Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Apple Stuffed Pork Roast...


Apple Stuffed Pork Roast...

Fall is in the air! This is my new favorite month. September, the temperature is 70's in the days and in the 40's at night...there is a crispness in the day and night air. The big state fair is going on in town. It is a great month. The apples are starting to fall from the trees.. the leaves are starting to turn. Fall is apple season in Washington State. To celebrate the season change I made an apple stuffing for my pork roast. It is easy and deliciously moist and sweet and savory and tender...all at the same time. 

Stuffing
1 cup of chopped onion
same amount of peeled and chopped apples
3 slices of bacon
handful of dried cranberries, if desired
1 tsp of dried ground sage
salt and pepper
2 cups of seasoned bread cubes
1 cup of cinnamon apple cider
2 pound pork loin roast

start with chopping your onions and peeling and chopping the apples

fry the chopped bacon in your favorite pan...when it renders a fair amount of fat...about half cooked...

add the onion and apples and sage...little salt and pepper...

when the apples are half done...after about 5 minutes add the cranberries...

then add about half of the apple cider....(when I cook I talk in blog, I think it is a sickness)

simmer until the apples and onion are tender but not falling apart...

add the bread cubes and the rest of the cider...stir until it is all incorporated...

to butterfly the roast....

take a sharp knife and cut about an inch thick and run the knife from right to left...stopping about an inch from the side and lay that piece out...

then go back the other direction again stopping about an inch from the other side...depending on your roast and the thickness of it you could zig zag back and forth another time....

again lay out...if you feel it is too thick at this point you can pound it out a little flatter, with a meat cleaver...
salt and pepper the meat....

liberally coat your stuffing on top...

then roll like a jelly roll..you can use twine to tie it together at this point...I didn't, but you could...

place seam down... I added the rest of the stuffing on one end..added some small red potatoes and about a half inch of apple cider to the bottom of the roaster...cover, put in a 400 degree oven for approx. 80 minutes...

check with a meat thermometer, make sure it reaches 165, you don't want to either over cook or under cook...then remove from the oven...

let rest on the cutting board for 10 minutes....while you set the table...

then slice in 1 inch slices....smells heavenly!

Time to serve...I loved this dinner so much, the flavors were incredible. I wish you all could have come to my house and sat at my table with me!...I had mine with the potatoes and green beans with bacon...(I cut off the beans in the picture, so you wouldn't see how much bacon was in them, I was a little embarrassed) How much is too much you might ask? hmmmm

Cheers to Happy  !!





Thursday, September 6, 2012

Parmesan Cod...


                                                                       Parmesan cod
doesn't it seem like all my posts have been very easy things to make lately? I know....It has been a pretty busy summer. I haven't canned, made jam or any of the things I usually do this time of year...I will maybe make pickles....I think I still can do that and maybe feel like I accomplished something this summer. This easy dinner, has been advertised lately on the TV...I think they make it with chicken, but I have heard of doing it with fish...so I thought I would try it. It is easy and moist and flavorful! It really looks like you did something special. Add a salad and you have a great, quick dinner for guests.

I used 2 pounds of cod. about an inch thick. Lay out in a baking dish. I used foil on a broiler pan.

coat the fish with a thick layer (really thick) of mayonaise. then sprinkle with pepper. no salt just pepper.

then liberally spread with shredded parmesan...coat very thick. (lots of salt in the cheese) put in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes...

I made a pineapple salsa to go with it.... just minced fresh pineapple, cilantro, onion and jalapeno...and a sqeeze of lime juice.

after 20 minutes check your fish for doneness...you want it a deep golden brown...

you will absolutely love this! Promise, the coating is crispy and flavorful, no one would guess that the secret ingredient is mayonnaise...enjoy!

Cheers to Happy  !!