A couple of weeks ago my husband took me to Cracker Barrel where we shared their Apple Cider Pork Tenderloin. Oh, my! It was so delicious! I knew I had to try to reinvent the recipe at home. When Sunday dinner came we were all ready for a diversion from turkey leftovers, so I saw this as my opportunity to try the pork. It was a tasty change! I can’t say I nailed the exact recipe, but there wasn’t a piece of meat left on the platter, so whatever I came up with was a keeper here at the Cunningham house! Here was my menu –
Apple Cider Pork Tenderloin
Cooked Apples
Sweet Corn
Mashed potato Casserole
Biscuits
Here’s was my cooking method:
I placed a pork loin in a roasting pan and seasoned the meat with salt and pepper. I then spread apple butter over the meat and poured about a cup of apple cider into the pan. I covered the meat with fresh, chopped rosemary. Fuji apples were sliced and placed around the meat. The whole pan got covered with foil, then placed into a 280 degree oven before I left for Sunday school.
When I got home, I removed the pan sauces and added a slurry to them to thicken them for gravy. The cider makes it a sweet gravy, but it’s so good on the meat!
I did have mashed potato leftovers from Thanksgiving that I wanted to use, so I warmed them, and added a little light cream cheese and light sour cream. Hopefully they were disguised from their original mashed potato and gravy intention!
We got out the Christmas dishes this weekend – it’s hard to believe it’s time for them, but I love having a change in December. I have this china, then I also have a casual daily set to use. Dishes are one thing that your family will remember. It can be a part of your family’s tradition. “That was the bowl we always used for popcorn” or “those were the plates we always used at Christmas.”
I have vivid memories of my mom’s dishes, do you? What special memory do you cherish? And what was cooking in your kitchen this weekend?
With love,
RefreshHer 