Easy Marinated Pork Tenderloin

I really like pork loin... it's so lean and figure friendly! It is also very tasty if prepared creatively.  I am always on the lookout for new ideas with respect to flavoring. Recently I gave this recipe from Allrecipes.com a try.  I have to say, I really do like it.  It's a keeper!

Easy Marinated Pork Tenderloin

4-6 servings

2 pounds pork tenderloin ( I used 2 loins, approx. 1 pound each)

1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

3 T. Dijon-style  mustard

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 c. soy sauce

1/4 c. olive oil

Mix garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, soy sauce and olive oil in a bowl. Pour mixture into a one-gallon sized zip-lock style bag.  Place pork loins in bag. Seal it and mix contents around so they are evenly distributed.  Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour before cooking time.

Preheat oven to 375 ℉. Place meat in a glass baking dish and pour marinade over top.  Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until meat is no longer pink and instant-read meat thermometer reads 145 ℉.  Tent loosely and allow to rest about 15 minutes or so before serving.

Sources: Allrecipes.com, Flickr

Pasta e Fagioli

As I have mentioned before, I am an avid fan of  Giada de Laurentiis, ...this recipe the first Giada recipes that I ever attempted. Of course it was delicious!!! Over time,  I adapted her recipe to make it "my own."  Here is the result of that effort:

Pasta e Fagioli

serves 6

Image source: Flickr

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup chopped onion

3 ounces pancetta or bacon, chopped

2 teaspoons minced garlic

5 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed

1 bay leaf

2 (14.5-ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

3/4 cup ditalini pasta

Freshly ground black pepper

Pinch red pepper flakes, optional

Freshly grated Parmesan,optional

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, pancetta, and garlic and sauté until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes. Add the broth, beans, and dried herbs. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to medium and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes. Add the macaroni and boil with the lid on until it is tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Using an immersion blender, partially blend the mixture in the saucepan and stir well. Season the soup with ground black pepper and red pepper flakes.

Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese if desired.

You can see the original recipe by clicking here.

Paleo Pancakes...

Have you ever seen the recipe for "paleo pancakes" using only two eggs and a very ripe banana for the batter?  I tried that recipe...but did not have much luck with it.  Maybe that's because I used egg substitute and not real egg.  Maybe I will try that again sometime.  If you have never heard of it, here is the recipe...

Paleo Banana Pancakes

(makes 3 pancakes)

Image source:dromo.co

2 very ripe bananas

1 egg

1 pinch of cinnamon

oil for frying

Blend bananas and egg until smooth.  A food processor or blender will work nicely.  Meanwhile heat a little bit of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.  

Place 1/3 of the batter into the skillet and wait for bubbles to appear.  When bubbles are visible, carefully flip the pancake and cook the other side.

Place another third of the batter into the skillet for the second pancake and cook as directed above; repeat again for the third pancake.

Serve immediately for best results.........

WW points: 4 points per recipe

Source:Notquitenigella.com