Toddler Mutant Ninja Twins

Today has been quite a day. But I'm not going to talk about how DD and DS both greeted me at the door of their room when I came to check an unusual sound--they had climbed out of their cribs for the first time, pulled out all of their toys, and DD had stripped down to her birthday suit, without making any sound on the monitor until they tried to open the door!

And that was just nap. The afternoon found me trying to keep clothes and diapers on DD, who has suddenly decided she doesn't like diapers, even though we are not nearly potty-trained, as well as mopping up blood from DS's nose after he bonked it on the couch while trying to climb. It was as if my own dear babes had gone down to bed and this perfectly in-sync pair of ninjas woke up and decided I was outnumbered and they could take me. They did.

In fact, until about 10 minutes ago, I wasn't sure we'd ever sleep again. My kiddos have always been great sleepers at night, not so good during the day. Fine. I'll take my 7-7 sleepathon. But for the last two hours they have read books, exchanged beds, and in general done everything but sleep even though we 1). tried to make the converted toddler beds feel warm and inviting with new Dora and Diego sheet sets (probably too exciting!) 2). laid down the rules about staying in bed and 3). cleared everything dangerous or interesting out of their room. After checking with friends and the www, we realized that no one has ever successfully transitioned twins in the same room to toddler beds and gotten them to sleep again.

Sigh.

I did have one success today: dinner. Which reminds me of a new UCLA study suggesting that convenience foods (frozen veggies, sauces, etc.) aren't saving families any time in meal preparation statistically speaking. Just oh 10-12 minutes. These people must not have kids because 10-12 minutes is huge in my book. That can be the difference between actually eating a meal and decorating the floor with it.

And tonight they ate it. And there was a convenience food--chicken broth from a box. Otherwise, I seared the pork myself, chopped the onions (I only just realized you could buy chopped frozen onions--does anyone really do that?), and put it all in the slow cooker. Practically homemade (and not semi, like that woman on the food channel who drives me nuts). And they loved it. Even ate it with applesauce. And asked for more. Success!

I hope it's not the only success today . . . but they're still quiet.

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Smothered Pork Chops and Gravy

1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided
6-6 oz. bone in center-cut pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick), trimmed
1-14 oz can fat free, less sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
freshly ground black pepper
(we added one onion, sliced)

Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 chops; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Place chops in a 4-1/2 quart electric slow cooker. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and chops.
Combine broth, mustard, salt, and garlic powder. Pour broth mixture over chops in slow cooker. Add onion, if desired. Cover with lid, cook on high-heat setting 1 hour. Reduce to low-heat setting; cook 4 hours or until chops are tender. Remove chops from slow cooker, reserving cooking liquid. Increase to high-heat setting.
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, level with a knife. Combine flour and 1 cup cooking liquid, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Stir flour mixture into cooking liquid in slow cooker. Cook 10 minutes or until thick, stirring occasionally (or make gravy the usual way). Serve gravy over chops and mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with pepper, if desired.

(Note: we skipped the flour part, of course)

Cooking Light Slow Cooker Recipes