recipe: baked teriyaki pork chops

It's been nearly forever since I have shared a new recipe here. I'm cooking plenty, nearly every single night, in fact! I meal plan, grocery shop, rotate dishes and try new recipes several times a month.

Pork chops have always been a favorite here. Sometime last year, while trying to cook using pantry ingredients, I found a recipe for Saucy Salsa Baked Chops. It became an instant hit. I tweaked it a bit over time and now omit the marmalade and use Trader Joe's Smoky Peach Salsa. The combination is such a winner!

The recipe itself is fairly basic and when I came across an unopened bottle of Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki in the pantry, I decided to play around with a different spin. Now having prepared the meal twice, I felt compelled to share what is a new favorite - Baked Teriyaki Pork Chops!

The prep is very easy, even with three kids twirling around my ankles and pulling at my cardigan. If I can make this on a week night, so can you!

Chop up half a yellow onion and one red bell pepper and toss them in a 9x9" ceramic baking dish. Don't have one? Spray a metal pan and toss them in that. I love ceramic for the ease of clean up. Salt and pepper each side of your boneless pork chops. Heat a bit of olive oil in a frying pan, getting it good and hot, and sear the chops, about 3-4 minutes on each side. Add those to the baking dish over the chopped veggies. Add half a can of chunk pineapple (drained) on the chops. Pour a cup of Teriyaki sauce over the top and put them in a hot oven for 40 minutes. They are so, so good that you may want to double the recipe for leftovers!

Baked Teriyaki Pork Chops
Yield 4 servings

4 boneless pork chops, about 3/4" thick
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup chunk pineapple in juice, drained
1 cup Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki sauce
salt and ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Add diced onion and pepper to bottom of a 9x9" ceramic baking dish or, a prepared metal pan.
3. Add oil to a fry pan over med-high heat until hot. Season both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper. Sear chops in the fry pan, 3-4 minutes per side until slightly golden brown.
4. Remove chops from pan and add to baking dish, over onion and pepper.
5. Top chops with chunk pineapple, followed by teriyaki sauce.
6. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Serve hot over cooked rice.

Enjoy!
Jen

project life 2016 :: the beginning

Happy New Year! I am thrilled to be tarting another year of Project Life. Last year, I dabbled. Last year was a return to single pages loyouts for me. I had SO much fun exploring full 12x12 pages again. It stretched my creativity and felt good to get back to my scrapbooking "roots."

But, something was missing. I missed documenting the everyday moments. The little quirks of our three children, those phases that are so fluid at their young ages. Toys of the moment, little facial expressions. The fleeting day to day stuff. The good stuff. It's all there in photos. On Instagram. In my Momento app. That's fine. I want more.

So. 2016. Starting anew and re-dedicating myself to little pockets of memories.

I'm not even going to go by week (gasp. what did she say??) I am setting up my album with monthly dividers and am just going to add photos in, not worrying about dates. I mean, unless it's a birthday or some big event, does the actual date matter so much? "It happened in January 2016" works for me.

I chose a word to focus on this year: give. My goal is to focus on giving more to my family, to others and in my own self-care. My intentions are documented right in the front of a brand new album. A great reminder every time I open the cover to work on my pages.

I started off this album using the Project Life Everyday and Midnight Core Kit cards. The simple, graphic cards really allow my photos (just look at those little faces!) and my intentions stand out.

Cheers to 2016!
Jen

u-pick :: 7paper spotlight with paper issues

I always love playing along with the Product Spotlights on the Paper Issues blog. In the past I had a little habit (ahem) of hoarding new products, not wanting to cut in to the new favorite patterns or to "use up" the pretty embellishments. I finally learned that there will always be new goodies to play with so, I'm using what I love. Now. This Spotlight feature encourages that usage by featuring projects with newer lines available in the Paper Issues shop.

This layout was created with mainly 7paper Products from the Elliot and Darcy lines. At first glance you wouldn't think the lines would play well together but, I had such fun pattern mixing to highlight the photos for this autumn layout. How cute are these kids choosing their perfect pumpkins???

Need some 7paper in your life? Use code: JENBOOM for 20% off your entire order from the Paper Issues shop!

Top 15 of 2015 :: A Year to Remember!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome 2016!

Today, I'm taking a look back at some of my favorite projects from last year. Fifteen projects, to be exact!

2015 was a huge year for me, creatively speaking, and I have my position on the Paper Issues Design Team to thank for that. I started off the year just planning to continue on my way with Project Life but, ended up making more single pages layouts than I have in many years, had a lot of fun with my planner and did a few pocket pages here and there. I cannot to see what 2016 has in store!

remember the mishief :: spotlight on shine

This little girl is a sweet as they come. She loves to cuddle and dole out hugs, curl up on the couch with each of us and has a quick, dimpled smile. She also has quite the mischievous side (I'll credit her brothers) and is so proud of herself when she pulls off a new antic. So, when I walked into the kitchen one day this past summer and found her sitting on the kitchen counter, after using the drawers underneath as stairs, I had to snap a photo to capture this side. Priceless.

The Paper Issues design team is spotlighting the Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper Shine collection on the blog today and this layout uses nearly all products from the line. I love that is a great mix of playful and classic patterns and elements. You can grab some for yourself in the Paper Issues store at 20% off using code: JENBOOM

love us :: cut file saturday

There is a brand new, FREE cut file up on the Paper Issues blog today. I was so excited to see the design this month and to document a couple of my new favorite autumn photos.

A few weeks ago, my husband was working on and around local train tracks that are no longer in use. We met up with him for a few minutes so that the kids could see their Baba at work and managed to grab a couple of cute iPhone photos. Now I am certain this is where I want to have our family portraits taken next year!

I used mainly two fall collections for the layout, Pebbles Harvest and Photo Play Autumn Day, along with Swag Bag bits, of course, and the amazing Shimelle foam Thickers!

You can find all of these supplies and more - at 20% off! - with code JENBOOM in the Paper Issues shop.

nature girl :: pinspire me

There is a brand new Pinspire Me board up on the Paper Issues blog today! Play along in our Facebook {Friends and Fans} group for a chance to win a Pinspired Swag Bag.

I was Pinspired by the photo of the hands (top row) and the colors of the beautiful sunset (bottom row). As soon as I saw this board I ran to the computer to print out this photo of Amalia and her little backyard nature collection that I snapped last month. She is fascinated by the foliage on our property, particularly the various berry bushes. Nearly everyday she will create a little collection to admire on this wood table.This is a memory I want to keep. Her little hand, her love of nature and her sweet innocence.

I used a mix of every current fall line I have on hand to create my layers and embellishments: Photo Play Autumn Day paper and cardstock stickers, Imaginisce Give Thanks chip ephemera, a Pebbles Harvest card cut from a 12x12 sheet, Pink Paislee Cedar Lane embellishments and I even snuck in a Project Live Everyday core kit card (A for Adventure) and a few Swag Bag bits!

You can grab any of these products and much more in the Paper Issues shop and for 20% off using code: JENBOOM