Happy 4th of July! We did the fireworks thing last night and I have to admit it was a lovely show. Took along some of my favorite food....PIG CANDY!!!! No, I cannot take credit for this, it has to be given to Jill Conner Brown of Sweet Potato Queen fame. I have monkeyed around with the recipe a little, just to give it a sweet + hot twist. Pig Candy is the crack cocaine of bacon. Once you make it you can't stop.

Pig Candy a la Retro

1 package uncooked bacon cut into 1 inch square pieces
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup pecans finely chopped
2-3 drops Tabasco Sauce (Optional)

Preheat oven to 400 F
Cover a cookie sheet with sides with foil
you will also need a metal cooling rack to place the bacon on in the oven

Put brown sugar, pecans and tabasco in a plastic grocery bag
mix well with your hands
Add bacon, piece by piece to the bag
Toss bacon in the sugar mixture to completely coat it
Let it set at room temperature for 10 minutes then retoss in sugar mixture.
Lay each piece of bacon on the cooling rack, not touching.
If you have any of the sugar mixture left, sprinkle it over the bacon pieces.
Place in the oven and let cook for 7 minutes or until edges start to get brown---watch CAREFULLY-it will burn easily!
You will see the brown sugar start to carmelize.
Remove from the oven and cool slightly, take off the rack while still slightly warm.

These are great tossed in with a spinach salad or just on their own. Enjoy and Happy 4th of July!

Monday Morning....8:25 AM.....I am on hold with the Unemployment office, have been for approx. 45 minutes. By the time I get through to them I will be old enough to collect social security. OK, on to other stuff. Gregs dad is home, happily snoring away, the sprinklers are click, click clicking out water. Made an omlette first day he was home, 3 cheeses : asagio, cheddar and swiss with red peppers and last night I made Mexican. Refried beans made from scratch in the crock pot:

Cook a Boston Butt Pork Roast in the crock pot overnight with salt, pepper and sliced onions, cook on low add no water.
Remove meat for later use and reserve all fat
Add 1-1lb package dried rinsed pinto beans to the crockpot fat
add enough water to cover beans plus 3 inches
ADD:
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 crushed garlic cloves
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup diced onions

Cook for 2 hrs on HIGH
Add 1 cup more of water and switch to low overnight or for 7 hours
Mash beans with potato masher
Add Hot Sauce to taste (I like Yucatan Sunshine)
let beans remain uncovered on low, stirring occasionally until desired consistency is reached.
Turn crock pot off
Let cool slightly
Stir in 12 ounces sour cream, chopped cilantro if desired
Keep some out and freeze the rest for later.
Approx cost---reclaimed pork fat, 99 cents for pinto beans, $1.29 for sour cream. Makes a TON. Enjoy! ~~ Retro
PS...lovely vintage tea cups listed today in my Etsy store--check them out

quiet night

Too tired tonight to do much of anything, just trying to relax.......

Greg ate A LOT today and did physical therapy 2 x.....was not able to stand as much but he was worn out. He loves his food though so I am making a meatloaf to send back to him with his dad comes home for 4 days at the end of the month... I Make AWESOME meat loaf :) Yea!! Gregs dad home for a few days!!!!

Fabulous Meat loaf!

Meatloaf
2 lbs ground chuck
1 package mild pork sausage
one box stove top stuffing for pork
3 eggs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Cavenders Greek seasoning or 1 chicken bullion cube crumbled

Meatloaf Glaze
1 bottle 16 oz Ketchup
4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar



Mix the above meatloaf ingredients,
form into 3 loaves, put on flat baking sheet, cook for 45 min on 350F.
at 45 min, pour on glaze and cook 15 more minutes.
Eat and enjoy, freeze one or two loaves for later :)

Gregs dad called and said he stood up for 15 minutes today!!! Yea!!!!! Go Greg!

Greg had a tough few days, is worn out and muscles tight. We ARE having a sale to benefit his dad staying with him up in New York (We live in TN)...see my Etsy shop announcement! If you want to donate an item, just convo me!
Happy trails!
Retro

Good Etsy Info to know and remember! Thanks Loosewirestudio !!!!!!!!!!!
http://etsywiki.com/ Accumulated wisdom from seasoned sellers.
http://etsytreasurydemo.blogspot.com/ Treasury tutorial.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_west.php Test Treasury.
http://www.etsy.com/poster_sketch.php Prepare a treasury.
http://www.etsy.com/tag_fractal.php Tag Fractal Etsy Search. Cool!
http://team.etsy.com/downloads.html The old Resources page, which has the postcards.
http://fix.etsy.com/ Where to go if Etsy is down.

http://www.majaba.org/heartomatic.php See hearts and views in one place. By Juln.etsy.com.
http://bestysearch.com/ Lots of other ways to search Etsy.

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now Secret Paypal shipping link.
http://etsy.ppcalc.com/ Fees calculators.
http://checkout.google.com/ Alternate payment option.
http://www.propay.com/?refid=ETSYOLCM Propay discount link. Alternate payment and means to take credit cards at fairs.

http://www.usps.com/tools/calculatepostage
http://www.geocities.com/vlhester/index.html TheBeadingTree's international rate chart.
http://www.shelfmasters.com/InternationalRateChart.aspx International Postage rate chart. (Has not been updated.)

http://www.thumbalizr.com/ Cross platform means to screen shots.
http://tinyurl.com/ Make long links short.
http://tools.oratory.com/altcodes.html How to make those little characters.
http://www.onlineconversion.com/ Conversions.
http://picnik.com/ Pic site.
http://webresizer.com/
http://www.primopdf.com/ Convert any document to a PDF!
http://chris-parry.blogspot.com/search/label/Pricing
http://etsyforeveryone.typepad.com/my_weblog/graphics/index.html How to make your own banner. And lots more!

http://www.weloveetsy.com/shops We love etsy shops directory.
mini blogs:
http://etsymini.blogspot.com/
http://etsyminisupplies.blogspot.com/

Gift Certificate knowledge:
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_financial_services/003889.html Consumer's Union
http://www.rimmkaufman.com/content/brannlawgiftcertchart.pdf PDF document chart
http://www.naag.org/ag/full_ag_table.php You can also check out your attorney general's website