Slow Cooked Apples & Pork Tenderloin

The next couple of days can be the most hectic of the year. When we are home I find myself looking for healthy, tasty, & easy dinners. This dish will have your house smelling like the holidays with only a tiny bit of effort!  This will also be on our New Year's Day menu - Enjoy!!!  

Slow Cooked Apples & Pork Tenderloin

Slow Cooked Apples & Pork Tenderloin
Serves 4

1 1 & 1/2 pound pork tenderloin, washed and patted dry
1 onion, chopped
2 pink lady apples, unpeeled, cored and chopped***
1 Tbs butter
1 Tbs of olive oil
1/2 cup Chardonnay
3/4 cup Maple Syrup
3 Tbs Apple juice
1 Cinnamon stick
3 Sprigs of thyme
Salt & Pepper


Spray the surface of your crock pot with cooking spray & turn to low setting.
Melt butter in a black iron skillet over medium high heat and then add olive oil . Salt and pepper the tenderloin.  Once the butter and oil start to slightly smoke, sear the tenderloin for a minute or two per side, just slightly brown & add to your crock pot.  Add the apples and onions to the skillet and allow them to lightly soften, for about 5 minutes.  Add all remaining ingredients, except for thyme & cinnamon stick, to the skillet and allow it to come to a slight boil.  Cover the pork tenderloin with the apple sauce, add the thyme & cinnamon stick, cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
Remove cinnamon stick and thyme sprigs.  Serve over rice or egg noodles & Enjoy!

***If you can't find pink ladies - Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious or Jonagold will do too

Speaking of keeping it easy we have started a new tradition of  vacationing for Thanksgiving.  Our favorite spot is at a lodge on a lake in Georgia surrounded by a gorgeous pine forest. Below are a few of our favorite Thanksgiving scenes from this year.

When a Gingerbread House just won't do...

The Lodge ready for the Holidays

Beautiful walkways all around the Lodge

A Christmas tree Clark Griswold would approve of

Thanksgiving Carving Stations & Iron Chef Competition

Caviar Station

The Raw Bar

The Cheese Display

Dessert anyone??? (This is only 1/4 of the selection)

The end of our Thanksgiving Meal

A long walk after our meal - I had to stop by my favorite herb garden

We took Taddy to see the Linger Longer Express

Champagne cocktails at sunset to end the day - this is the best picture I could get with a 25 pound Scottie in my lap

Simple Baby Back Ribs

Simple Baby Back Ribs
Serves 2

1 slab of baby back ribs, cut (if needed) to fit in your pan
Salt & Pepper
1 lemon, halved
1 beer
Sprigs of rosemary & thyme
3 TBs of your favorite barbecue sauce (plus more for serving)
1 TBs grainy mustard
1 TBs Worcestershire sauce

Salt & pepper both sides of the ribs.  Mix together the bbq sauce, mustard and Worcestershire, and spread over the ribs.  Place ribs in roasting pan or crock pot, meat side up.   Lightly squeeze the lemon over the ribs and add the lemon halves in the pan.  Pour 1/2 of the beer in the bottom of the pan & top the ribs with the sprigs of rosemary & thyme. 
Oven method - Cover tightly with aluminum foil & cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour & 15 -20 minutes
Crock pot - Covered on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
Let them rest for 10 minutes and serve with extra sauce.  Enjoy!

Ready to roast

Falling off the bone - yummy!

Sweet & Spicy Pork Tenderloin

Sweet & Spicy Pork Tenderloin

Sweet & Spicy Pork Tenderloin
Serves 4

1 1lb pork tenderloin
1 sweet or yellow onion, chopped
1 cup hot mustard BBQ sauce

Spray your crock pot with cooking spray.  Add the onion to the bottom of the crock pot. Lightly salt and pepper your tenderloin and place on top of the onions.  Drizzle the hot mustard sauce over the top of the pork & cover the crock pot. Cook on high for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours (or on low for 7 1/2 -8 1/2 hours), remove from pot (will be fork tender) and place on serving tray, cover with the mustard and onion gravy in the pot.  Tent with vented foil for about ten minutes, slice or shred & serve.  Hope you enjoy!

Note - you can also do 2 pork tenderloins and just double the sauce without any other modifications.

Grilled Jalapeno Porkchops with Pineapple Salsa

Hello March!  I don't think I have ever been as ready for Spring as I am right now.  I have seen enough snow & blizzards to last at least a year.   I love grilling out on a nice spring evening.  This is one of our favorite dishes for this season.  The flavors are amazing. Hope you enjoy!

Grilled Jalapeno Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Adapted from the Neelys on The Food Network

4 boneless pork chops
3 Tbs Hot Mustard Sauce
3 tsps diced jalapenos
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons minced red onions
Salt & Pepper

Season the chops with the salt and pepper, add chops and all other ingredients to a large ziplock bag.  Ensuring the bag is sealed toss bag a few times to ensure chops are coated.  Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or even better 24 hours.  30 minutes before grilling allow bag to rest at room temperature.  Grill chops for 5 to 8 minutes per side. Remove from grill and lightly tent for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a drizzle of hot mustard and scoop of pineapple salsa (below).

Pineapple Salsa
1 cup of pineapple chunks, diced
1 tomato, seeded and diced
2 Tbs diced jalapenos
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 red onion, diced

Mix all together and allow it to marinade as long as the pork.  Can keep in a sealed container for a week.  It is wonderful on white fish and chicken.  I served it with baked sweet potatoes and grilled broccoli.

Spring's Promise camellia in full bloom