Cranberry Pork Tenderloin

I made this tonight and it was SOOOO good and so easy. I just made up the recipe – I think you’ll like it.

pork tenderloin
salt
pepper
3 tbsp jules and kent brand of waynes cranberry sauce (from liquor store)

basically just rub salt and pepper into pork, then sear on high heat on both sides, then put into a clay pot or other pot with lid/foil on top – and put cranberry sauce on top then cover. .. bake at 500F for 10min then turn down to 300F and cook about 35 min.

DELICIOUS! I served with mashed potatoes and green beans.

Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

I have never really been able to make a tasty meatball… no idea why… so I found a recipe that sounded easy and tasty and I’m giving it a try, except that I’m using lean ground beef instead of turkey. I am making a big batch and freezing these for later.

 

pg 68 from the Everyday Italian cookbook by Giada De Laurentis

• 1/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 3/4 cup grated Romano cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat (I used lean ground beef)
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 cups Marinara sauce

Basically, just begin by mixing everything together except the meat, then gently stir in and combine meat with mixture. Shape into bite sized balls and cook in a skillet till done (about 3 min each side, or 5-6 min total).

After the meatballs were done, I put them on a cookie tray and let cool, then placed in the freezer for about 1 hour. After frozen, remove from tray and place in freezer bags and place in freezer. I didn’t bother with the marinara sauce – will do that when I’m ready to eat them at a later date!

Result – very good flavor, a little salty so may use less cheese or salt next time, and also were very moist inside. Delicious!

 

Freezer Cooking

I’m going to try doing some big-batch freezer cooking soon and would love any ideas for meals you freeze with great success. I am doing meatballs tonight (from the Everyday Italian cookbook by Giada De Laurentis). … I’m looking forward to have a stocked freezer!

Maple Baked Oatmeal

I really enjoy CBC’s show Best Recipes Ever, but I admit have never actually made one of their recipes – until today! This was a super easy recipe to make and it tasted good too (a little too sweet for me but still great)…. I will definitely be making it again! I did have to bake it longer than indicated in the recipe (about 20 minutes).

This recipe makes 4 servings

1-1/2 cups (375 mL) large-flake rolled oats
1/4 cup (50 mL) sliced almonds
2 tbsp (25 mL) packed maple sugar or brown sugar
2 tbsp (25 mL) maple syrup
Pinch salt
3 cups (750 mL) milk
Ground cinnamon

In greased 8-inch (2 L) square glass baking dish, combine oats, almonds, sugar, maple syrup and salt, and stir in milk.

Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven until oats are softened and milk is absorbed, about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon to taste. Serve hot.

 

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips

This is a super simple recipe (and tasty) that is great for dipping veggies or on pita/cracker bread; it comes from the Everyday Italian recipe book by Giada DeLaurentis (pg 19).

• 4 pita breads, split horizontally in half
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
• 1-1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 (15 ounce) can canellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1/2 lemon)
• 1 garlic clove

(summarized instructions below)

1. heat oven to 400F – cut each pita into 8 wedges and put on baking sheet – brush with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper
2. bake for 8 min then turn over and bake another 8 min or until crisp
3. meanwhile, in food processor, combine rest of ingredients and blend until creamy
4. transfer to bowl/plate with pitas and serve

I liked this – I enjoy it more than hummus personally.