Recipe #2: Fennel Crusted Pork Loin with Roasted Potatoes and Pears

With company coming over on a weekday last week, I was in search of a recipe that was tasty, hearty, and had virtually no last minute components to take me away from my guests.  And, as always, it had to be something my husband would enjoy as well.  This was a decided hit and so simple that I will definitely be repeating it.

Fennel Crusted Pork Loin with Roasted Potatoes and Pears
from Real Simple magazine, October 2007 (and yes, I clipped this recipe that long ago and had stashed it in another cookbook!)

1 tbsp fennel seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
2 pounds boneless pork loin
2 onions (red or yellow) cut into quarters or eighths
1 pound small white potatoes, washed and quartered
3 firm, ripe pears (Bosc worked well), cored and quartered

1) Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

2) Crush the fennel seeds (mortar and pestle, bottom of a heavy pan, spice grinder).  Mix the seeds, garlic, 1 tsp of salt, 1/4 tsp of pepper, and 2 tbsp of olive oil.  Rub the mixture over the pork, then place the pork in a roasting pan.

3) In a large ziplock bag (or a bowl, if you want to wash more dishes) toss the onion, potatoes, and pears with the remaining olive oil, plus 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.  Scatter around the pork.

4) Roast until thoroughly cooked, about 70 minutes.  (I took mine out when the internal temp was 140 and let it rest for about 10 min to finish cooking.)  Serve with the roasted vegetables/fruit.

I followed the directions almost exactly, although I doubled the fennel-garlic rub (everything except the oil).  The results were delicious, and the prep was super easy.

Recipe #1: Curried Vegetable Pot Pies

I did not set out to start with a vegetarian recipe, since my husband's response to vegetables is usually lackluster at best, but I was flipping through never-used wedding cookbooks, and this just caught my eye.  Pot pie always sounds so warm and cozy in the winter, plus it actually was all vegetables my husband eats (minus the peas).  Score!  So here you are:

Curried Vegetable Pot Pies
adapted from Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home

• 1 package frozen puff pastry dough, thawed according to package instructions
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 leek, white and pale green parts only, cut into 1/2" half moons, washed well
• 3 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk, plus more for brushing
• 1 russet potato (8 oz) peeled and cut into 2" by 1/2" matchsticks 
• 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 cup frozen peas

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Cut pastry dough into four squares (just large enough to cover the top of each 10 oz baking dish).  Make several vents for steam in each piece.  Chill on a baking sheet until firm.

2)  Meanwhile, melt butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium high heat.  Cook leeks, parsnips, and carrots with 1 tsp salt, stirring frequently until slightly soft (3-5 min).  Add flour; cook, stirring, until golden (2-3 min).

3) Whisking constantly, stir in milk, potato, and curry powder.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer gently until potato is tender, stirring occasionally (8-10 min).  Season with salt and pepper

4) Stir in frozen peas.  Divide cooked mixture evenly among baking dishes and top with pastry.  Brush pastry with milk.  Place on a baking sheet and bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. 22-25 min. Let cool 10 min before serving.

My Variations/Notes

• I don't do matchsticks - who has the time?  So I just chopped the veggies into small enough pieces that I thought they would cook in roughly 10 min.  
• I added 1 cup frozen pearl onions.  I love them.  I'll put them in anything that will hold still long enough.
• I used small Yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled and diced, instead of russet.
• I topped mine with a biscuit topping instead of puff pastry - just as yummy, slightly healthier.
• I only did 3 cups of milk - four would have been veggie soup!
• Next time I will replace some of the milk with light coconut milk.
• I baked it in one container rather than small ones.  I'm lazy about dishes.

All in all, I thought this was a good but not fabulous recipe.  I'm always thrilled to find something vegetarian my husband wouldn't mind me serving again (although I think you could add diced chicken to this), and I'm certain I will try it again.  Definitely with coconut milk.  And in individual containers, so I can have peas in mine!

January Health and Fitness Goals

Happy New Year, everyone!

It feels productive to be posting on January 1.  It feels productive to be doing pretty much anything on a Sunday morning, especially a holiday morning.

Without further ado, my health and fitness goals for the month of January...

1) Complete a 45 minute cardio workout at least 3 times a week.

I'm blithely ignoring the fact that this should already be happening, because that way lies self-recrimination and perceived failure.  Instead, I'm reaffirming that, as a small step in the correct direction, what a wonderful habit I'll have established in the next 31 days.  And hey, I have a free gym with this apartment.  Might as well use it before we find that dream house!

2) Drink at least 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.

I'm horrible about drinking water.  Or anything, really.  I'm sure I spend my life partially dehydrated.  However, every time I commit to drinking more water, it also means I commit to spending more time running to the loo.  I've heard your body adjusts, but when your body is expected in a classroom to deter mayhem, you don't always have time for adjustments ;-)  But now I do.  So.  Water.  In January.  Lots of it.  At least, lots for me.

2012 Resolution #3 - Set (and measure!) Monthly Health and Fitness Goals

Um, isn't this everyone's New Year's Resolution? Lose weight.  Eat more healthy foods.  Get in shape.

Well, that's all well and good, but I've been trying to lose 10 pounds for about 10 years now, and all I have to show for it are the extra 8 pounds I've put on since the wedding.  (I'm not fat, I'm fluffy.)

However, with the passing of my grandfather and the advent of my 30th birthday this past year, I have decided that 2012 is about genes, not jeans.  Yes, it'd be fab to fit in a size four (um, I'm not really sure what that even looks like), but I'd so much rather live 89 HEALTHY years being able to enjoy the activities I choose.  So health and fitness goals it is.

In the name of accountability, I have decided that I will choose 1-2 monthly goals to concentrate on for each month of 2012.  These are going to be small, daily changes in my lifestyle that will hopefully create a long-lasting impact for my health and well-being.  Because, let's face it, I'm not giving up chocolate for the rest of my life.  I'm probably not even giving up chocolate for the rest of the day.

The challenge (besides, you know, actually achieving a goal) will be that these are cumulative goals.  Since the purpose of each of these goals is to create a lasting habit, each month will (hopefully) build on the ones that come before.  It's all about grace around here, though, so if I don't achieve a monthly goal, I'll have to figure out what went wrong and tackle it again.

Please feel free to chime in with advice and encouragement.  I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

2012 Resolution #2 - 52 New Recipes

It's amazing that no matter how many great recipes I have, I frequently find myself thinking "I have no idea what to cook for dinner!"  I love falling back on familiar favorites, but it's time to expand that list of familiar favorites - or at least find a few new things to whip out at dinner parties.

For the next year, I am determined to try 52 new recipes, averaging one recipe per week.  To further specify, at least 26 of these recipe must be main courses so that I can hopefully add to my collection of "favorites".

Suggestions are welcome, and be sure the check back for recipes and reviews!

Reading Challenges Galore!

Since I'm planning on reading 100+ books anyway... I might as well join a few challenges to keep me on my toes.

#1 : The Pulitzer 2's

I really wanted to join this challenge last year (when it was The Pulitzer 1's!), but between wrapping up a school year, planning a wedding, and executing a move, I wisely decided to refrain.  This year I'm all in, and I'm looking forward to acquainting myself with a variety of Pulitzer Prize winners (Although I am grateful to have already read The Good Earth, because I have no need to revisit that one!).

#2 : The Chunkster Challenge

Reading "big books" is not intimidating to me, but I want to ensure that I don't fill up my list with lightening quick reads starting in November.  I will be participating at the "Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big" level (six books, 2 at 450+, 2 at 550+, and 2 at 750+).

#3: The Victorian Challenge

I'm modifying this one a bit.  I will try to read one novel by each of the highlighted author's per month, for a total of 12 books.  Many of the authors I have read before, so I will enjoy exploring new works.  A few are on my "should read" or "why the heck haven't I read" list, and it's always nice to check those off!

There are several more tempting challenges, but I think three is enough to get started!  Happy reading, 2012!

2012 Resolution #1 - 104 Books

I have flirted with making New Year's resolutions off and on for most of the last 30 years, although it has always seemed strange timing.  To me, the new year has always begun in September, with the advent of the new school year.  However, considering I am not presently involved in a school year, I thought it might be time to reinvigorate the idea of setting some goals for 2012.

As a lifelong reader, I actually have no idea how many books I have read throughout the years.  If you were to ask me how many books I read this year, the answer would be "a lot".  Not very satisfactory.  So this year I am giving myself a personal goal, and we will see how easy or difficult this goal is to achieve.

And, of course, the internet comes to my rescue, because not only do I have the opportunity to make my goal public, but I also have the opportunity to join in a "formal" challenge hosted by Book Chick City.  So consider me formally engaged for the year!

My personal goal: Read 104 books in 2012, averaging 2 books per week

There are very few formal rules for this challenge, but I have created some of my own to prompt me in challenging myself:

1. Print and e-books are acceptable (as permitted by all challenges)
2. No Young Adult books
3. A book can only count for two challenges, if crossovers are permitted
4. Anthologies are permitted, if the entire book is read.
5. NO REREADING!

Fingers crossed and wish me luck - I'll be updating as I go!