January 15, 2012: Asian Sauced Pork Tenderloin Medallions Recipe

Here’s another recipe I devised based loosely on one I found in the current issue of Cooking Light magazine. My recipe makes it just a bit more diet-friendly and the best part? My husband absolutely loved this dish! He said it tasted as if I’d fried up sausage in the pan and then added the pork, which made him believe there were plenty of fat calories when it reality, it is quite healthy and low cal.

Asian Sauced Pork Tenderloin served with Whole Wheat Linguine with Vegetables and Slow Cooker Sesame Green Beans

Asian Sauced Pork Tenderloin Medallions

1 t. minced ginger

1 t. honey

1 T. soy sauce

1 t. rice wine vinegar

½ t. Asian red chili sauce

3/4 lb. pork tenderloin, sliced horizontally into 3 thick pieces

1 t. olive oil

Combine marinade ingredients in a glass dish and add pork loin pieces. Marinate, refrigerated, a minimum of two hours.

Heat a heavy skillet to medium high. Add olive oil. Remove pork tenderloin from marinade and carefully add to hot skillet, being careful not to splatter yourself with the hot oil. Reduce heat to medium. Cook medallions for about 3 – 5 minutes each side (depending on thickness) until cooked through. Add remaining marinade and about 1/3 cup of water to deglaze the hot pan and make a sauce. To serve, place one medallion on each plate and spoon about a tablespoon of sauce over each.

3 servings, 312 calories each

December 17, 2011: Christmas Party Hors d’oeuvres Ideas and Recipe

This year, the most popular appetizers for a party are served on a stick. Yep, they look cute and they’re easy to eat, to boot, which is especially important if your guests are encouraged to stand and mingle while eating.

The menu for my holiday party includes (items with asterisk denote recipes included here):

• Assorted Christmas cookies and candies
• Strawberry Pecan Cheese ball (seasoned with a mix) and Pringles honey wheat stix
• Tray of pickled jalapenos and okra (that I canned over the summer)
• Crackers topped with Alouette Spinach Artichoke soft cheese and slices of smoked sausage
• Meatball skewers (using my baked meatball recipe but made much smaller) with cheese cubes and olives
• Korean Pork skewers*
• Goat Cheese Phyllo cups* (look for recipe in tomorrow’s post)
• Spiced Apple Cider
• Hot Chocolate
• Egg Nog with Brandy

Photo courtesy of yourlife.usatoday.com

Korean Pork Skewers

This recipe courtesy of USA Weekend magazine

1 pound pork tenderloin

3 T. Asian chili sauce

2 T. each soy sauce and rice wine vinegar

1 T. each minced fresh ginger and garlic

½ t. hot red pepper flakes

Thinly slice the pork tenderloin into about 30 pieces (freeze it slightly to make slicing easier).

Combine remaining ingredients in zip-top bag. Add pork. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Thread pieces of pork onto small bamboo skewers. Place on grill rack over a broiler pan. Broil close to heat about 5 minutes, until cooked through. Garnish with thinly sliced green onions, if desired.

Makes 30 hors d’oeuvres

August 10, 2011: Garlic Basil Pork Tenderloin Recipe

I didn’t realize it until yesterday but this month marks the halfway point in my year-long recipe blog experiment. The reason it finally dawned on me was due to the fact that, while taking a photo of the beautifully barbecued pork loin I had prepared for dinner, my husband commented, “I’ll sure be glad when this year is over and you’re not experimenting anymore with recipes.”

Naturally I was shocked and accused of him not being open to trying new foods. He admitted that he’d rather have the same old basic stuff he’s used to each and every night. Humph!

Does this mean that I’m going to quit trying new recipes? Of course not! He’s just going to have to deal!

So… on to today’s recipe. It’s adapted from one I found in my August Relish magazine. I thought it turned out quite good and much as my husband wouldn’t want to admit it, he liked it, too!

Garlic Basil Pork Tenderloin

1 one pound pork tenderloin

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

2 T. olive oil

¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Make small slits in the top of the tenderloin and insert slices of garlic. Rub with olive oil all over. Press basil into the oil on top of the meat and sprinkle all over with salt and pepper.

The oiled and garlic-infused pork tenderloin covered in chopped fresh basil ready to go on the grill.

Grill over indirect medium-high heat (400 degrees) for about 40 minutes. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes with a tent of aluminum foil before slicing.

Serves 3.

June 18, 2011: Mojo Pork Recipe

I love summertime grilling but the problem is that I get bored with the same old hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, pork chops and chicken. The way I change things up is to vary the marinating sauce. This recipe is based on one I found in the Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Grilling.

I tried it on my husband and my niece and the unanimous verdict was… Delicious! I think it’s got just the right level of spice and tang with a memorable flavor.

Mojo Pork

1 lb. pork tenderloin
2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, rinsed
¼ cup orange juice
¼ cup onion, coarsely chopped
1 t. dried oregano
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. honey
1 T. cooking oil
2 cloves garlic

Combine all ingredients (chipotle peppers through garlic) in blender or food processor. Process until smooth. Pour half over the pork tenderloin in a zip-top bag and marinate for a minimum of one hour. Refrigerate remaining sauce.

Grill over medium heat, not directly over heat source. Cook for 30 – 45 minutes, basting occasionally with remaining sauce. Cook until the meat is still pink inside; do not overcook! Remove from heat and let rest, tenting with foil, for about 5 minutes before serving.