Thursday, September 9, 2010

Apple-Raisen Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

This was a very delicious dish to make. I made the stuffing and prepared the tenderloin the night before.  I forgot to sear the meat before sticking in in the oven, but it came very tasty and extremely moist just as well. We used butter knives and our forks to cut the meat. for side dishes,  I cooked some yukon gold potatoes roasting them in a skillet with butter and  fresh garlic.  I wanted something colorful for the veggies, so slightly precooked some cubed butternut squash, then set it aside while I melted some butter, then added some brown sugar and a dash of dry mustard, added back the squash and tossed in some sugar snap peas to go with, tossing till the peas were good and hot, but still tendercrisp.  I think it rounded out the meal nicely.  We've decided the next guests for dinner will get this same meal.

I was also able to apply for next seasons MasterChef today.  I have no idea if I'll be told anything..... but I've applied.  I have also decided that since the show seems to be at end next week, I'll continue to cook meals choosen from the three judges, and other well know Chefs at least twice a week. I will also share the monthly adventures of my cooking class with the HomeStart clients.  Attemping pizza in an electric skillet this time, but more on that later. My classes are always the third Saturday of each month.

Last thoughts on the pork.... do try it yourself. Prepare it the night before, it was quite simple to prepare and very tasty.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tonights dinner

I intended to make the pork tenderloin they made on  MasterChef a couple of weeks ago, but while researching Joe Bastianich (one of the two judges on the show besides Gordon Ramsey) I checked out this recipe, White Bean Stew.  Since Mikey and Mike we going into town and I had a short get dinner ready window, I decided to do this instead, saving the tenderloin for tomorrow. I'll do the prep work tonight so I'll only have to put it in the oven when I get home tomorrow, make some garlic potatoes and a tasty green salad with olive oil dressing infused with lemon and fresh oregano.  Back to tonight..... White Bean Stew, couldn't be be quicker or easier to put together and is quite healthy.  I added some Italian turkey sausage to it while toasting the garlic slices and had to think how best to remove the stems from the leaves, but was very happy with the outcome.  I purchased some yummy european style bread from Raleys, with gruyere, olive and garlic and served it with some tuscan style butter on it.  It made mopping up the broth from the stew quite delicious!

Still working on it....

I need a blog expert to walk me through some options, my technical expertise has been exhausted.  Hoping to cook a couple of 'MasterChef' worthy meals this week and will post results.  The highlight of my camping weekend was spending a great deal of time in a very nice Kitchen store in Jackson, Ca. where I made two small purchases.  A mini measuring cup (looks like a shot glass) and a mini spring form pan to assist me in plating items for the it's so pretty not sure I want to eat it look!  Baby steps, but forward motion none the less.  

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Getting started.....

Getting this blog going has been a trial all by itself.  Hoping to figure it all out shortly.  More to come....