Smothered Pork Chops

Smothered Pork Chops

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 pork chops, 3/4-inch thick, bone-in
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup buttermilk
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
Directions
Put the flour in a shallow platter and add the onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels to remove any moisture and then dredge them in the seasoned flour; shaking off the excess.

Heat a large saute pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is nice and hot, lay the pork chops in the pan in a single layer and fry for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the pork chops from the pan and add a little sprinkle of seasoned flour to the pan drippings. Mix the flour into the fat to dissolve and then pour in the chicken broth in. Let the liquid cook down for 5 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly. Stir in the buttermilk to make a creamy gravy and return the pork chops to the pan, covering them with the sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes until the pork is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/smothered-pork-chops-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Living Greenland - Qaqortoq (20230611) Ice Ice Baby!

Cotton Cuts - Village Green (Begonia) #TeamBegonia

 Cotton Cuts Puzzle Mystery Quilt Along

Village Green - Begonia Clue 1

I will share each step I took sewing each part of the clue so that you can see how easily the directions are.

First, here are some tips:

• Do not use starch on precut pieces. It will distort them.
• Do not iron the precuts. Press only
• Use 1/4" seam allowance although some will say to use scant. (This part will be your decision) I use 1/4" seam allowance.
• Your quilt will be beautiful if you stay consistent throughout the process. 
• The directions will also ask that each section of the clue be labeled.  Do that! It's important!  I didn't do it the first time I participated in a PMQ and when it was time to pull the clues together, I realized I had to go back and label them to follow the final clue directions. 
• I label each of the precut colors based on the letter given to it in the instructions. 
• Press 1/4" seams in the direction of arrows in the directions. 
• A note about that from me: I press seams to open especially on clues where multiple seams are coming into one point.  I am not stating that everyone else should do the same. :) 

Section 1:

   l.  Sew a rectangle D to the top of Rectangle F. Then add a rectangle C to the top.  Make 8 (my photo shows them on their side to make the photo easier to look at.)

  2.  Sew a small triangle A to the top right of a large triangle F. Press, then join a small triangle A to the top left.

Make 4

3.  Sew a small triangle B to the top right of a large triangle A. Press, then join a small triangle B to the top left. Make 4.

4. Sew a small triangle C to the top right of a large triangle B. Press, then join a small triangle C to the top left. Make 5. 

5. Join steps 2, 3, and 4 as shown. Make 4. 

6. Join a Step 1 unit to the left and right of Step 5. Make 4. Label these as Section 1. 

Note:  If you discover that you have a precut missing or if you have an issue while sewing go to Cotton Cuts Puzzle Mystery Support

Stay tuned for clue two!  

                

Cotton Cuts Village Green - Begonia

Cotton Cuts Puzzle Mystery Quilt Along

      It's been a minute since I've posted any blog writing on my blog page. I'm going to rectify that by writing about a cool Quilt Along that I have been fortunate enough to participate in since 2019.  I decided that I wanted to share what it's about and how much I have enjoyed creating a quilt from mystery clues as well as building my skill set as a newbie quilt builder.

     So what is a PMQ? PMQ stands for Puzzle Mystery Quilt.  Every month I receive clue instructions for developing the parts of a quilt for that month.  There are ten months of clues produced using pre-cut triangles, squares, and rectangles along with strips. Cotton Cuts does all the cutting of these pieces.  All I have to do is follow the instructions on building the clue each month. 

     During month ten we receive the final instructions to take all the clues and begin to sew them together to make a quilt top.  It's a lot of fun watching the clues transform into something beautiful! Also on the tenth month, Cotton Cuts goes live to reveal the quilt. Cotton Cuts offers two different sizes for the PMQs. 

     Small Size 48" X  60" 

     Large Size 72" X 72"

Cotton Cuts offers a spring PMQ and a fall PMQ. Both will overlap each other for a couple of months.

     I will be writing a blog once a month for the newest PMQ so that I can share the process of creating a clue.  It will be fun to share with you the final results.  I will post all links at the end of the blog for how to become involved in becoming a detective for the PMQ. 

Village Green - Begonia

     I chose the Begonia colorway for the Spring PMQ. The fabric used for this colorway is all batiks.  (Seaside by Artisan Batiks for Robert Kaufman Fabrics) I love batiks.  I love how vibrant the colors can be not to mention it's fun to sew as well.  I will share with you the steps taken to create clue one of the PMQ along with pictures of each step.

This is everything that came in Clue one the kit

     When Cotton Cuts opens signups for the PMQ Subscription,  several different colorways will be available for a person to choose from. Cotton Cuts also makes available the choice to purchase an oops kit (used for replacement of mistakes made during the sewing process) as well as a thread kit and if a person wants to make their quilt even larger, extra borders are also available for purchase at the initial signing up.  

Oops kit

     I chose to purchase two oops kits along with the thread kit.  Below is a photo of what came for clue one. 

Thread with Begonia Kit

     Now I will describe what I do to make a monthly clue as well as write about the different things a potential detective might want to know about. 

Clue 1 - Village Green (Begonia)

     When I open clue 1 of my kit I pull out the brochure that comes with the kit.  Each detective should keep this brochure for the entire ten months because it has the colorway on the back with the labels of letters marking each color. This is very important.  The clue cannot be followed if the color card is lost. 

Aurifil 50wt 100% Cotton Thread

     On the front of the brochure is the colorway sample along with the name of Spring PMQ (Village Green) and the name of the colorway (Begonia).  I chose the Begonia colorway.  Cotton Cuts has offered several different colorways for someone to choose from. There will be a hashtag (ex: #Team Begonia) for when each clue is finished, which can be shared online and the hashtag will add your finished clue to others who are doing the same clue. 

Front page of the Brochure

     On the second page, there are Puzzle Mystery Quilt "Tips and Tricks" along with a "Mark Your Calendar" for Fall 2023. The Fall PMQ opens for signups on May 28th with the first clue shipping out on July 2023. This will have an all-new choice of colorways as well as the beginning of a new mystery.  

Page 2 of brochure

     On page 3 there is information about missing pieces or something wrong with the clue itself, and where to go for help. Cotton Cuts Puzzle Mystery Support  Cotton Cuts' customer service is exceptional and they will do whatever they need to do to resolve the issues that could happen. 

     On page 3 there are PMQ shipping dates along with providing information on where to go to become a member of the FB group. The FB group is exclusive to the PMQ detectives. Mystery Quilters There is also an email to contact a team member at Cotton Cuts. (help@cottoncuts.com) 

When I start a clue, I take the clue out of the shipping bag along with the instructions.  I lay out each precut based on the color they are and then I take Alphabitties to label each block. I put them in order this way so that not only am I making sure there are no pieces missing but I"m also organizing them so that when I start to sew each piece together I don't make a mistake while sewing them.  Labeling them makes it so much easier for me. 

Begonia colorway, #TeamBegonia

     On the back of the brochure, there is a colorway with each color labeled. The other thing that is on the back is how to become a detective for the Puzzle Mystery QAL. Cotton Cuts PMQ - How to Get Started

A gift that is sent with the first PMQ 

     Inside the first clue also comes with a gift.  Throughout the ten months, there might be one or two mystery gifts that are placed inside the clue. 

Cotton Cuts Color Challenge Card

     Inside the Puzzle Mystery Quilt Along there will be a Cotton Cuts Block of the Month that is used for the CC Color Challenge.  On one side there is a block with measurement directions and a good graphic of the block that will be made.  

Cotton Cuts Color Challenge

     

    On the back of the same card is a coloring page.  Color the card and then upload it to Cotton Cuts and tag it with #CCColorChallenge.  Coloring the card and uploading it with the tag, gives a person a chance to win a prize from Cotton Cuts.  If the card is colored and a block is made out of the fabric of the same block as the card, it can also be entered into the drawing. So that means two chances of winning a prize.

I have participated both ways and won a couple of times!  It's lots of fun sharing the coloring cards along with a sewing block. Below is an example of one of the blocks I made from the coloring card. 

One other piece of advice:  Make sure you join the Mystery Quilters Facebook page!  By being part of the group, there are many who can help a person when they need help!  Also every third Thursday, Cotton Cuts opens a Zoom meeting for PMQ Detectives.  This is a great place to make new friends, to sew with all who are detectives, and also a good place to ask any questions you might have!  I have made some really nice friends and I feel so blessed to have met so many nice sewers! Come sew with us, you will enjoy the comradery.