Sweet and Sour Pork Recipe

I finally found a pork recipe my whole family liked. Pork is one of the cheapest meats here in Spain and I have tried many recipes but often hear complaints about it being dry or about grissle. I found this recipe that I had copied from one of my friends' cookbooks when I was visiting her last year. Pork was on sale at the store this morning so it was the perfect day to try this recipe out.

Sweet and Sour Pork

2 Tbsp. cooking oil
1 lb. boneless pork cut into 1" cubes (I increased this to 3/4 Kilo of pork cut into cubes for stewing to have enough to feed my family of 6)
1 can (15.25 oz) pineapple chunks
1/2 cup light corn syrup (I reduced this to 1/4 cup but next time will try another substitute like honey since I can't buy corn syrup in Spain and I 'd like a healthier alternative anyway)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbps cornstarch
1/2 cup red and green pepper slices (I probably doubled this -- just used half a pepper of each )
I also added 1 onion, chopped
Brown pork in hot oil with the chopped onions. Add the next 5 ingredients. Bring to a boil, simmer 10 minutes or until meat is fully cooked. Mix cornstarch with 2 Tbsp water. Add to pork along with the peppers. Boil 2 minutes stirring constantly. Serve over rice. Serves 4 (without the additions in parenthesis)


Everyone rated it a 4 or 4.5 and said they would like me to make it again sometime. That's good because I bought 1.5 kilos of meat and the rest is in the freezer for a repeat of this meal sometime in the future.

Bran Muffin recipe

A friend just asked for this recipe so since I had to type it up for her, I thought I might as well post it, in case anyone still reads this blog. :-)




Bran Muffins

1 box (15 oz.) bran flakes or raisin bran cereal (approx 7 1/2 cups if you buy from a bulk food store)
1 quart buttermilk (or sour regular milk with a teaspoon of vinegar)
1 cup vegetable oil (corn oil or sunflower oil)
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs, beaten
5 cups flour
5 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt


Mix the first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl, preferably a Tupperware one for which you have a matching lid. Combine the flour, salt and soda and add to the mix. Stir until there are no more lumps of dry flour. Cover and refrigerate 6 hours (or overnight). Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Fill muffin tins aprox 2/3 full. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes. Bake up just what you want to eat that day and store the rest of the batter in the fridge for fresh baked muffins another day, or bake up the whole batch and freeze the extra muffins. I prefer the bake as you go plan. In my household of 6 I never have to worry about the batter being in the fridge too long to be safe. The original recipe for this says you can keep the batter in the fridge for up to 6 weeks but I would not leave it there longer than 5-7 days.

I am not sure of the yield. I will try to write it down the next time I make this recipe. I think I normally make aprox 4 dozen large muffins and a few pans (maybe 2 to 2.5 dozen) mini muffins from a batch of batter.

Luke's Advent Day 22

Dec 22 -- Luke 22

1. How did the chief priests finally figure out how to get rid of Jesus?

2. What did Jesus pray for Simon Peter? What did he predict Peter would do? What does he say that indicates that Peter would have a future ministry? (22:32-34)

3. In Luke 6:27 Jesus says "Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you." What does Jesus do to obey this command in Luke 22:51?

Luke's Advent Day 20 & 21

Dec 20 -- Luke 20


1. What wise strategy did Jesus use to deal with those who were trying to trap him with their questions? (20:1-8)

2. What other ways did Jesus respond to those whose main goal was to trick him or catch him saying or doing something they could arrest him for? (20:9-19;20-28;27-40)

3. For what things would the Pharisees be punished by God? (20:45-47)



Dec 21 -- Luke 21


1. What is most important in the worth of our offerings to God? Does this mean we are to put all the money we have in the offering plate every week? (21:1-4)

2. What are some of the signs Jesus gave of the end times?

3. Will earth as we know it be around forever? What is the one thing mentioned in this chapter that will never pass away?

Luke's Advent Day 19

Dec 19 -- Luke 19


1. What hindered Zacchaeus from seeing Jesus? What criticism did the people have of Jesus for going to Zacchaeus' house to eat?
How did Zacchaeus show the change that had happened in his heart? (19:1-10)

2. How were the three servants judged? Did they do a good job completing the task their master had given them? What were the rewards/consequences of their faithfulness? (19:11-27)

3. In verse 41 we see Jesus overcome with sorrow over Jerusalem. Why was he so sad? What is it that brings peace? (19:28-44)

Luke's Advent Day 18

Dec 18 -- Luke 18

1. What can we learn in verses 1-8 about our attitude when we pray?


2. What can we learn in verses 9-14 about our attitude when we pray?


3. How did the blind beggar demonstrate the attitudes found in the above passages in his encounter with Jesus?

Luke's Advent Day 17

Dec 17 -- Luke 17


1. What is our responsibility towards others in regards to sin and forgiveness? (17:1-5)

2. What can we learn from the example of the Samaritan? (17:11-19)

3. As in the days of Noah and of Lot, people do not realize when the day of judgment is coming until it is upon them. What are some of the ways that people show that?