spending time at the beach. When they were little, we would help them pile up the sand in the middle of the sandbox, and then we would fill the outside edges with water. We had our own little moat to dip our feet in!