Before I talk about my recipe today I have something else I want to talk about. A few of my close friends are aware that I have been in a lot of pain as of late and finally I have a diagnosis and a solution (I hope). I have a herniated disc (and a bulging one just above that) in my cervical spine. I am going to be having surgery in just a couple of weeks that will hopefully make me 100% better. My blogging has slowed a bit but I don't intend to stop until I have to. Three things I want to say.
- Blogging does not take that much time. It is my hobby. Some people watch tv at night. I blog. Nothing wrong with that.
- Just because I have a health issue that involves my spine does not mean I STOP LIVING and STOP EATING. As a matter of fact, baking a cake is easier for me than sitting in the same position at my desk all day, filing in files that I have to bend (and go numb) to put away, answer the phone (which is easier now that my headset is FINALLY fixed), and sit in a chair using the computer 7 hours in the day, every day, 5 days a week. Believe me, THAT is what causes my muscles to tighten and hurt me worse!
- Just because you cannot see my pain does not mean I am not in pain.
In any case, I will be probably not so visual out here as I try to rest and heal. Know I haven't forgotten any of my reader/commenters. I will be here when I can and support you as you support me!
Now on to the PoRk!
Grumpy's meat of choice is always beef or pork. Of course, I'm always challenged by this because I just never really cooked either of them much before him. Pork was non existent in my home growing up. Beef was just never my favorite. I always liked Chicken when I did eat meat. You can call me weird if you want, but my favorite protein source is tofu.
I grabbed some chops on my way home yesterday and when I got home I did a quick search on recipes and came up with a recipe from Simply Recipes. I am always attracted to maple syrup sauces when it comes to pork. I just think pork goes well with sweet sauces. Well, the title of the recipe is Vermont Maple Syrup Pork chops. I don't have Vermont syrup....but I do have NY made syrup (made by my cousin's family!) and it is awesome! Hence my title....NY Works.
This was a great recipe - slightly sweet, with a little heat....just enough to make your lips tingle. For the recipe, you can check out the blog post by clicking HERE. I followed her recipe with no changes. Just NY made syrup. ;o)
Blogging is a hobby for me, and I prefer to play on blogs instead of watching tv too!
ReplyDeleteI am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as your surgery approaches. I am counting on it being a success for you!
Love the maple on the pork.
Your recipes always look Delish and although I don't comment much, I want you to know that I will be praying for you!
ReplyDeleteWe take our health for granted until something goes wrong.
I am going to pray for a full recovery, and quick recovery and for you to be as pain free as possible!!!
I do love your Blog!
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/
There is always debate on where the best maple syrup comes from between country, province, and from town to town. I love it no matter where it comes from. I am preparing a scone this morning with maple syrip so I hiope they turn out well enough to blog. I certainly hope that they solve your back issues. I am sure you are in good hands:D
ReplyDeleteYUM! I really like pork chops and these look great!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you have a diagnosis. I hope the surgery goes well and that your recovery is quick! No need to apologize for the soapbox! It's good to get things off your chest!
Love ya!
One of my closest friends just had back surgery for her bulging/worn discs. She was in so much pain before, and now, 5 months later she feels 900 percent better. It will take upwards of a year to be back to 'normal' but the relief you feel right away will be amazing.
ReplyDeleteGod Speed Shelby and I'll keep you (and your surgeon) in my prayers.
{hugs}
I definitely know when you're having back pain it feels much better to stand than sit. I'm a pork and this looks delicious!
ReplyDeletethey look yummy! I will be keeping you in my thoughts for a fast and easy recovery! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your surgery and I hope that you have a fast recovery.
ReplyDeleteThe pork chops look delicious. I bet they were 200 times better because you used syrup that was family made. :)
Sending you my MOST sincere wishes for a healthful and speedy recovery. Blogging for me too, is a hobby. I do it while I watch TV or instead of watching. This dish sounds terrific. Looks even better. Again, my best wishes to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that you're in pain but happy that you are getting treated. And it's a great example to see someone with such a great attitude as yours! I hope everything goes well, and the pork looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSorry that you're in so much pain, luckily now you know where it's coming from. Just keep blogging as long as it makes you happy!!! The pork looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteYou said a couple of things I agree with whole heartedly. Just because you grin and bear it doesn't mean you aren't suffering!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I prefer blogging to TV, too.:D
Hope the surgery helps and wishing you a very speedy recovery. At the end of it all, your health definitely matters the most, so take care.
Hobbies help decompress and forget all the stress. You go girl!!! Lots of good thoughts going your way! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteS ~ I'm so sorry you have been experiencing such pain, but I'm relieved for you, knowing you have a diagnosis. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers, sweetie.
ReplyDeleteThose pork chops look great, and how super that the maple syrup is from your own family! xo~m.
P.S. I love tofu, too. :)
I am so sorry to hear this news and I wish you all the success in the world with your op. Keep up the blog - we love to read your words and look at you pictures. To give as much as this you have to enjoy what you do!
ReplyDeleteGet better soon! *hug*
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that sauce could be reworked for tofu!
I love maple syrup on meat! These chops look sticky sweet & delicious!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your surgery and healing. :)
I'm so sorry to hear about the pain you've been experiencing, HoneyB. My thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteThese pork chops look so moist and delicious! I love that they were made with maple syrup. Yum!
Prayers for a speedy recovery. I know what you mean about blogging and baking being much easier than sitting in a desk and working. It's such a fun hobby! Pork chops look great and the pictures are wonderful.
ReplyDeletePork chops looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to have your say about what you have been going through.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hope all goes well!
ReplyDelete~ingrid
Good luck on your surgery. I've have a herniated disc and know the pain you are going through. /Rick
ReplyDeleteShelby you'll be ok!!
ReplyDeleteI've 2 relatives with the same problem herniated disc and today they're perfect with no pain!
Hope you'll have a rapidly recovery and keep up with your awesome posts like this delicious pork yummmmmmm :))
Blogging is the best hobby! I had so much back pain when I worked in an office. Sending good thoughts your way!
ReplyDeleteOh Shelby...the older I get the more liberated I am about speaking my mind and not sitting back! You go girl. You know I am in your corner and praying for you all the time.
ReplyDeleteThis looks wonderful!!! And best of luck with your surgery, I know the relief of finally getting a diagnosis! You have so much to look forward to!!
ReplyDeleteI hope your back issues are taken care of...Im so sorry your in pain. Im glad you get to do the things you love to do still. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteBack pain is the worst! I hope surgery helps.
ReplyDeleteAnd the pork..OMG!
HoneyB, a herniated disc is no fun! When your back hurts, it seems as if your WHOLE body is in pain. It IS debilitating. It's a mark of your conscientiousness and diligence and personal strength that you still go to work everyday and do your job.
ReplyDeleteThat pork chop looks so good! I'm going to earmark it to try. I know we would love it here! Great find. Thank you so much for sharing.
Wishing you a speedy and painless recovery.
It is your soapbox sweets! You hop on up there whenever you want. I hope you feel better soon. I know that pain, and I wish it upon no one.
ReplyDeleteI hope your surgery goes smoothly. I love both blogging and watching TV but I am lucky because I'm not working full time and can play at both past times.
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself...I'll miss your yummy recipes! Hurry back!
I just bought some maple sryup and have seen maple recipes everywhere. This looks so good. You are so good with that camara.Can I just bring my food over and have you photograph it? You know your in my prayers. I have no dought God will heal you 100%. Stay postive and keep blogging. ;-)
ReplyDelete*applauds your statements about pain*
ReplyDeleteLast year I had to have spinal fusion surgery and I feel your pain. I was in major pain before the surgery and I know that some of my coworkers thought I was just "playing the system" so that I'd be off work with pay. They couldnt see an injury so didnt understand how extremely painful it was to sit at a desk 8 hours a day.
Anyway, it's been a little over a year since my surgery and I have to say that my back is 110% better and I sure hope you have the same results! I'll keep you in my thoughts that you have the same recovery I was able to have!
On a happier note I'm making the Beef Lo Mein recipe you posted in feb and look forward to the yumminess!
A herniated disc? Let's not skirt around the issue: that totally sucks. I'm so sorry that you've been in so much pain. What a horrible ordeal. But, on the bright side, I'm glad you have a diagnosis--and a solution! Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you in the coming weeks before and after the surgery. I'll keep you in my thoughts, for sure!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, tofu is my favorite, too!! I'm kind of scared of other meats. I like fish. But, start getting into the pork and red meat category, and I get a little skittish. Not that I don't enjoy them every now and then, they're just not my go-to proteins...which is why, I know this recipe must be super awesome! Anytime you make a "meat" post, I know it means that the dish is damn good and that my meat-tender sensibilities won't go into overdrive!!
I'm so sorry for your pain! I hope you are feeling 100% again very soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you in that I LOVE to blog. It truly is my hobby and I would much rather be here than watching television.
The pork looks great, and so does that mac and cheese! Take care!
HoneyB, you are an inspiration to us all. I don't know what I would do if I had to live with pain everyday. I wish you all the luck and a very fast recovery after your surgery. Then you can get back to what you love most ... FOOD!!!!!!!! lol
ReplyDeleteI hope everything goes well!!! :) The pork chops look super scrumptious!
ReplyDeletePlease take care and do what you need to do to get better. I don't know how you do it but one of these days, I'll be as zen about blogging as you - for now, I'm a spaz but I'm not about to give it up!
ReplyDeleteWhat's that great line from 'Babe'? "Pork is such a nice sweet meat" - so maple syrup is a perfect match! This looks delicious.
Unless you are lifting 50 lb sacks of flour or kneading bread 24 hours a day, baking will be good "therapy" for you. :))
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that you've been in pain. You have such a good attitude about it all.
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking of and praying for you in the weeks to come. I hope you recovery is speedy and complete!
I'm sorry your in pain HoneyB. I'm sending good vibes and prayers your way. Your Pork looks good, love sweet and savory flavors together.
ReplyDeleteShelby I hope this operation makes you good as new!! That's what I'll be praying for. I had a job yrs ago where I was on my feet all day long standing in one spot. I had such terrible pain because of it that I had to go to a chiropractor who told me that as long as I had that job I would have the pain. It was aweful, I can't tell you how many times I had to leave work in horrible pain because of it so I certainly understand how you feel. Pain just drains you and makes life so hard. I will be praying for a full recovery!!
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted so we know when you're having your surgery & such. The worse kind of pain is the invisable kind - because people can't "see" the problem they sometimes dismiss it. I hope this is a positive solution for you and you'll be feeling better than ever soon!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the surgery, hope all goes well.
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing. I love pork with sweet stuff.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your fix works--I've been thinking about you.
Ouch. Surgery scares the heck out of me otherwise I'd go in for a complete spine replacement. Hope yours goes well.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try that MaplePork. Tiss the season :)
I just stumbled on your post from Goodgawker, and I felt like I was reading my own words at the top of your post!
ReplyDeleteI also have a herniated disc, and all of this people in my life are all of the sudden asking me if I'm okay and how things are oging to change? Well, nothing is going to change just because I got diagnosed, the pain is the same as it was. At least now I don't feel like such a baby when I complain about the pain. I too, can't stop living because of the disc, and I keep baking/cooking even though the pain is the worst when I am in the kitchen.
Also, we don't have TV either! I figure that a lot of my time spent blogging would have been spent on the couch watching my favorite shows, and I like blogging much much better.
Good luck with your disc!
I hope it goes well.
ReplyDeleteIt looks splendid indeed.