Kristen's Recipes

1 pound pork tenderloin, cut in quarters lengthwise and then cut 1/4-inch thick

2 T. dry sherry

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

1 T. vegetable oil

1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

12 cherry tomatoes, halved

 

Combine sherry, cornstarch, cumin, garlic and salt in a medium bowl. Add pork slices and stir to coat. Heat oil over medium-high heat in heavy skillet. Add pork mixture and stir fry about 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Cover pan and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve hot with green Chile salsa.

 

 

 

3 pounds fresh pork shoulder

1 small onion – sliced thinly

4 garlic cloves

6 T. milk

2 tsp. dried sage – crumbled

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dried savory – crumbled

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

 

Trim the fat from the pork and cut into 1 and 1/2-inch cubes. Place pork in the freezer for 30 minutes.  In a food processor, grind pork once by itself, then once more with the onion and garlic. In large bowl, mix the seasonings into pork mixture. Stir in milk. Cover and place in the refrigerator for an hour.  Form into 12 large patties. Cover and refrigerate. The sausage can be cooked immediately, but it’s best to refrigerate for 12 hours to allow the flavors to intermingle.  Cook patties on a griddle or in a skillet at medium-high heat until browned and cooked through (about 5 to 7 minutes per side).  If patties are refrigerated, use them within two days. If frozen, use within the month.

 

 

4 1/2 C. milk

2 T. butter

Salt

Freshly ground white pepper

2 C. quick white grits

1 pound ham steak (fresh) or a leftover ham roast with juices from baking

1 C. strong coffee

8 slices white bread-toasted and buttered

 

In a saucepan, over medium heat, add the milk and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil. Whisk in the grits. Stir constantly for 6 minutes or until tender.  Set aside and keep warm. Heat a skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the ham and sear for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. (If using leftovers from a ham roast, add some of the juices from the pan.) Remove the ham from the pan and set aside. Stir in the coffee. Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. To serve, cut the ham into four portions. Spoon the grits in the center of each plate. Lay each piece of the ham next to the grits. Spoon the gravy over the ham. Serve with toast.

4 1/2 lb. pork tenderloins, 2 packages with 1 tenderloin in each package (For the four of us I only cooked one of the tenderloins)

4 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar

4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

8 cloves garlic, cracked or chopped

Steak seasoning blend or coarse salt and black pepper

4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped

4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped and finely chopped (I used a teaspoon of dry)

 

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Trim silver skin or connective tissue off tenderloins. Place tenderloins on a nonstick cookie sheet with a rim (I covered mine in foil). Cut small slits into meat and disperse chunks of cracked garlic cloves into meat. Coat tenderloins with a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and rub into meat.  Drizzle tenderloins with olive oil, just enough to coat.  Combine steak seasoning blend or coarse salt and pepper with rosemary and thyme and rub meat with blend.  Roast in hot oven for 20 minutes. Let meat rest, transfer to a carving board, slice and serve

 

4 links hot Italian sausage

1 pound fusilli, rotini, or penne

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, grated

2 roasted red bell peppers, julienned

2 roasted yellow bell peppers, julienned

7 ounces baby arugula

Kosher salt

Grated Parmegiano-Reggiano, for serving

 

Heat the grill to medium-low. Add the sausages and cook, covered, without disturbing for 8 to 9 minutes, or until they release from the grate and are crusty and brown. Using tongs, turn the sausages and continue to cook, covered, over medium-low heat another 6 to 7 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the sausages to a plate, tent with foil to keep warm, and let rest for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to the package directions. Whisk together the oil and garlic in a very large bowl. Add the red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, and arugula and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt. Cut the sausage links in half lengthwise and slice into bite-size pieces. Drain the pasta when it is al dente. Immediately add the pasta and sausage to the arugula mixture and toss to combine. Arrange on individual plates, top with plenty of Parmegiano, and serve immediately.

 

1 12-oz. package jumbo pasta shells

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped

1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 15-oz. container ricotta cheese

6-7 oz. fresh spinach, chopped OR 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 28-oz. can chopped tomatoes with herbs, including the liquid

 

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Cook pasta shells according to package directions.  Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add the sausage to the pan, breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks.  Cook until the sausage is completely cooked through and no pink remains, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Remove from the heat. In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg, ricotta, spinach, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, basil, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper.  Stir together to combine.  Add the cooked sausage mixture to the bowl and stir until evenly mixed. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Spread a thin layer of the chopped tomatoes in the baking dishes (either three 8×8″ pans, or one 9×13″ and one 8×8″).  Stuff each shell with some of the sausage and cheese mixture, and arrange in the baking dishes, open side up.  Spread the remaining tomatoes over the top of the pasta shells. Cover the pans with foil and bake for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbling.  Remove foil and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.  Bake, uncovered, for 10 more minutes. 

 

2 boneless pork chops – pounded thin

1/8 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbsp milk

3/4 cup panko

3 teaspoons hot smoked paprika

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped chives

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sour cream – not low fat

 

Use a meat cleaver and pound the pork cutlets to 1/4 inch thickness. Set out 3 plates.  One will have a mixture of flour, salt and pepper.  The second one will have the milk.  The third will have a mixture of bread crumbs and paprika. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat, do not allow it to smoke.  Dredge the cutlets first in the flour, then the milk, and then the panko.    Coat well. Sauté the cutlets for about 4 – 5 minutes on each side, until golden.   You may have to work in batches if your skillet is not big enough for two at a time – we had too.  Remove the cutlets from the skillet and cover with foil and keep warm in a preheated oven. While the cutlets are cooking, in  a small bowl mix the chives and salt into the sour cream. Serve the cutlets with the sour cream.  Eat.

 

6 oz. (2.5 cups) uncooked bow tie pasta (farfalle)

12 oz. pork breakfast sausage links, cut into 1-inch pieces

3 T. olive oil

1 med, butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces (4 cups)

1/2 c. sliced green onions

1 t. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. dried marjoram leaves

1/4 t. dry mustard

 

Cook pasta to desired doneness as directed on package. Drain; cover to keep warm. Meanwhile, in 12-inch non-stick skillet, cook sausage as directed on package. Remove sausage and drippings from skillet; discard drippings. Add 2 T. of the oil to the same skillet. Heat over medium-low heat until hot. Add squash; cover and cook 10 minutes or until almost tender, stirring occasionally. Add onions; cover and cook 3-5 minutes or until squash is fork-tender, stirring occasionally.  Add cooked sausage, cooked pasta, sugar, salt, marjoram, mustard, and remaining 1 T. oil; mix well. Cook 3-5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.

1 lb pork tenderloin, trimmed 

2 tsp. five spice powder 

1/4 tsp. kosher salt 

pinch of kosher salt 

4 tsp. light butter 

3 lg granny smith apples, cored and sliced in 1/2″ wedges 

1/2 C. dried cranberries 

 

Divide tenderloin into two same length pieces. Rub spice powder and 1/4 tsp. of the salt over all sides of each piece. In small skillet, melt 2 tsp. of the butter over medium high heat. Add tenderloin and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Cover and continue to cook, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 12 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and then slice each piece into 6 medallions. Meanwhile, in heavy skillet over medium high heat, combine apples, cranberries, remaining 2 tsp. butter, and pinch of salt with 1/2 C. water. Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until liquid has almost evaporated and apples soften. Serve with pork medallions and steamed greens, such as kale.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 248

Fat: 7g

Fiber: 3g

 

2 tsp. lemon peel 

1 tsp. ground cinnamon 

1/2 tsp. ground ginger 

1/8 tsp. ground allspice 

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg 

1 tbsp olive oil 

1 center cut pork loin (1 1/2 lb) 

2 apples, peeled, cut into wedges

1 apple, unpeeled (garnish), cut into wedges 

3 med onions cut into wedges 

1/4 C. fresh lemon juice 

1/2 C. apple juice 

1/4 C. maple syrup 

 

Preheat oven to 375ºF. In small bowl, combine lemon peel, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg. In another small bowl, combine oil and half of the spice mixture. Season pork with salt and pepper, if desired, and rub with oil mixture. Set aside. In large bowl, toss apple and onion wedges with lemon juice and remaining spice mixture. Place in large roasting pan with pork and 1/2 C. water. Roast 50 minutes or until thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 160ºF. (Toss apple mixture once during roasting.) Remove pan from oven and let pork sit. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, bring apple juice and maple syrup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. In food processor, puree peeled apples, two thirds of the onions, and pan drippings until smooth. Stir puree into juice mixture, season with salt and pepper, and heat on medium low until warm. Garnish pork with unpeeled apple wedges and remaining onions. Serve with sauce on the side.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Calories: 440

Fat: 12g

Fiber: 5g

 

 

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. smoked paprika

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound)

2 C. frozen or fresh shelled edamame

1/3 C. light sour cream

2 T. lime juice

2 C. frozen corn kernels, thawed

1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

1/4 C. chopped fresh cilantro

 

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Combine the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Place the tenderloin in a roasting pan and coat with the spice mixture. Roast, turning once, for 25 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the center reaches 155°F. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut diagonally into 12 slices. Meanwhile, cook the edamame according to package directions. Rinse under cold running water and drain. Stir together the sour cream and lime juice in a medium bowl. Add the edamame, corn, tomato, and cilantro and stir. Divide the salad among 4 shallow bowls. Serve with the pork slices.

 

2 lbs. small red potatoes cut into quarters

Coarse salt

1 T. extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) (once around the pan)

8 links (about 2 pounds sweet Italian sausage

2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced

2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves (I used 1 1/2 t. dried thyme)

3 garlic cloves, chopped

Coarse black pepper

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar (eyeball it)

2 c. chicken stock or 1 1/4 oz. can chicken broth

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 – 1/3 c. sour cream

1 rounded tablespoon prepared horseradish

1/4 – 1/2 c. milk, depending on how you like your mashers

1/4 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

 

For the smashed potatoes, place the potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Salt the water and potatoes. Take off the lid and boil the potatoes until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, start the sausages. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Add the sausage links and brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Remove the sausages from the skillet and reserve. To the skillet, add the onions, thyme, and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook the onions, stirring frequently, until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar, chicken stock, and honey. Bring the liquid to a simmer, then add the browned sausages back to the pan and braise the sausages until they are cooked through and the sauce has reduced by half, 8 to 10 minutes. While the sausages are braising, drain the potatoes and return them in the hot pot to the warm stovetop to dry them out. Add the butter, sour cream, horseradish, and milk to the potatoes and smash to the desired consistency. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the horseradish smashed potatoes among 4 serving dishes. Add the chopped parsley to the sausages, and then top each serving of potatoes with 2 sausages and some of the braising liquid.

 

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 2 Sausages and 1/4 Potatoes

 

Calories: 583 (443 with one sausage)

Fat: 29g (20g with one sausage)

Fiber: 2.3g

 

1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 C. thinly sliced onion
1 small jalape�o pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 C. fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 C. chopped plum tomato
3 T. chopped cilantro
2 1/2 T. fresh lime juice
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and black pepper. Add oil to pan. Add pork, and saut� 4 minutes or until browned. Remove pork from pan; place in a bowl. Add onion and jalape�o to pan; saut� 5 minutes or until tender. Add broth; reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in tomato; simmer 2 minutes.
Return pork and accumulated juices to pan. Stir in cilantro and lime juice; cook 1 minute or until pork is done. Heat tortillas according to package directions. Spoon 1/2 C. pork mixture into each tortilla; roll up.

Yield: 4 servings
Serving size: 2 tacos

Calories: 416
Fat: 13.1g
Fiber: 3.6g

1 T. ancho chile powder
1 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed
Cooking spray
1 tsp. vegetable oil
3 C. thinly sliced onion
8 hard taco shells
1/2 C. chopped tomato
8 tsp. chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 425�. Combine first 3 ingredients; rub evenly over pork. Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425� for 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160� (slightly pink). Remove pork from oven; let sit 5 minutes before slicing. While pork cooks, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add onion; cover and cook 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Uncover and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Fill each taco shell with about 2 oz. pork, 3 T. saut�ed onion, 1 T. tomato, and 1 tsp. green onions.

Yield: 4 servings
Serving size: 2 tacos

Calories: 304
Fat: 10.2g
Fiber: 4.5g

1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 (6-oz.) lean center-cut pork chops (3/4-inch thick)
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 (16-oz.) package frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
1 1/2 C. chopped red bell pepper
1/2 C. chopped green onions
2 T. finely chopped pickled jalape�o pepper
4 tsp. bottled minced garlic
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained
Parsley sprigs (optional)

Combine first 4 ingredients; stir well. Rub cumin mixture over both sides of chops. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add pork chops; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Add remaining ingredients (except parsley), scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes or until pork is tender. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired.

Yield: 4 servings
Serving size: 1 chop and 1 C. sauce

Calories: 325
Fat: 10g
Fiber: 4.8g

1 T. paprika
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. rubbed sage
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
4 lean boneless center-cut pork chops, 1/2-inch thick
2 tsp. butter

Combine paprika, salt, sage, cayenne and black peppers and garlic powder; coat chops well on both sides with this seasoning mixture. Heat butter over high heat just until it starts to brown. Put chops in pan, reduce heat to medium. Fry on both sides until dark brown, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 223
Fat: 7g
Fiber: 0g

2 T. canola oil
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 red chilli, seeded and chopped
171/2 oz. lean pork, thinly sliced
1/2 C. brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 C. water
1 T. oyster sauce
Fresh Cilantro, chopped

Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Add onions, chilli and pork and fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add brown sugar, water and fish sauce and bring to the boil. Lower heat and simmer for 4 -5 minutes or until sauce is thick and syrupy, stirring while cooking. Sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve with steamed Jasmine rice.

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 304
Fat: 12g
Fiber: 5g

1 1/2 pounds lean pork
1 C. water
2 T. sherry
6 T. dark soy sauce
2 slices ginger
1 scallion or green onion
2 T. sugar

Put pork in boiling water. Boil 1 minute. Drain. Rinse in cold water. Cut pork in 2-inch cubes. Put pork and 1 C. water in an earthenware or any other very heavy pot. Bring water to boil. Add sherry, soy sauce, ginger, and scallion. Cover pot with a tight fitting lid. Simmer over very low heat 2 hours. Add sugar. Bring to high heat. Baste until gravy coats the meat. Serve with rice and/or steamed veggies.

Yield: 6 servings
Calories: 166
Fat: 4g
Fiber: trace

 

1 leek (about 8 oz.)

12 ounces dried spaghetti

8 ounces pancetta, diced (1/2 in.; see notes)

1 1/2 C. shelled fresh peas or thawed frozen petite peas

About 1/2 C. whipping cream

3 large egg yolks (see notes)

3/4 C. fresh-grated parmesan cheese

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. fresh-ground pepper

1 T. chopped parsley

 

Trim and discard root end and tough green top from leek; peel off and discard outer layer. Cut leek in half lengthwise and hold each half under cold running water, flipping layers to separate and remove grit. Thinly slice crosswise. In a 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat, bring 4 quarts water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender to bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. Meanwhile, in a 12-inch frying pan or 4- to 5-quart pan over medium-high heat, stir pancetta until fat is rendered and pancetta is crisp and brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but 2 tsp. fat from pan. Lower heat to medium and add leek to pan; stir often until limp and slightly golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in peas and cook until warmed through, 2 minutes longer. Reduce heat to low. Whisk together 1/2 C. cream, egg yolks, cheese, salt, and pepper. Add hot pasta and cream mixture to pan with leek and peas; mix gently to coat. Stir in pancetta. If desired, add a little more cream to thin sauce. Pour into a large bowl and sprinkle with parsley.

 

2 whole links hot Italian sausage

1 1/4 C. chopped red bell pepper

1 1/2 C. frozen whole-kernel corn

2 C. chopped onion

1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms

8 (1/2 -inch-thick) slices polenta

1/8 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper

1 T. olive oil

Cooking spray

 

Remove casings from Italian sausage, and combine with bell pepper, corn, onion, and mushrooms in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, 7 minutes or until the sausage is crumbled and browned. Set aside. Sprinkle one side of each polenta slice with thyme and ground pepper. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat; cook 4 minutes or until browned. Coat tops of slices with cooking spray; turn and cook 2 minutes or until browned. Spoon 1/2 C. sausage mixture onto each serving plate; top with 2 polenta slices, thyme-side up.