A food-loving, wine-drinking, large dog-having, proud military wife who is the luckiest chick on earth and gets to play with glue and paper for a living!
Looking for a fun and easy St. Patrick's Day crafts for the kiddos? A potato, some paint and paper, and a little creativity makes for the perfect project!
SUPPLIES potato knife white cardstock markers WRMK Crop-a-Dile (or hole punch) ribbon washable craft pain paper plate/bowl
Cut the potato in half, then carve your shape on the exposed edge (we used a chipboard heart for a template but you can also cut your shape freehand).
Use a bowl (or plate with raised sides) for the paint, so excess can be wiped off before stamping the potato on to the paper.
To create a clover - get paint on the potato, stamp the heart, then rotate 45 degrees for each leaf. The kids used their fingers to create the stems - their favorite part!
Working with younger kids? Don cut out a "handle" on one of the potatoes by cutting away the sides of the potato about halfway, then cutting a hole through the center.
To complete the project, let the kids write their names on the paper, then punch holes at the top, tie with ribbon, and set aside to dry. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I have dealt with some big issues in my MAC Monday posts - and today I'm going to talk about something near and dear to my heart. FOOD! :)
When I first decided to start MAC Monday I created a list of things I wanted to change this year...and one of them was that I wanted to learn to eat cilantro. Don LOVES it (and loves to cook) - and for years he has omitted cilantro from recipes because he knows I don't like it, so I wanted to do it for him. I know it isn't a life changer, but love is made up of the little things, isn't it?
So without further ado - I give you Crock Pot Mexican Chicken from See Jane in the Kitchen! RIDICULOUSLY easy, INCREDIBLY tasty, and a happy first foray in to my new world of cilantro loving. Well...liking. Let's not get carried away.
If you are an "I love food but want it to be easy" gal like me...come join my on my Pinterest page. I am always on the look out for fabulous new recipes and love to share them! I'd love to hear about your favorites as well!
Enjoy!
Crock Pot Mexican Chicken 3lbs boneless/skinless chicken (I used all breast meat) 1 1/2 cups italian dressing 1 Tablespoon minced garlic 1 Tablespoon chili powder juice of 1 lime 1/4 cup cilantro
Place chicken in a 4-6 quart crock pot. Pour dressing over top and sprinkle with chili powder and garlic. Cover and cook for 7-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. Remove chicken from crock pot, shred with a couple of forks, then put back in crock pot. Cover and cook an additional 30 minutes. Add lime juice and cilantro.
This is perfect for taco salads, quesadillas, nachos - or frankly, just eaten straight out of the crock pot with a fork!
That was what I said through teary eyes to Bruce Brereton - one of the co-hosts of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation's Celebration of Freedom Gala - as I hugged him goodnight on Saturday. I am rarely at a loss for words, but that phrase was all I could muster after two days of the most humbling, awe-inspiring events Don and I have ever experienced. I will try to organize my thoughts here, but let's all start off knowing that I will not even begin to capture the stories and the lives of the men I've met.
As I've mentioned on my FB page - Don and I were honored beyond words to be invited to the Gala at the Ronald Reagan Library last weekend. The Gala is an opportunity to celebrate living MoH recipients, remember the ones who have passed on, honor people who have made a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families, and raise awareness for the incredible programs the Foundation has created.
On Friday night there was a small luau-themed welcome dinner for the MoH recipients and their families, as well as a few other guests. Gary Sinise, one of the co-hosts of the event, was there - but what amazed and thrilled me throughout the weekend was that HE was not the celebrity. He was not being mobbed by people wanting photos, he wasn't the key speaker, he was just Gary. The real celebrities were the 36 MoH recipients and a young Australian named Ben Roberts-Smith who recently received the Victoria Cross (the British Empire's version of the MoH). The dinner was a reunion of old friends - Ben was welcomed as a brother and us "young'uns" (as we were called more than a few times) were treated like family.
with Ben and Emme Roberts-Smith
At our table were MoH recipients Harvey Barnum, who retired as an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Robert Ingram, who had to wait more than 30 years to receive his Medal because of...unbelievably...lost paperwork. We spent a good part of the evening talking to Robert Patterson - a MoH recipient who regaled us with crazy pick-up lines he used when trying to woo his "new bride" (of five years). At the table next to us was George Sakato, who - at 95 - is the oldest living MoH recipient but his sharp mind and sharper wit would make you think he is 30 years younger. Pvt Sakato joined the Army to avoid the internment camps and distinguished himself during WWII by charging an enemy position and taking command after his squad leader was killed, but he was not even considered for the MoH due to societal prejudices until 50 years later (he received the MoH in 2000). My favorite photo of the weekend was the one I snapped of our friend Kyle and Pvt Sakato. Kyle is a young Asian-American soldier whose great-uncle fought in the same unit as Pvt Sakato, and as I saw them sitting with their heads close together in conversation I was moved by how much the world has changed, but how much the brotherhood of soldiers remains the same - even across generations.
with Harvey Barnum
Kyle and George Sakato
I vowed to myself (and to Don) that I would not be a dork over the weekend snapping photos of celebrities at every opportunity - because that is not what the weekend is about. For the most part - I was good. HOWEVER - literally 30 seconds after we walked in to the Reagan Library, Oscar winner Jon Voight came up behind us to talk to Don's boss - and he could NOT have been nicer. I pulled out my camera and we took a photo, then he said "check to make sure it is a good one!" and stood there happily while we checked to make sure our eyes were open and I didn't have a double chin, and then he casually strolled down the hall with us as if we'd known each other all along.
with Jon Voight
There were lot of other celebrities (warning - if you are under the age of 40 most of these names might not ring a bell. There was a young woman sitting at our table who did not get ANY of my references to Jon Voight and his movies - it wasn't until I said "he is Angelina Jolie's father" that she had a clue.) - Ernest Borgnine, Powers Boothe, Connie Stevens (pictured below - Don's dad was in Vietnam and Connie was - according to one of the MoH recipients standing with us "every man's fantasy over there"), Mykelti Williamson, John Ratzenberger, Karri Turner (coolest chick EVER - loved her!), Joe Mantegna, Robert Forster, musicians, producers, directors and other Hollywood types who came out to celebrate the lives of this country's greatest heroes.
Don and Connie Stevens
While of course the setting was breathtaking (our table was less than 10 feet from Marine One and Air Force One hung overhead), the cermony itself was filled with laughter, tears, and the kind of genuine, heartfelt American pride that is rarely seen these days. Our Friday night friend George Sakato stood next to Sal Giunta (the youngest MoH recipient in attendance) and in a clear, strong voice led 600 proud Americans in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Azusa Pacific University Men's Chorale serenaded the crowd with beautiful renditions of patriotic songs throughout the event, and when they asked us all to join them in singing "God Bless America" at the end of the night, there was not a dry eye in the house. Politicians, celebrities, military leaders, billionaires, MoH receipients and their families, young soldiers - we all stood and sang with arms out and genuine pride in our voices - no one was worried about appearances or being off-key. I know in the future I will have days where Don is deployed and I am feeling alone and forgotten, and this memory will be the one I turn to to comfort me - Americans proudly celebrating the country they love.
Marine One and Air Force One from our dinner table
Joe Mantegna received the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment for his dedication to soldiers and their families through his work with autism (ACT Today for Military Families) and his involvement with the National Memorial Day Concert. Admiral Mike Mullen (former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) and his wife Deborah received the Distinguished Citizen Award and it was clear that for them - caring for soldiers and their families is not just part of the job, it is their passion. Former Secretary Robert Gates gave the funniest speech of the evening - with pointed barbs at Washington and fun, heartwarming stories about his former boss, Ronald Reagan. Don and I had the opportunity to meet with him privately for a few seconds before the dinner started, because when one of Don's men - CPL Benjamin Kopp - was buried at Arlington Cemetary in 2009, then Secretary Gates showed up at the ceremony with no pomp and circumstance, didn't give a speech, he just came to show his respects and honor Ben. It meant a great deal to us and to Ben's mother Jill, so we finally had a chance to thank him. It was just one more incredible moment.
It wasn't all solemnity and ceremony - you haven't lived until you've spent the evening in a hotel bar with a bunch of retired generals, billionaires, celebrities and Medal of Honor recipients singing karaoke and making jokes about the highly intoxicated hotel guest wandering around in her bathrobe. More than the memories though, more than the photos and the stories we will treasure forever, we left this weekend with a new mission - to spread the word about these incredible men.
hanging out with my new friend Karri Turner at the hotel bar
Over the past few weeks as I have been excitedly talking about going to the MoH gala, I was surprised and saddened at how many people had no idea what the Medal of Honor is. While America idolizes drug addicted celebrities, musicians who commit serious crimes, and athletes who behave like spoiled children - the stories of men like Tibor Rubin go untold. He survived a German concentration camp (where he lost his entire family) as a young boy, and was so awed by the American soldiers who liberated the camp that he moved to America and joined the Army, only to be captured during the Korean War and survive 30 months as a POW, and THEN be denied the MoH until 2005 because of blatant anti-semitism in his chain of command. Old age has weakened his body, but from his wheelchair he is still a dynamic, charming, fascinating storyteller and apparently quite a ladies man (he told my husband repeatedly "I'm going to steal your pretty wife before the night is over!"). This man - his love of this country, his dedication to his fellow soldiers, his faith and bravery and character and ability to overcome adversity - his name should be known by every American. If CMOH Foundation has their way - it will be.
One of the Foundation's programs is the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. Created to promote responsible citizenship and examine the ideals of courage and selfless service - the Foundation's goal is to see this program taught in every middle and high school across the country. Through videos, lesson plans, and opportunities for teleconferences and in-person visits with MoH recipients, this program gives students and teachers first hand accounts of some of the most important moments in our history, offered by real heroes - true role models whose stories are touching and inspiring. If you are a teacher or the parent of a school-age child, I ask you to spread the word about this amazing program. To quote Brian Williams, "these are the best Americans I've ever met". Let's share these great Americans with our children and grandchildren through the MoH Character Development Program. A teacher's resource can be found here - this video will give you just a glimpse in to the incredible gift that the CMOH Foundation is offering to the students of this country.
We are changed forever - Don and I. To be in the presence of these men is to see the very best of what this country has to offer, and to understand what its heroes have already given. Help us spread their stories through your schools, invite a MoH recipient to speak at your next community event, watch these videos with your children. Honor them in ways large and small - it will enrich your lives in ways you never thought possible. God Bless these incredible men - and God Bless America.
I am always amazed by people who find a way to use their gifts to help others...and my friend Amanda is no exception. She has recently turned her interest in crocheting in to woobiesfor.com:
"Woobies for" is a project that hopes to spread positivity from your creativity, talent and generosity. I was unable to sleep one night and an idea hit me. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could gather a community of people who knit, crochet, quilt or sew to create blankets, or woobies, powered by a specific positive emotion. Knit a blanket while focusing on love. Sew a quilt dedicated to hope. Then we could gather those beautiful works of art and donate them to children in need. Children's hospitals, homeless shelters, and the families of our brave troops. Giving children in need these woobies filled with such powerful emotions to give them strength to face what's ahead. The recipient would receive their woobie and a one word explanation like "bravery" or "comfort" so they know what the woobie represents.
One of the things I love most about this project is that Amanda is not asking for money - she is asking for gifts from the heart. She is not asking for a specific amount of time or commitment - she is asking for creativity and love. For blankets and quilts and cards created out of joy and strength and a sense of reaching out to someone in need. I am proud of her for starting this - and am honored to share it with you.
To celebrate the launch of woobiesfor.com (and because you know I love a giveaway!) - please leave a comment here and tell us about how you've shared your creative gifts, or if you know of other charitable organizations that crafters might be interested in supporting (Operation Write Home is another of my favorites). Someone is going to win an Anna Griffin Fabric Squares Collection - and these patterns are gorgeous!
I have offered to make cards to go with the blankets and quilts, and to spread the word about woobiesfor.com - because those are my gifts. My hope is that you too will be inspired to share your creativity and bring a little joy to someone who needs comfort. What a wonderful way to make a difference!
Have a great week everybody - woobies for all!
PS - deadline to enter is midnight Eastern on Wednesday February 22nd. Good luck!
I've never tried it, but it sounds great. I would love to get "caught up" (I have granddaughters, I'm never really caught up..lol).
I'm telling you Kathy - this is going to change your world! A box is headed your way - enjoy it!
I told you girls last week on my FB page that I was going to be giving away some good stuff from HSN - how does one of those FABULOUS sold-out We R Memory Keepers Lucky 8 Punches sound? My buddy Andrew (he presented the punches on HSN last week - love that guy!) gave me one to try out before the shows, and I love YOU so much I am going to give it to one of you!
It is the Retro Scallop punch - I LOVE this thing. I love ALL of them. If you haven't seen one in action - here is a video to get you just as excited as I (and about 20000 other crafters on HSN) am about it!
So comment here with a shout out to WRMK and one of you will get this little beauty delivered to your door next week! Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern time on Sunday February 19th. I am off for a long awaited scrapbooking retreat with Crafty Sharron and some of my other North Carolina girlfriends - so have a great weekend everybody!
The Kingstons are not big on Valentine's Day. For some reason it has just never been something we celebrate - maybe because our anniversary is two days later (it will be 10 years on the 16th!), maybe because we normally aren't together, maybe because we do a pretty good job of loving and appreciating each other the other 364 days out of the year...but Hallmark is not making a fortune off of Beth and Don - that is for sure.
This year, however - I came across the perfect Valentine's Day gift.
Right before Thanksgiving Don and I had to say goodbye to Lima - our 12-year old retriever/spaniel mix who was an incredible joy in our lives. She was Don's first pet and my constant companion - she comforted me after 9/11 when Don was gone and I was thousands of miles away from home, let me cry in to her soft black fur through nine deployments, was the perfect travel companion as we moved from Hawaii to Georgia to Alaska and back again, and loved the hundreds of people who have come through our home over the years. Lima was our sweet girl and we were devastated.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was in New Orleans and wandered in to the Dutch Alley Artist Co-Op - which for those of us crafty folks is a glorious, inspiring, creative space that is a must visit if you are ever down that way. One of the artists featured there - Kelly Magee - creates animal paintings that immediately capture your eye with her mix of colors and her ability to capture the "personality" of her subjects. There was a little sign on the wall that said she did custom work - and Lima immediately came to mind. I took her card but - to be honest - figured I'd email her and she'd say she charged a bajillion dollars for a painting or it would take six months to finish and that would be the end of it.
Boy was I wrong. Not only were her prices AMAZING, she was as kind as she could possibly be, excited about doing the painting, and I didn't even have to ask about getting it in time for Valentine's Day - she offered. All I had to do was send her a photo, choose my background color, and sit back and wait for one of the most meaningful gifts Don and I have ever received. I gave it to Don last night - and through our tears we remembered how lucky we were to have Lima in our lives, and now we have a visual, tangible memory of her that we can take with us wherever we go.
Kelly - thank you doesn't even come close. I hope this story brings you a little more business and a little more joy - you have an incredible talent.
Lima, our sweet precious girl - thank you for a lifetime of beach-walking, crab-chasing, tennis ball-loving, snowball-eating, bed-snuggling memories. And thank you for giving us one more night to tell you how much we loved you.
Ok all my scrapbooking friends...raise your hand if you are still:
a - scrapping chronologically
b - complaining about not being caught up on your scrapbooks
c - all of the above
I am going to feel like a SERIOUS dork if I am the only one who has raised my hand - but I know I can't be alone! I have been scrapbooking for a lot of years - and while I have always been open to (and enjoyed) creating mini albums, making cards, creating home decor, etc. I have ALWAYS held steadfastly to the belief that I need to scrapbook chronologically. I don't know where that idea started, or why I haven't been able to let go, but I held on to it to the point that I was starting to "dread" scrapbooking. Every time I looked at my piles of photos or started to print out pictures from my computer I just lost the excitement and started to feel the pressure because I was "so far behind". It feels ridiculous now that I am typing it out - but it is the truth, and I think there are many of you out there who feel/felt the same way.
These days the idea looks very familiar, as there are several companies/celebrity scrappers who have created entire systems and collections based on this type of divided page protector process. I remember the first weekend I tried it - I printed out 3000 photos (yup - you read that right!) and got them ALL in albums in a weekend. ALL OF THEM. It was so incredibly freeing - because you CAN still do 12x12, but now you've also got other/easier options as well. Were all of the pages decorated and journaled in that weekend? HECK no! But you know what - that was ok, and eventually they got finished. Now, whenever I get a coupon for online photo printing I'll print out all of my "current" photos, put them in EDS albums, and then I can go back and add paper/embellishments later. I am, for all intents and purposes, "caught up".
Recently I have finished the albums for Don's childhood (you can see the first one in the second video above) and our time in Hawaii and it is SO MUCH FUN to be able to go in to a store and know exactly what kinds of products I need and to complete several pages in one sitting. Also - for those of you who are product hoarders (like me) - scrapping this way has been HUGE in helping me purge old products I will never use. For example - one weekend I was in a "Halloween" mood so I went through all the albums and embellished/added paper to all of the Halloween photos. Afterwards I was able to go through ALL of my Halloween product and get rid of items I KNEW I would never use - papers I didn't like any more, products that didn't apply or weren't my style ("our first Halloween" die cut anyone?), etc. I pared down my Halloween products to stuff I love - and it felt gooooood.
I bring this up for MAC Monday because this weekend I was vendoring at the Cut Out Cancer Crop in Southern Pines, NC and I talked to SO many women who STILL feel the pressure to get "caught up" and have lost their love of scrapbooking - and I want to help one of my fabulous online friends find the joy in this type of scrapbooking. So I'm doing a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!
Post a comment here and tell me what you think about this way of scrapping. Have you tried it? Do you have questions about it? Have you used other divided page protector systems? Tell me your thoughts and one lucky winner is going to receive a 12x12 black leather (REAL leather - not pleather!) EDS album with one pack each of all of the page refills we carry. Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern time on Wednesday February 15th. Good luck everybody - and Happy Scrapping!
I am SO excited for my friend Andrew Hiller - Andrew is the owner of We R Memory Keepers and Thursday is the WORLD LAUNCH of their eagerly awaited Lucky 8 punches. Andrew will be on about a bajillion times during the day (first airing is Midnight Eastern time) and I'm excited to be a part of it. See below for my schedule and the CRAZY savings on some of our favorite Xyron products. Hope you'll tune in!
PS - Be sure to check my FB page throughout the week - I will be giving away some of the great products that air on Thursday!
Noon - Xyron Runner Bundle - $29.95 - this bundle includes a Mega Runner plus refill and a Tape Runner plus refill - it is a CRAZY deal! The Mega Runner alone is $24.99 retail!
3pm - Xyron 1.5" create-a-sticker plus four refills - $12.95 - this is the lowest price they have EVER offered. The machine alone retails for $10.99!
3pm - Xyron Creatopia - $59.95
6pm - Xyron Creatopia - $59.95
7pm Xyron Runner Bundle - $29.95
(then I will pack up, grab dinner/drinks with Donna Stork and Holly Fossen - and Andrew if he sells out! - and be in bed by 10pm!)
I'll end with a shameless plug/plea...as much as we all want you to buy our product, what we REALLY want you to do is buy our product while we are on-air. I can't tell you how giddy we get (for ourselves and for each other) watching the numbers go up on the screen in the studio, and it makes HSN think we are REALLY cool when we have big numbers. Just putting that out there. :) On behalf of all of the craft guests on HSN - thanks for watching! We love you guys!
Those of you who checked out yesterday's blog post about bacon jam may be hard pressed to believe that I am trying to eat healthier this year. My love affair with bacon just reaffirms my belief that for ME to be able to make some real lifestyle changes I have to find a balance between food I love that isn't super healthy, and healthy food that I can learn to love. So it is after years worth of procrastinating and several recipe testings I present to you...
One of the things I love about HG is that she LOVES food. To quote her website: "Lisa is a typical woman battling the same food issues most females struggle with every day. She considers herself a 'foodologist,' not because she has some kind of fancy degree, but because she is obsessed with food –– how wonderful it is, and how much of it she can eat and still fit into her pants." I have been following her for years - for a while I subscribed to her daily email but only read them about once a week, then I bought one of her cookbooks and never opened it, then I started watching her when she was on tv but never tried any of the recipes, you get the idea. I even got two of her newest cookbooks for Christmas - but had already put them on the shelf with the other bajillion cookbooks I own without even taking a peek.
SURELY, I thought, SURELY if I put "find healthy food I enjoy eating" as one of the things on my list I will eventually get around to it. I had already started making some concessions...egg beaters instead of eggs. 2% milk shredded cheese instead of regular. Reduced fat mayonnaise. Still - I wasn't inspired.
Then a few weeks ago, as luck would have it, Don was out of town and I was too lazy to go to the grocery store and the cookbooks were laying around the kitchen so I broke one open and discovered...
Red Hot Chick'n Salad 6 oz cooked skinless lean chicken breast, cubed (I used some canned chicken breast I had in the cupboard) 3 T fat-free mayo (I used reduced fat because it is what I had in the fridge - and I would actually only use 2T next time - I don't like my salads super creamy) 3 T chopped celery (I hate celery - so I doubled the amount of carrots) 3 T chopped carrots 2 t reduced fat parmesan style grated topping (I used 1 tsp of regular) 1 1/2 t Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce 1/2 t dry ranch dip/dressing mix
In a medium bowl, combine mayo, Frank's, and ranch mix, and stir well. Add chicken, celery, and carrots to the sauce and stir. Sprinkle with parm style topping and stir again. Enjoy!
The recipe makes two 3/4 cup servings. If you make the original recipe it is only 142 calories and 2.25g fat, and 3 weight watchers points per serving. Was mine a little higher? Sure. But it was a lot better for me than the frozen pizza I would have plopped in the oven, and this chicken salad was GOOOOOOOD. Like "I could eat this every day for lunch" good. I am not really a sandwich eater - but I got out some Special K multi grain crackers and made a meal out of it, and felt pretty darn proud of myself.
So then I was inspired to try more recipes - and with FEW exceptions, I have been thrilled with the results. Some of my favorites?
Jalapeno Swappers (links to recipe) - the Kingstons LOVE bar food so I was pretty skeptical that something made with Fiber One cereal would make the cut. Imagine my surprise! They are delicious - and I don't feel guilty afterwards.
Now lest you think I have become some unpaid spokesperson for HG (did I mention she has great desserts too?) - not all of the recipes were a hit. HG uses these tofu noodles in many of her main dish recipes as a substitute for pasta. She gives you specific instructions on how to wash/dry and prepare them and swears they'll taste like the real thing. I have nothing against tofu - I've eaten it in asian recipes for years and actually enjoy it. But I do not love these noodles. I the opposite of love these noodles. So pasta and I still have a little work to do.
So once again - thanks to you guys inspiring me to make some changes, I'm crossing another item off my list. If you are like me and LOVE food but want to make some healthier choices, I really do recommend Hungry Girl. You can find a TON of her recipes online, there is no club to join, you can sign up for her every day emails or just peruse her website when the mood strikes you, it lets you be you with no hidden gimmicks or fees or pressure. Eat and enjoy - and tell me how you are making some healthier choices in 2012!
That's right...Jam. Made with Bacon. Take in the awesomeness.
Before I share this recipe for what could be the greatest invention in the history of America, let me just say that I KNOW this is a horrendous photo. I KNOW I need an iphone that has a decent camera, and I KNOW that a real blogger would have spent 20 minutes getting the lighting just right and taking 700 photos just to get the perfect image and then editing the photo to make it look mouthwatering and fantastical. Me? I just wanted to get the dang thing in my mouth.
I came across the original recipe in our local paper - and it is attributed to Chef Aaron Cozadd, Union Workshop. Chef Aaron...wherever you are...the Kingstons love you. Both Kingstons. We might want to marry you. I tweaked the recipe a little bit to accomodate what we had at the house, so I share those revisions here with you. Enjoy - then take a nap - because you will be too full to do anything else.
3AM DOG WITH BACON JAM *I altered the recipe to make enough for four hot dogs. You are not going to eat just one - trust me. I don't even really LIKE hot dogs all that much and I ate two - and would have eaten three if we hadn't run out of eggs.*
4 hot dogs 4 hot dog buns whole grain mustard 1 c. hash browns - fried crispy bacon jam 2 fried eggs
BACON JAM 1 lb (a pkg) bacon - diced small 1 onion peeled and diced 2 tbsp miced garlic 1/2c cider vinegar (or slightly less than 1/2 c red wine vinegar, add water to make 1/2c) 1/2c packed brown sugar 1/4c syrup (we used Mrs. Butterworth) 3/4c dark coffee 1/4tsp black pepper
In a medium skillet, cook the bacon over medium high heat, stirring frequently until bacon starts to become crispy. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate. Drain all but 2 tbsp of the bacon fat.
(while this is happening you can cook your hashbrowns - we used frozen hashbrowns and 1 Tbsp of oil - heat oil in the pan then add hashbrowns - flattening in to a single layer. Cover and cook approx 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Set aside.)
Place the skillet back on the stove (with the bacon fat in it) and add onion and garlic. Cook over medium until the onion is translucent. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently, then boil hard for two minutes. Stir in the bacon and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and the liquid is syrupy (add water if it seems to be drying out). Let stand for 5 minutes.
(while this is happening you can cook your hotdogs - either on the grill or in a pan on the stove. We split ours down the middle so it would be easier to "load" them with toppings. You can also warm up your buns - wrap each bun in a damp paper towel and microwave them together for 30 seconds.)
Transfer mixture to a food processor (we used a blender) and pulse until bacon jam is a spreadable consistency.
To assemble the awesomeness:
Place the hot dog bun on the plate. Smear one side of the bun with mustard and the other side with bacon jam. Add hot dog. Top with 1/4 of the hashbrowns and 1/2 of a fried egg.
Stuff your face and enjoy! Then spend the rest of the day making a list of what else you can put bacon jam on - because you will have LOTS left over.
