Goat Cheese and Grape Pork Loin



Goat Cheese and Grape Pork

 

 

      I found a great deal on a small pork tender loin at my local store and wanted to try something special. I had already utilized grapes in a crostini recipe but thought it would be great stuffed into a pork loin. Pork always goes great with fruits. There is just something about that combination. This was so easy and quick to make. Just mix up the ingredients, filet the pork, roll it up, tie it up, pan sear, and then bake. It is that simple. I then took the extra grapes, sautéed them with some liquor and created a fantastic sauce that could be drizzled over the pork for serving.

     The flavors in this dish actually complimented each other. The tartness from the goat cheese and the sweetness from the grapes went great with the pork. Serve with a little rice or potatoes and viola, a great weekend or weeknight meal for you and your family.  Goat Cheese and Grape Pork Loin.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pork tender loin
• Goat cheese
• Red grapes
• Spinach
• Raspberry liquor
• Salt/pepper
• Kitchen twine

1.       Take your goat cheese and sit in a bowl. Dice up a handful of grapes and baby spinach and mix into the cheese.

2.       Filet the pork tender loin and salt and pepper. Take the cheese mixture and spread on top.

3.       Take kitchen twine and roll up the pork loin and tie off.

 

4.       In a large skillet in a bit of olive oil brown the pork loin on all sides.

 

5.       Place pork loin in a Dutch oven with a little bit of water drizzled in and place in a 350 degree oven covered and cook for 40 minutes.

6.       Now I took about a ¼ cup of raspberry liquor I had in my cabinet and took extra chopped up grapes and sautéed until the grapes became tender.

7.       Serve the sauce over the pork loin with your favorite side dish.

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Serves: 2-4 people

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

     What is more American than that standard simple “manly” sandwich; Sloppy Joes. I have no clue the origins of this dish. I just know that everyone grew up eating this dish. It was simple. You came home from playing out in the wonderful summer air or after school and this dish was waiting for you. It was simple and if your mother or father didn’t have enough time to cook a huge meal they simply threw this dish together. Now I know most people have been used to the simple standby that you can buy in a can at your local grocery store, however this dish is made from scratch and is much more flavorful. Any bachelor can make this dish. Hell, anyone whether male or female who loves a great sandwich can make this dish. Simple ingredients and quick and easy to put together. Please enjoy my homemade Sloppy Joes.
 
Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ yellow bell pepper
• ½ white onion
• 1 10oz can tomato sauce
• Garlic
• Brown sugar
• Liquid smoke
• Worcestershire
• Yellow mustard

1.       In a large skillet brown your ground beef over medium heat
2.       Toss in diced up onion and bell pepper and sauté alongside the beef until tender.
3.       Mix in some diced up garlic.
4.       Pour in the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer
5.       Mix in a small handful of brown sugar, a squirt or two of mustard, a couple of drops of liquid smoke and Worcestershire.
6.       Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes
7.       Serve on a warm burger bun.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 2-4 people

Roman Chicken Pasta

Roman Chicken

 

     I first came upon this dish while watching one of my favorite celebrity chefs and long time crush; Giada  de Laurentiis. I love how she has great ties with her heritage and takes traditional dishes from her family and makes them her own. She is definitely a talent and I still to this day enjoy watching her.  I then went to Italy on my first trip and also came across a similar dish while there. This dish is so flavorful and full of tasty goodness. I changed mine up a bit and always serve it with a good homemade fettuccini. The combination of chicken, pancetta, peppers, the saltiness from the capers and the fresh herbs are fantastic. This dish is so easy and quick that you will be surprised how good it is. Please enjoy my Roman Chicken dish.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 boneless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup diced Pancetta
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ red bell pepper
• ½ yellow bell pepper
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 small can diced tomatoes
• 1/3 cup white wine
• ½ tbs thyme
• ½ tsp oregano
• ½ cup chicken stock
• Capers
• Parsley

 

 

1.       Salt and pepper the chicken and in a large skillet drizzle the olive oil and brown the chicken.

2.       Remove chicken and sit aside. Saute pancetta and diced up peppers until tender.

 

 

3.       Toss in garlic and cook till fragrant.

4.       Toss in the can of diced tomatoes and white wine and simmer until wine has reduced.

5.       Pour in the chicken stock and herbs. Bring to a low simmer.

6.       Dice up the chicken into chunks and place back in the pan.

7.       Stir in the capers, cover and simmer until the chicken has cooked.

8.       Toss with your favorite pasta. Or if you do not want to serve as pasta you can keep the chicken whole and serve with the sauce poured over it.

 

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Serves: 2-4