Reviews

It’s week two of my Pork Be Inspired Healthy Eating Tour. Last week didn’t go quite the way I was hoping so this week I was sure to choose a much easier pork recipe. Pork Chops with Sofrito was easy and delicious and definitely a new staple around our house. It has a lot of great veggies included to be sure my family receives something healthy. I’m the first to admit we aren’t always the best about fruits and veggies so this pork recipe was exactly what we needed.

In case you didn’t know, a Sofrito is a mixture of “aromatic” ingredients such as bell peppers, garlic, onion and tomato that then cook in olive oil. I had never tried it but I will say that it the flavors were complimentary and it makes my mouth water thinking about it.

The best part was it turned out delicioso. No issues here, I followed the recipe from start to finish and wound up with the most tender boneless pork loin chops. The Salsa de Tomate, bell peppers and onions mixed together to form a paste like mixture that even my kids would eat. Did you hear that? I said my kids, the pickiest most annoying eaters in the world, ate this recipe with little complaint. Probably because the flavor was so sweet with just the slightest nip of spice. We served it over a bed of yellow rice. The only thing I might have done differently is slice the chops in half so they cooked a bit faster.

brown the vegetables, browning vegetables, how do I soften vegetables

Right now at Publix Pork Spareribs are on sale. Those are delicious of course and we definitely know how to enjoy a rack of ribs, but decided to go with a healthier alternative this month. Check out the Pork Chops with Sofrito Recipe below:

pork with sofrito, sofrito, browning sofrito

TIME


Cook Time: 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS

8 boneless pork loin chops, 1/2-inch thick
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup white onion, diced
1 cup green bell pepper, diced
1 cup red bell pepper , diced
2 cloves garlic , minced
3 8-oz cans Salsa de Tomate, LaPreferida or Goya
1 teaspoon chili powder

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork loin chops and brown 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onions, peppers and garlic; cook 5 minutes until browned and softened, stirring occasionally. Add tomato sauce and chili powder, cook 5 minutes; reduce heat to low. Return pork loin chops to pan. Simmer 8 to10 minutes until internal temperature on a thermometer reads  145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.

Serve over yellow rice with pigeon peas.

Makes 8 servings.

NUTRITION

Calories: 216 calories
Protein: 26 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Sodium: 429 milligrams
Cholesterol: 67 milligrams
Saturated Fat: 2 grams
Carbohydrates: 11 grams
Fiber: 2 grams

Check out Pork on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/porkbeinspired

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Picture of my High School Reunion with Yellow Teeth

Enter the TopDentists.com Who Makes You Smile? Contest for a chance to win a trip to NYC, Professional Teeth Whitening Session, Photo-Shoot, and $1000 Spending Money! Just enter a picture of who makes you smile and tell us why!

Teeth whitening has become one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures because of its immediate benefits. Discoloration of the teeth can be caused by many factors like smoking and drinking coffee but even genetics! Whitening your teeth can not only improve your image but help boost self esteem and confidence.

I know for my 10th High School Reunion I seriously thought about having this procedure done. My teeth just seemed so yellow. I couldn’t imagine meeting the guy I had a huge crush on in high school and being all “Hi guy I was in love with, don’t  mind my yellow teeth and that extra 75lbs I’ve put on.” Or that super popular cheerleader who was awful in school but now wants to be so friendly but I know is thinking “Holy cow she put on 75lbs and look how yellow her teeth are!”

Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to take care of it, but if I had won a contest like this previously it would have been no problem at all!

Luckily the guy I had a crush on never showed up and the popular cheerleader didn’t even bother with niceties so I was okay. But don’t take your chances, enter the contest above now!

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Bijoux Exotique Jewelry At BeJewelry.net!

by Lee on February 2, 2012

Recently I’ve taken on a girly side which I’ve really never had before. I find myself drooling over shoes, handbags and jewelry. Since I don’t get to shop out of the house very often I frequent many online jewelry websites like BeJewelry.net. This way I’m sure to be the belle of the ball with my trendy baubles!

Bijoux Exotique at BeJewelry.net offers only the most current trends on their rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and pendants. When you browse through their site you are sure to find something you like. For example, I love the Flame Solar yellow cubic zirconium ring because it reminds me of the upcoming movie The Hunger Games. Not only would this be a good choice for any woman that loves shiny things, fans of the book series will love it as well. The Hunger Games inspired jewelry is bound to be huge this season so check it out! it’s very “Girl On Fire”.

I ever you need a gift for someone and just can’t decide what they may or may not like, buy them a Bijoux Exotique gift certificate. You can choose numerous denominations and have it sent either directly to an email account or you can print it out to mail or present to them in person. I’d recommend doing this for a special lady as a Valentine’s Day gift. It’s probably better than chocolate and will last a lot longer than flowers so you really can’t go wrong. She’ll be thrilled and that in turn earns you some serious brownie points!

You can also sign up to win a monthly drawing for a free piece of jewelry! All it takes is your email account. Check it out for yourself at http://www.bejewelry.net

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Hook. Launch. Catch. It’s that simple but incredibly fun. That is what the Djubi Facebook Page says about the fun new outdoor toy for families! While on our recent vacation to Callaway Gardens our family played with the Djubi more than once. It consists of a plastic frame containing a loose net and a ball with a loop attached. It reminds me a bit of lacrosse but it is so much more.

The way you use the Djubi is to attach the ball’s loop to a tab on the plastic frame, pull it back, let it go and the person across from you catches the ball in their net. I’ve included a video above so that you can see exactly what I am talking about. The package comes with 2 rackets and one ball. You can also play the game alone. My husband enjoys doing this to kill time while waiting for the kids to get their shoes on and come outside. He also likes to see how high or how far he can launch the ball, creating competitive games against himself.

My 7 year old has no problem launching the Djubi ball and can get quite a great distance on each pull. My 3 year old however doesn’t have the strength to pull it back so that it picks up any actual speed. We simply allow him to throw the ball instead so he can still take part. He is able to catch it and that is half the fun!

The Djubi is a really unique new toy for families to play outdoors and even in the swimming pool. Instead of throwing a football or hitting a baseball, try the Djubi while at the park. But be prepared for a lot of extra attention because onlookers will want to know what you are playing with!

You can find Djubi at http://www.djubi.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/djubi.

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Nothing Says “I LOVE YOU” Like a Hershey’s Kiss!

February 1, 2012

Remember being a kid in elementary school and preparing for the class Valentine’s Day party? Who didn’t love sitting at the glitter table with the glue and construction paper decorating their shoe box? I would use as many heart shaped paper doilies as could fit and I swear I still find glitter from those projects [...]

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Universal Pictures Big Miracle Giveaway!

January 31, 2012

Have you seen the commercials for Big Miracle yet? Drew Barrymore cries and I tear up. These poor whales can’t make it to the open ocean because the snow and ice are so hard they can’t break through to catch their breath. It seems to be a mommy, daddy and baby whale. Then the whole [...]

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SeaWorld Orlando’s Just For Kids Festival!

January 29, 2012

This past weekend kicked off an awesome new concert series for kids at SeaWorld Orlando. This concert series is part of their new Just For Kids Festival geared toward kids ages 2-12 years old. The Just For Kids Festival is jam packed with fun kid friendly activities and attractions spaced throughout the park where kids [...]

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Baked Pork Egg Rolls Good And Good For You!

January 28, 2012

Have I mentioned I can’t cook? Oh I have? Well then this post isn’t going to be a huge surprise. I was asked by the PorkBeInspired.com team to make 4 recipes from Publix.  Each recipe I attempt will be made with a cut of pork which is on sale that week at Publix Supermarkets. . [...]

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You Know Those Awkward Moments Where You’ve Made A Fool Of Yourself!

January 27, 2012

We’ve all been there, we’ve tried to wave at someone and realized it was the wrong person. Or maybe you make a phone call and begin spilling your guts to the person on the other line, only to realize you have the wrong number? Welcome to my past week, not once, but twice did I [...]

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Saving Space In A Kid’s Room!

January 26, 2012

Kids are messy and you need every little bit of space you can get in their rooms. There are some simple solutions you can use to make the most of the floor space that is so precious. Here are just a few suggestions. Get a set of  twin over twin bunk beds. Even if you [...]

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