Garlic and Rosemary Pork

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I don’t do many slow cooker meals for my family, and I’m not really sure why. After making this delicious Garlic and Rosemary Pork from The Scramble, I’m hoping to try some other slow-cooker recipes here on Refined + Rugged.

These meals are perfect for on-the-go parents. Really this was a plug and play. I added some apples in with the pork and a couple tablespoons of water to make sure that it didn’t become too dry.

The result was a DELICIOUSLY savory, tender roast. We gobbled this up one busy weeknight after homework, chores, errands, and gym time. Such a treat, and this is a dish I would definitely serve to guests. I’d love to hear some of your favorite slow-cooker meals or recipes!

I’ve made sure to include the slow-cooker directions, the oven roasting directions, and the directions for baked sweet potatoes below.

May your Wednesday be as easy as this dish!

XX, Megan

DSC_0123Ingredients

1 1/2 – 2 lbs. boneless pork loin roast or pork tenderloin, or use bone-in chicken pieces
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 tsp. minced garlic, (about 5 cloves)
1 Tbsp. fresh or dried rosemary
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 tsp. black pepper

Slow-Cooker Directions

Place the pork in the slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the top and sides of the meat. (If using pork tenderloin, fold the skinny piece under so you have a piece with somewhat uniform thickness.) Cook on low for 7 – 8 hours or on high for 3 – 4 hours.

Oven Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the meat in a large roasting pan. In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the top and sides of the meat. (If using pork tenderloin, fold the skinny piece under so you have a piece with somewhat uniform thickness.) Roast the meat for 30 – 40 minutes (check it after 25 minutes for pork tenderloin) until just cooked through, or has an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Baked Sweet Potato Directions

About an hour before your pork is done preheat the oven to 400 for your baked sweet potatoes. Clean the number sweet potatoes you’d like to serve, puncturing each a few times with a fork. Wrap each sweet potato in foil. Bake at 400 for 45 minutes to an hour. Potatoes are done when you can press a fork into them easily. Pull them out of the oven, slice down the center, and add your favorite toppings.

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*The Scramble is a meal planning service to which you can subscribe here. For a fantastic price you will receive 8 weekly meals which means 8 recipes (main course plus a side dish), complete grocery list, the ability to tweak the number of people you are making for, and full nutrition facts.

PLUS tips as to how best to PREP your meal beforehand, add a punch of FLAVOR, and how to SLOW COOK almost every recipe if you’re especially slammed that night. This wonderful service really does live up to it’s name. You can come home at 6 p.m. and be sitting down to a DELICIOUS, HEALTHY, HOME COOKED meal by 6:30 p.m. most nights.

 

That Spring Thing

DSC_0159I cannot emphasize how important the perfect trench coat is in a well curated, and even minimalist, wardrobe. I’ve had this coat since college. I swear I love it more every season!

We’ve hit that time when the weather waffles back and forth between a mild warmth, and a blustery fluttery wind/rain/sleet/snow mix. Welcome Spring! Because as much as I’d like to think that Spring means tulips, daffodils, greening buds, and warming earth. It really means a lion to lamb bi-polarism.

Grab for those trenches, bombers, jean jackets, and the like. It’s Spring! I hope you enjoy your Tuesday in every way.

XX, MeganDSC_0168DSC_0144DSC_0156DSC_0167Trench: Banana Republic (similar, also love), Shirt: J.Crew (similar), Pants: Blank Denim, Bag: J.Crew (similar, splurge, save), Sandals: J.Crew (similar, splurge, save, save), Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper, Earrings: Gift, Ring: Vintage, Lips: Stila Beso

Losing Alta

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Dear A & L,

I didn’t ask you if it was okay to use your names when writing this letter, hence the initials. And I don’t want you to feel self-conscious, or feel as though your grief and sadness at the loss of your beloved yellow lab Alta is at all on display.

I want you to know how sorry I am for her passing. I want you to know that our hearts stretch and reach out to you during this time. It isn’t simply difficult for you, it is so very difficult for your children. As you said to me, they simply just do not understand why she had to go, what this means, how death happens.

They don’t conceive of why Alta couldn’t stay with you forever. Why she won’t be back to stand watch at the end of their sick bed, or chase crickets through the long grass, or lay in the shade of the trampoline on the ranch.

This bond between us humans and our animals is much, much deeper than I imagined. Especially with a puppy like Alta who really becomes like a first child. If you had said some of those things to me– about how deep the love between a person and their puppy runs, or how they become your family, or how they give so much love to you that is irreplaceable– a few years before we got Bailey, I’d have smiled to myself and thought otherwise.

This territory is HARD. Maybe loosing an animal companion is hard because we know of the inevitability of this event– most dogs will never live as long as their human counterparts. But that doesn’t make it any easier when they depart. Does it make it harder?

I have come to believe strongly that all dogs truly do go to heaven. Your words of love and tenderness toward Alta have swelled my heart. I believe, as you do, that our dear companions are taken home to that Creator who gave them life, and that we are reunited with them as we cross the bar from this life into the next. Maybe Alfred Lord Tennyson said it best:

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

The mood this Monday is low– the clouds hang heavy on the mountains, the rain falls quietly and cold. I hope you feel and know that heaven weeps for and with you, too. This love you had is not a small or forgotten thing. Passing time may not ever make it better, or right. There is only the hope of happy meetings in the great beyond.

These seasons and changes, these passings and hopes of restoration– they hit deeply on the nerve of life. Death teaches us the importance of life. It causes us to look to our God and hold those we love closer. Such a lesson never comes easily, and almost always has that heavy, tear-born cry for one more day, one more moment in the sunshine.

May you meet Alta with our Pilot ‘face to face’ in the next saga of this journey– the continuance of life feels sure to me. May you find sweet and comforting solace for your sadness, tender hearts, and pain.

Love,
Megan

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In The Bag

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Next week I’m headed on hiatus to AZ– Arizona. A little sun, a little pool time, a little cactus viewing is just what this mama needs to recharge her batteries! I put together an abbreviated Sunshine and Seventies Getaway Packing List back in February.

With my trip now days away, I wanted to put together a real-time guide for those essentials I’ll actually be packing. You can see the entire list of items below. Then browse some fun outfit combos I’m planning to wear!

Happy Friday!!!!

XX, Megan

The pieces I’m packing: white blouse, black blouse, striped tee, denim skirt, eyelet shorts, overall shorts, little white dress, practical sandals, easy espadrilles, travel sweatshirt, two pair of sunnies (here and here), panama hat, swimwear.

Add to that my small attache of travel beauty products, my underwear, and a good book and I’m OFF!!!

Perfect Purse Pairings

First things first, choose your carry on, and the purse you are going to need when you arrive! I love this tote from Madewell. It’s minimal design is both chic and utilitarian.

This saddle bag stands the test of every outfit. My favorite cross-body pairs perfectly with everything from dresses to skirts, from frayed shorts to flared denim. I love it!

Travel Day

Fly away! An easy tee shirt, walkable shoes, and an on-trend skirt will keep me comfortable while traveling. Don’t forget a shirt or jacket for the unpredictable airplane cabin weather 😉

Poolside

It never fails. I arrive at the resort and the first place I head is the pool! I might as well get my Vitamin D recharge going immediately!

Dinner Dress-ups

It is nice to dress down on vacation. To just throw on a coverup and some flip flops and call it good. But it’s also fun to bring something that you can dress up in. This LWD fits the bill perfectly!

Shopping Excursions

Without a doubt there will be shopping involved. Hit the shops in something cute and pulled together. I can’t hide my love for the overall trend. Casual with a tom-boy twist. I love it.

Drinks in Town

I have been know to get to my hotel or resort on these mini-vacays and roost! As in, I don’t leave the area for much of anything. Drinks at the pool. Dinners on site. But sometimes it’s fun to explore the area you’re in (depending on the amount of total down-time you need!)

Home Again, Home Again

That’s a wrap! Until next year, that is! It won’t really matter that you smell of sunshine and sunscreen. Throw on your most comfortable outfit and head home.

 

Romantic Black

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Three things: The Color Black, Ponte Pants, and Ballet Flats. How’s that for Thursday? #blackisthenewblack #amiright 🙂 Enough said!

As far as these pants are concerned they are a dream. Thick, comfortable, can be worn as a jean or a legging. If you haven’t tried any ponte fabric in the pants department, see a few of my other picks below!

That leaves the flats. The only time I ever graced the ballerina scene was as a pudgy two-year-old. Now as an on-the-go mom, ballet flats are my go-to shoe for wearability, walkability, and comfortability.

What are you up to this fine Thursday? I’m subbing a spin class this morning, peeping and teaching my own cycling class tonight, and looking forward to Friday and the weekend!

XX, Megan

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Sweater: J.Crew (similar), Shirt: J.Crew (similar, similar, similar), Ponte Pants: Joe’s Jeans (J.Crew version, another option, straight leg version, love these), Flats: J.Crew (similar, save), Bag: J.Crew (similar), Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength, Cuff: J.Crew, Ring: Aldo, Earrings: Vintage, Lips: NARS Barebella