Sunday, January 16

Going into the Blogger dashboard and finding no already written posts to publish always  send me into a tailspin. What to write??? 

We had company for dinner last night; my blog friends Tiff and Biff, and my employer. This dinner had to be postponed several times due to snow or the calendars of busy people not meshing - and it had been a long time since I had seen the couple - so I wanted to make a good meal and hoped everyone would enjoy themselves. There is one thing I can cook and know I will not mess it up in some way, and that is pork tenderloin. I have never bought a bad one and most of the time they come out tender and moist and altogether delicious. I have concocted a new sauce for it:  orange marmelade and peach and mango salsa mixed together. It was a big hit! I doubt I'll ever fix tenderloin another way again.

What I call adult macaroni and cheese was a great accompaniment to the pork. It is made with gruyere and cheddar cheeses. It was supposed to have grated Parmesan in it as well, but as I was typing out the recipe for Biff later last night, I realized that I had forgotten the Parmesan. I can safely say it made little to no difference in the taste of the dish! Four of us had seconds - so I think it was a hit. 

Ordinarily, asparagus is my green vegetable of choice, but I bought some tiny green beans from Sam's and sauteed them in EVOO with red onions, adding slivered mint leaves just before serving. I grew up in the south, where green beans are usually cooked with ham or streak-o-lean until they are limp and olive-colored, but I think from now on, I'll be sauteeing them al dente, so that they actually resemble beans when they are served.

Tonight's dinner will be a reprise of last night, and hopefully, these are leftovers that mr. kenju won't mind eating again.

18 comments:

Pat said...

You area an excellent cook who creates by feel rather than rote.
I'd love the left- overs:)

Star said...

We have a grown up Mac & cheese as well. It uses a béchamel sauce, prociutto & parmesen.

LL Cool Joe said...

I'm hungry. Sounds great!

JeanMac said...

Sounds absolutely delicious

Arkansas Patti said...

That was a meal to write home about or for sure to blog about. I love anything with Orange marmalede.
I agree, pork tenderloin can't go wrong.

tiff said...

And it was utterly delicious, as was the company. Heck, bread and water would be delicious in your company! Thanks for hosting.

Looking to the Stars said...

It sounds so yummy, glad you had a good time and finally got to do your get together :)

Kay Dennison said...

Sounds great!!! Would you please post the macaroni & cheese recipe? There's your next post!!

srp said...

I had peach and mango salsa this summer for the first time and it is magnificent.... this looks like a great recipe. I might have to find some sugar free orange marmalade for mom.... but I think she will like this.

carmilevy said...

As I read this, Judy, the onscreen clock is about to tick past 1 a.m. and I really should be tucking in. But I was setting up some software on my iPad and wanted to see if I could easily comment on my favorite blogs (verdict: a big yes). And now, thanks to images of this amazing din, I'm hungry.

Quick stop in the pantry before bed. Thanks for the inspiration. Again :)

Fran aka Redondowriter said...

Yum. I want to be invited over some time.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

This sounds like a very delicious dinner, Judy...Everything sounded Yummmmmyyy! And left-overs would be delicious to me, as well...I hope it was for Mr. Kenju. You must be a very good cook Judy....Whenever you describe a dinner you have made, it makes my mouth water...!

Granny Annie said...

It sounds like a marvelous dinner and here I am trying to stick to my new years fitness program:) I have just discovered pine nuts and love them roasted, chopped and lightly sprinkled over soups, salads and vegetables. They are delicious but so expensive.

Olga said...

MMM. That sounds really delicious.

Grannymar said...

I am hungry just reading this. Any hope of a Care package?

Sparkling Red said...

If Mr. Kenju doesn't want his leftovers, please send them to me! :-)

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Sounds so good.

Darlene said...

Ooooh - now you made me hungry. I can't write more as I am off to the kitchen to see if I can find anything beside a raw carrot and an apple. :-(