Friday, March 17, 2017

Hello From the Land of the Orange: Use Your Words

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

Use Your Words, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: orange ~ soup ~ sneakers ~ heirloom ~ group 
They were submitted by Minette of Southern Belle Charm.

                          
Hello from the land of milk and honey. Make that the land of the orange.


Crockpot Orange Teriyaki Turkey, a quick and simple slow cooker dinner. Turkey tenderloin infused with citrus and teriyaki flavors | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #crockpot #dinner #turkey

Crockpot Orange Teriyaki Turkey Tenderloins


Although I'm thoroughly enjoying gorging myself on oranges and grapefruits, I have to admit that I'm not eating dinners made in crockpots. No hearty soups and stews and heavy pasta meals for me. I'm visiting my mom. Reveling in lots of fresh fish, mostly grouper, giant prawns and snow crab. Biting into warm fresh heirloom tomatoes like apples right off the table at the farmer's market.

I'm wearing flip flops and sneakers. Going barefoot and relishing the feel of the sand between my toes, the salty gulf washing up my calves as the tide comes in. I'm walking the beach in the mornings smiling whenever a pod of dolphins swim by. I'm sitting out on the back deck watching the sun gently sink into the gulf with a glass of wine in my hand with my mom and my two boys by my side. Inhaling the scent of the gardenias each time I walk in and out the front door. Waking up each morning to the sound of the surf.

It was not easy getting my little group all to the island at the same time. It was logistical nightmare in fact. Well, Mom's already here, of course. But for us? I had to work around spring break so the travel days were not flexible. I was desperately trying to get the boys and I both to arrive and to leave not only on the same day but at the same approximate time. PurDude had an hour and a half drive to where he parks his car to take a shuttle to the airport so we couldn't leave too early in the morning. In order to work out the schedule I had to have 2 windows open on my laptop to compare the flight availability for him and the one for College Boy and I. 

It was an overwhelming process. At one point I almost booked us on different days. Good thing I caught that. After I booked both tickets I had a niggling thought bouncing around in my brain that I had put PurDude's birthday on College Boy's ticket. Chances are TSA would not look kindly on that discrepancy. Although, at the time I was booking I was conflicted. Maybe I should just let TSA hold onto him for a while. I bet by the time I swing back through the airport on the way home they'd be ready to let me have him back.

Lucky for him I pushed those thoughts aside. Unlucky for me I had to figure out how to get his ticket changed to reflect his actual birthday. But then a vacation is never appreciated more than when you're stressed to the limits, right?

Which brings me to today. Here I sit on St. Patrick's Day, just days before my youngest's birthday. And not just any birthday either, a big one. Yuuuuge, in fact. Trying desperately to enjoy the hell out of every single minute we're all spending together. And succeeding.


Here are links to all the other Use Your Words posts:


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Crockpot Orange Teriyaki Turkey Tenderloins
                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 package (about 1 3/4#) turkey tenderloins
salt, pepper, paprika 
2 cups orange juice
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp minced ginger
1/4 tsp hot pepper flakes
1 tsp orange zest 
2 green onion, chopped
3 mandarin oranges, peeled and separated into sections


Directions:
*Spray the inside of a slow cooker with nonstick spray.
*Rinse turkey tenderloins and sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika.
*Whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, hot pepper flakes, orange zest and green onion. Pour into crockpot.
*Place the tenderloins into the crockpot and turn onto high. Cook for one hour. Turn the meat, then switch the temperature and cook for 2 hours. 
*Add the mandarin orange slices and cook for one more hour. Be sure your turkey is completely cooked (165 degrees).
*Remove the turkey from the crockpot, slice and drizzle with the sauce.


18 comments:

  1. I would love a stroll on the beach right about now, you make it sound like heaven. You're certainly eating much healthier on your spring break than I have on mine :( I can empathize on trying to get the whole gang together. I think Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are pretty much the only time I get to see all my kids at the same time in the same place. I can appreciate the struggle, but so worth it, I'm sure <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly make you appreciate the times you're all together that much more!

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  2. Travel planning can be a bitch! Good thing you caught it ahead in time!
    Aaahh, beach, sand, dolphins, seafood and all of this surrounded by your loved ones - ENJOY to the fullest!
    Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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    Replies
    1. I am absolutely enjoying it. The week has flown by way too fast.

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  3. I'm glad you're having fun---this is a BEAUTIFUL week to be in Florida. We have had brutally hot weather here until two days ago. I'm loving this tiny "COLD" snap. Hope you're having fun!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Marcia, one day was a bit too cold for the beach, we had to go to the pool but other than that it's been gorgeous. I don't know how this week flew by so fast.

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  4. A walk on the beach always sounds like fun

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, my vacation is coming to an end way too quickly.

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  5. I had planned to be in Florida this week - and then, silly me, I changed my plans. 31 inches of snow later, I really don't have any regrets, and I can't explain why. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to admit that I didn't choose the week, it was chosen by PurDude's spring break but I'm pretty happy to be here this week.

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  6. does this recipe have to be turkey tenderloin ? could you use pork tenderloins as well ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you could definitely do it with pork tenderloins. If you try it, let me know what you think.

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  7. I'm so happy you guys are getting to enjoy your time!! You deserve it!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. Can't believe we go back home tomorrow already.

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  8. It looks like we were vacationing at the exact same time. We went to the mountains, but oh the beach there is nothing better than a walk on the beach!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We went in different directions but we both had a great time and that's what counts.

      Delete
  9. I'd like to participate in your monthly challenge. Sounds like fun what a unique idea. theglobaldig.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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