{ jill’s pork tenderloin }

3 lbs pork tenderloin (1 pkg. of 2 tenderloins), cut into 4 pieces total
1 lb bacon
¾ cups soy sauce
1 Tbsp minced onions
½ tsp garlic salt
1 Tbsp wine vinegar or white vinegar
¼ tsp salt
1 dash pepper
¾ cups brown sugar

Wrap the tenderloin pieces in bacon. Place in an 8 1/2″ x 11″ pan. Poke holes in meat with a fork.

Combine rest of ingredients in a small bowl; stir well. Pour marinade over meat. Refrigerate, uncovered, 2 to 3 hours or overnight.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven, and let rest 5 minutes. Slice into 1/2” slices and serve.

Recipe and photo source.

stromboli

This has to be one of Tech Guy's favorite foods of all time. In fact, he was the one who introduced me to this recipe when we got married. I had never even had Stromboli before much less prepared it! It only takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to bake. I made 1/2 recipe for the 4 of us for lunch and there was only a little left over.

Stromboli

Dough:

1 1/2 cups water

1/4 cup oil

1 Tbsp instant yeast

1/2 tsp salt

4-5 cups flour

Filling:

3 Tbsp mustard or pizza sauce

4 American cheese slices

Sliced salami

Sliced ham

1/2 lb fried sausage or hamburger (optional)

2-3 cups shredded Mozzarella

Olive oil

Oregano

Italian Seasoning

Mix first 4 ingredients; add flour until a soft dough is formed. Let sit while preparing meat. Roll dough into 2 large rectangular shapes. In middle 1/3 of dough, layer the following: mustard or pizza sauce, row of cheese slices, 1-2 rows of salami, 1 layer of ham, sausage or hamburger, Mozzarella cheese. Fold outer thirds of dough over filling*. Pinch and seal edges. Brush with oil; sprinkle with oregano and Italian seasoning. Lift onto cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until browned.

*I often braid it for a dressed-up look. Just snip sideways into the outer thirds, about 1" apart all the way along, then fold them in toward the middle, alternating sides. (I don't know if that made any sense at all...) :(

gourmet pork chops

Back when I was on one of my low-carb diets, I would google all kinds of recipes... some were total failures and some became family favorites. This is one recipe that finally stuck - it's very low-fat and full of flavor. Dh has always loaded his meat with BBQ sauce at the table, but this one he actually doesn't, so that says a little! 

Gourmet Pork Chops

Pork chops
Olive oil
Any or all of the following: rosemary, thyme, marjoram, savory, oregano, basil
Garlic powder or minced garlic cloves 
Salt and pepper or Lawry's seasoning salt

Make a thick paste with the oil and seasonings; rub into pork chops and grill. Enjoy!

pork chops and rice

Tonight we used the grill again... I marinated pork chops for 24 hours in Diana Teriyaki Marinade and dh grilled them to tender perfection! But to me, the crowning glory of the meal was the side of Primavera Rice & Cheese. I've gotten into the habit of keeping these on hand, and if you'll notice they have the recipe right on their website for the side dish that had me licking my plate clean. I'll include the recipe here as well:

Primavera Rice & Cheese

170 g Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice w/ Mushrooms
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1/2 cup diced zucchini
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3/4 cup Mozzarella cheese

Prepare rice according to package directions. Just before rice is almost done, saute vegetables in oil. Stir into cooked rice along with Mozzarella. Cover and let stand for 2 minutes to melt cheese before serving.