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Pork Schnitzel

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-paid partnership with Ohio Pork-

I am so thrilled to announce a NEW partnership in this space, with Ohio Pork. As a life-long Ohioan, it brings me so much joy to support Ohio Pork and introduce you all to incredible Pork recipes that inspire you to taste what pork can do! Nutritious, family-friendly and quick recipes that will quickly become staples in your home!

First up, a dish that is near and dear to my heart. It’s one of Dj’s favorites – Schnitzel! We have a lot of incredible local restaurants in the greater Cleveland area with the most delicious schnitzel and after Dj mentioned he was craving it all winter long I figured it was time to impress him with my own recipe!

Thinly pounded Centre-Cut Boneless Pork Loin Chop is breaded and fried till it’s golden on crisp on the outside. I love that it only takes a few staple ingredients to make this dinner! My Schnitzel takes center stage on our table, and we serve it with freshly squeezed lemon, a beautiful salad and roasted potatoes. YUM!

Pork Schnitzel

  • 2-3 lb Centre-Cut Boneless Pork Loin Chop
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 6 eggs
  • 6 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • Salt + pepper
  • Flaked sea salt for finishing
  • Vegetable Oil for frying
  1. First, you’ll want to pound out each pork loin chop until it is very thin, about 1/8 inch (the pork chop will expand 2-3x its original size, very wide and flat) season the pork with salt and pepper
  2. Next, set up your dredging station and get your stove top ready to fry 
  3. 3 wide shallow bowls, one for flour, one for eggs, one for bread crumbs
  4. Prepare a cast iron pan with vegetable oil (enough to cover 1/2 way up the pork when frying)
  5. Take your thin pork cutlets, and one by one press into flour, shake off excess, directly dip into the egg to coat all sides and then press the pork into the breadcrumbs to coat the entire piece of pork
  6. Set breaded pork off to the side on a baking sheet, and do this to the remainder of the pork until all are breaded and ready for frying 
  7. When ready to fry, turn the heat onto medium-high, and get the vegetable oil nice and hot for frying
  8. Place the breaded pork into the hot oil one at a time, and fry for 3-4 minutes each side until golden brown and internal temperature is 160 degrees
  9. Set the cooked pork schnitzel onto a baking sheet lined with a cooling rack and while it’s still hot sprinkle with flaked sea salt 

You can keep the schnitzel on that very same baking sheer with the cooling rack on warm in the oven until you are done frying all of the schnitzel 

Serve schnitzel with fresh lemon wedges – ENJOY!!

It’s time to book your vacation with Oasis Vacations!

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I can hardly believe its already been six month since our incredible getaway to Ocean Isle Beach with Oasis Vacations! Where has time gone? During the holiday season is when Dj and I like to sit down and plan our summer break vacations out. We pick the month that syncs with the family we plan to travel with and start looking for our destination. Since our stay at Ocean Isle Beach in June, there is zero decision making to be done. It’s the spot – our new family spot we want to return to each and every summer!

You can read more about our trip here, and even walk through some of our stay on my Instagram Highlights! But for now, let’s start with the amazing properties Oasis Vacations have to offer! Immaculately maintained and fully stocked homes that welcome your crew for a relaxing stay. No need to worry about “if they’ll have X,Y,Z” Oasis goes a step above the rest with a making sure your family has everything you need to enjoy your vacation.

24/7 maintenance, and property management that are always on duty and there to help you! We loved having Oasis management in our pocket for last minute questions like where to go to eat, or how to work certain technology in our home. They take hospitality to the next level to ensure that their guests have the best experience during their stay!

With 32 properties open for booking, you can truly curate your stay based on location, atmosphere and property size. A genuine luxury experience that is unmatched!

It’s a really big deal for families to make the choice to travel and it can be overwhelming choosing a place to stay. With Oasis Vacations, they truly stand behind their properties and your experience! Stay with Oasis you’ll be customers for life. Our family has stayed at many different destinations over the years and nothing has come close to Oasis Vacations! Superior service, stunning homes and the island is truly one of the most family-friendly places we’ve ever been!

If you are seeking a new vacation spot, Oasis Vacations now has 32 properties within 3 locations –

Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach and Sunset Beach.

There is truly something for everybody! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience OIB firsthand with my boys. Not a week goes by that it does not come up in conversation, we truly fell in love with everything OIB/Oasis!

If you are looking to book a stay, I have an exclusive code OASIS10 for 10% off of your stay. Be sure to tell them the Thome family sent ya!

Oasis Vacations at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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As I sit cozied up on my couch with a hot cup of coffee on a chilly September day, all I can think about is the sunshine and FUN in Ocean Isle Beach. We had the absolute honor of staying with Oasis Vacations this past June and I took you all along for the ride on my Instagram, but I had to take a minute to take a deeper dive into why we enjoyed this trip SO much more than any other vacation we’ve taken as a family.

First and foremost – location location location. Ocean Isle Beach is truly a gem of a town. It’s a golf cart riding beach vacation spot that oozes charm and has a very calming vibe to the area which I find rare for popular vacation spots. The waters are calmer, and the beaches are beautiful which was such treat for our family.

The properties that Oasis Vacations have to offer are top notch brand new properties that have all of the amenities a large or small family may need. Of all of the beach houses we’ve been o as a family, we have never experienced such white-glove service when it comes to all that Oasis Properties provide. Never once did we feel like we needed something. The kitchens, bathrooms, laundry and furniture we all decked out to ensure we were comfortable and taken care of. Honestly, we felt like celebrities – and those who have visited this past summer (thank you for going!) have said the exact same thing.

Old Man by the Sea was the property we stayed at for an entire week with family and it was just as stunning in person as it was shown in pictures. This stunning new property has 6 bedrooms and 6 1/2 baths, private pool, hot tub and a backyard right on the Jinx River! My boys spent hours every single day fishing off of the dock, it was so special.

We love to take full advantage visiting all of the local hot spots, all the while enjoying local venders that offer in-home services so we can soak up our time at the pool too! There are some of our absolute favorite places and venders we utilized during our stay that truly stole our hearts and will be a fixture in our next vacation when we go!

Chef Michael Roemhildt from Michaels Kitchen – a culinary entrepeneur who curates meals for families during their vacation stay. We had the absolute joy of meeting Michael and seeing his talents unfold in the kitchen as he prepared an evening of appetizers for us to enjoy after a beautiful day at the pool.

Brooke’s Spectacular Spreads took our breath away upon arrival. Brooke is so sweet and beyond talented! She creates the most delicious charcuterie boards (and more!) that can be arranged to be in your fridge and ready for enjoyment during your vacation. We unwinded to her scrumptious charcuterie board at night with a glass of wine after a day full of sun and it was absolute perfection!

Sharky’s Waterfront Bar & Grill stole our hearts and filled our bellies the entire week we visited. The location, right on the water Sharky’s offers both outdoor and indoor dining that equally provide the coolest beach vibes for your family. The menu is large, offering up something for everyone which is an essential when traveling with multiple families. Dine in or order food to go, either way you cannot go wrong with Sharky’s being your go-to spot for a bite during your stay.

Ocean Isle Beach is a golf cart island, where you’ll find so many families cruising to shops, restaurants and to the beach! This made our trip so convenient, as we truly just bopped around town all hours of the day.

Summertide Adventures was a highlight of the trip for the boys! There are so many different packages the captain offers. Tours, fishing trips and more!

Doug’s Seafood had the freshest seafood selection and an old school family feel that was beyond welcoming! We stocked up on all of the goods to make an incredible seafood boil at Old Man by the Sea.

Don’t even get me started on the coolest and most delicious coffee and donuts spots at Ocean Isle Beach. Our favorites? Drift Coffee Kitchen, OIB Kahuna, Ocean Isle Creamery, Spilt Milk OIB, Tiki Bar, and SO much more!!

If you are looking for the ultimate vacation home where you can truly kick back and enjoy ALL the area has to offer, Oasis Vacations is the place to go to to book your stay at Ocean Isle Beach. Lucky you, they’ve offered up 10% your stay with my code OASIS10 if you have any questions, email me at thethomehome@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to help!!

JUS-ROL Crescents

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this is a sponsored post in collaboration with JUS-ROL

The ultimate dinner roll that we can feel good about serving our families! Free from artificial colors and flavors, NO high fructose corn syrup, NO bleached flour – that my friends, is such a win!

It can be so overwhelming to always have to read the laundry-list of ingredients on the back of everything you put into your grocery cart, and with JUS-ROL you can rest assured that they use only high-quality ingredients. They have the most incredible line of refrigerated dough from pizza crust to flatbreads so that you can get creative with the dishes you feed your family.

Fluffy, tender and oh so delicious – the JUS-ROL crescents are so convenient to roll out on the parchment paper that they are packaged with. Which, (by the way!) you can transfer the parchment directly into the oven on a baking sheet – love being able to utilize things twice!

I like to brush my crescent rolls with a little egg wash ( 1 egg + 1 Tbsp water whisked) and bake as directed by the package. Golden on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these crescent rolls are the perfect pairing for all of your family dinners.

Find JUS-ROL at a grocery store near you, and be sure to download this coupon for 50% off your crescent rolls!

Back to School Safely

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This is a sponsored blog post with EVOLV

Ever since Brody’s first day of school over 10 years ago I had that ever-present pit in my mothering stomach of all of the things that could go wrong during his time away from home.  Would he get nervous and cry? Would a classmate be mean to him? Would his anxious mornings full of tears be a constant or will they go away after the first week? Oh, if only hindsight was 20/20.  If only I knew that those worries were so minute in comparison to the ones we would face as parents of school-aged children a decade later. 

Don’t even make me say it – I can barely type it.  The rate in which violence is occurring in schools across our country these days is beyond alarming to me.  It makes that ever-present pit I had as a preschool mom feel like a grain of sand.  Now, the worry feels more like an elephant on my chest that makes me question so much.  

This is a conversation sparked by technology I came across and immediately thought – how do we get Evolv Technology into schools across America tomorrow? Evolv Express® is an advanced weapons detection technology that stadiums, theme parks and now schools are using instead of traditional metal detectors to add a new layer of safety in a respectful and efficient way. Honestly, you guys – I read and read about this technology and immediately wanted to email my boys schools to see what can be done to have this at our entrances.  I am so unbelievably sick and tired of our children having to worry about their safety in a place where they should feel nothing but comfortable and excited to learn and be with their peers.  

It actually surfaced a memory of when I attended high school – 

I’ll never forget when I told a friend who attended private school in high school that my public school had metal detectors.  The look of shock/horror that took over their expressions in disbelief made me immediately regret mentioning it.  I think they assumed that my school must be “so dangerous!” When in fact, our school felt so safe because of that technology.  Looking back, it’s wild to know that my school had that system in place during a time when violent acts were practically unheard of.  

Fast forward to today, as a mother to a highschooler, middle schooler and elementary student I would feel so much peace of mind if there was the technology in place that helped to detect weapons from crossing the threshold of my children’s schools.  The fact that my kids have to practice drills, and discuss action plans in case of an emergency is already unsettling. And it makes me wonder how we’ve gone so many years not questioning (as parents) what we can do today that will alleviate some of the anxiety our children are experiencing in today’s climate.  

So, here are my ever-growing thoughts on this stomach pit of a problem our schools are facing.  There is A LOT to fix.  A LOT to address.  And a heck of a lot more to handle before solutions can come to fruition.  I think Evolv Express® is a brilliant tool that would add a layer to help make our schools safer for our kids.  Change happens one step at a time, and I love to see technology progress that has a key focus in creating safer places for people to gather.  

Chicken Tender Charcuterie Board

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this is a sponsored post in collaboration with Lillie’s Q

Back to School season is here and you know what always is top of mind during this time of year? Meal plans! Our schedule gets wack-a-doodle crazy with 3 boys in multiple sports, work schedules, school routines (etc) – woof, just typing out that sentence has me dizzy! It’s extremely important for me to have a general landscape to follow for meals throughout the week so that I am not left scrambling trying to fuel the boys up between tasks.

Say hello to my kinda charcuterie…

Take the fancy out of charcuterie boards and make one that kids will flock to and devour with the biggest grins on their faces –

Chicken Tender Charcuterie Board! You guys, gone are the days where my boys are satisfied with tossing them a granola bar after school as we head out to sports. Most nights, we have a bit of time after school to feed the kiddos and then we’re not back home until 9:30 or later. So, the after-school bite has to be a bit heavier and more filling.

Whether you use frozen chicken tenders, make your own, drive thru and pick em’ up – pair them with the lip-licking Lillie’s Q Tender + Wing Sauces and a ton of vegetables and you’ve got yourself an after-school snack that your kids will gobble up!

Lillie’s Q has the most incredible array of sauces to choose from – and I LOVE that they do not contain fructose corn syrup like most “popular” brands on the shelves. Everyone in your family can pick their favorites, which is easy to do with their Tender Sauce Gift Box – YUM!!

Toss your tenders, dip em’, sauce on the side or smothered on top – No matter how you go about it you cannot go wrong with bringing Lillie’s Q into your family dishes.

Feeling inspired to try out favorite line of sauces? Check out some of my other Lillie’s Q centered recipes on my Instagram too! Use my code ABBYTHOME15 while shopping for 15% off of your order

Get saucy, friends!

Lillie’s Q Spicy Cheddar Sausage Pizza Bagel

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this is a sponsored post in collaboration with Lillie’s Q 

Memories of food as a child resurface constantly for me.  It’s exactly why I love cooking and serving my family and friends so much.  Every meal, every moment can transpire an entire lifetime of core memories.  Guess one of mine? Pizza Bagels! No, not the frozen kind from the grocery store.  But Pizza Bagels I enjoyed from an Italian shop a few blocks away from my childhood home.  It’s exactly what inspired this recipe with the most flavorful sausages I have ever had! Located in the freezer section at a Costco near you, Lillie’s Q Spicy Cheddar Sausages are a fantastic versatile option to add a delicious protein to your meal!  

Back to School season is here and I am constantly looking for ways to quickly feed the boys after school before hockey practices.  A fast and family friendly dish that is packed with protein to sustain their energy and one that can be made in a pinch.  You only need four ingredients for these Pizza Bagels and my friends, when I tell you they are delicious its a complete understatement. Dj exclaimed multiple times how incredible they were!

Lillie’s Q Spicy Cheddar Sausage Pizza Bagel

  • 4 Bagels, split in half
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • 6 Lillie’s Q Spicy Cheddar Sausages, sliced into coins
  • Wild Brine Sauerkraut
  • Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees
  • Arrange the bagel slices on a baking sheet lined with foil
  • Top each bagel with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese
  • Place 3 – 4 slices of sausage on each bagel
  • Bake at 425 degrees for 8 minutes
  • Pop under the broiler for a few seconds for the cheese to get bubbly + golden
  • Top with sauerkraut and enjoy!

I can’t wait for you guys to make these! Check out all Lillie’s Q has to offer and be sure to stock up on some of our favorite sauces. They are the absolute BEST!! use my code: ABBYTHOME15 for 15% off your order

Max’s Bedroom

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This is a sponsored post with Sheely’s Furniture & Appliance

some links below are affiliate links

As a mom raising three boys ranging in age from 14 to 7 you learn very quickly that their bedrooms are truly a sanctuary to them. A place for them to disconnect, engage with their hobbies and, of course – relax. I learned the hard way that I was throwing money out the window creating bedrooms for them that tailored a bit too much to the age/stage that they were into (dinosaurs, cars, fishing etc)

I was constantly switching things around, purchasing new pieces with each new phase and it was never a room that felt settled.  That is until I started shopping at Sheely’s … I have had the honor of being a brand ambassador for Sheely’s for few years now and each year that continue to blow me away.

  • Exceptional service – their staff is so kind and helpful
  • Incredible selection – furniture, appliances, mattresses + more
  • FREE delivery – within their allotted radius
  • Family Owned for over 70 years

After 14 years of parenting I finally realized that I needed to shift my mindset when it came to decorating bedrooms for my boys. I needed to aim for pieces that were were not only functional and comfortable, but timeless as well. Pieces that were high quality and could literally go to college with them if they chose.

I put my attention and focus on the main pieces as my investments, and then as they age and experience different styles/preferences to what they want in their rooms it because an extremely easy “switch” to make.

Main pieces:

  • bed frame
  • dresser
  • end tables
  • paint color

Change with age/interests:

  • curtains
  • rugs
  • artwork
  • wall decor

It was time to give Max’s room a little love and create a space that could last him through his High School years – yep, I said it! I truly believe the space I created will be the greatest landing for him and one that he can adjust over the years with little additions.

Ready to see it??

How awesome is this room? Max loves this mood board so much!

His bed is custom from Sheely’s, ordered through Universal Furniture. We chose a queen size bed frame, and the fabric in Ellis Denim Tier 6

I love the details in his dresser! The Ludwig Dresser by Flexsteel Wynwood has a gorgeous mid-century look that gives his space a vintage feel.

I could not resist this large leather pouf! Max will spend hours cozied up reading or playing on his iPad on this pouf 🙂

Be still my heart, The Caleb Rug from LoLoi (ordered at Sheely’s!) is the perfect addition to this space. Cozy weathered plaid had me at hello.

Etsy offers the most incredible array of prints to download at your own convenience! Max requested ocean/fish art work in his and these are too good not to get!

Last but certainly not least, new curtains too! We have these curtains in our bedrooms upstairs and love them!

Finding out if we actually like the paint color on the mood board will be the true test – or we may have to test a few swatches to be sure! Make sure to follow along on my Instagram as I show every step of the makeover to Max’s Bedroom!

Last but certainly not least, if you are local to either Sheely’s locations you can mention my name Abby Thome for $100 off of a $1,000 order. Furniture, appliances, mattresses decor and so much more!

Maple Turkey Brunch Burgers

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this blog post is in partnership with Ohio Poultry Association

My friends, this recipe is incredible! Every single layer of this brunch turkey burger will have dancing in your seat! Juicy turkey burgers seasoned like breakfast sausage, candied turkey bacon, fried egg and a maple dijon aioli to top it all off – so yummy! A fabulous addition to your menu for a special summer brunch this season! 

Maple Turkey Brunch Burgers (yields 6)

  • 1lb ground turkey
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup 
  • 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp sage
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Good pinch of salt + pepper
  1. In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together for the turkey burgers until everything is evenly incorporated 
  2. Shape mixture in to 6 equal balls, and then flatten into 1/4” thick patties 
  3. Cook turkey burgers on a cast iron pan (or nonstick) until cooked through completely 
  4. Set to the side as you assemble the remainder of components 
  5. Wipe down your pan in preparation to fry the eggs for the burger 

Perfect Fried Egg 

  • 6 eggs, one to top each burger 
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter 
  • Pinch of salt + pepper 
  1. Warm a tablespoon of butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat until melted
  2. Crack in desired amount of eggs and season with salt and pepper
  3. Cook until the edges of the eggs are set and the middle of the whites are still clear 
  4. Pour a few tablespoons of water into the pan and cover with a lid
  5. Let the steam finish cooking the whites of the egg and barely cook the yolk
  6. Remove eggs from the pan and enjoy!

Candied Turkey Bacon

  • 8 ounces Turkey Bacon
  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar 
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup 
  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  2. Preheat oven to 425
  3. Mix together the brown sugar and maple syrup in a small bowl
  4. Add turkey bacon to the prepared baking sheet and dollop the brown sugar on top of each slice of bacon
  5. Bake bacon at 425 for 12-16 minutes, until golden and crispy 

Maple Dijon Aioli

  • 1 cup mayo
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup 
  • 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
  • Pinch of salt + pepper
  1. Mix ingredients together in a small bowl, and store in the fridge until ready to use 

Brunch Turkey Burgers Toppings

  • Lettuce
  • Red Onion, sliced
  • Avocado 
  • Fried Egg(s)

Assemble burger as you wish, on top of a toasted English muffin and enjoy! 

Holiday Gift Guide at South Park Mall

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*this is a paid collaboration with SouthPark Mall. thank you for supporting the brands that support my blog.

Shopping at the mall during thee Holiday Season is truly a core memory of my childhood. Whether it was the late-Holiday scramble with my parents as they tried to finish their present list or with a quarter in my pocket running wild with my friends exploring every inch of the mall. (For those born in the cell phone era, back in the hay day we brought a quarter to the mall to use the payphone to call our parents for a ride home)

The buzz of holiday shoppers, the sound of Holiday music and excited little ones lined up to meet Santa – it’s the best! At SouthPark Mall, they really go above and beyond to give their shoppers an incredible welcoming experience during the Holiday.

Ready to shop?

Here are some of my favorite things!

Green Pan Set Green Pan Slow Cooker BergHoff Salad Bowl Baking Sheet Set Mixing Bowls Salt & Pepper Kithenaid Mixer Marble Serving Board

Cable Knit Blanket Robe Malibu Candle Duffle Bag UGG Slippers Solo Stove Yeti Cooler

When it comes to gift giving, I love to give gifts that people can use time and time again. There is something very sweet about giving someone a present that they can not only get a lot of use of, but will perhaps remind them of your special relationship too!

Thank you, SouthPark Mall for partnering this Holiday! Head to my Instagram for an amazing giveaway – @abby_thome