Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin and Hasselback Potatoes

Pinterest.  The website that inspires, overwhelms, motivates, and increases feelings of inadequacy all at once.  And I can't get enough of it.  Go figure.

I've pinned a few zillion recipes, and I've tried some of them, but none that would make it into my regular repertoire, until these two.  They are quick, fancy-schmancy, and taste fab-u-lous. 

Thank you, Pinterest, for introducing me to them.

Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin
Adapted from C+C Marriage Factory

2 lb. pork tenderloin

1 teaspoon ground sage

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 cup water

Glaze

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1. In a small bowl, combine sage, salt, pepper, and garlic.  Rub over pork tenderloin.

2. Place meat in slow cooker.  Add water.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

3. About 1 hour before the meat is finished cooking, combine ingredients for glaze in a saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until sauce has thickened.  (Watch it carefully so it doesn't boil over; this sauce is a booger to try to clean off of a glass cook top if it boils over and bakes on.  Trust me, I know.)

4. Remove any excessive liquids from the slow cooker (I left about 1/2 cup of liquid in the bottom, but removed the rest.  I also turned my slow cooker heat up to high for the last hour because my meat seemed extra liquid-y.) 

5. Baste tenderloin with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking.

6. Serve hot with any remaining glaze on the side.

Hasselback Potatoes

Adapted from Seasaltwithfood

6 medium Yellow or Gold or Red potatoes

2 - 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
Sea salt or kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1.  Preheat the oven to 425˚F.

2. With the flattest side down,  start from one end of the potato and thinly slice without cutting all the way through.  (I placed my potatoes in the bowl part of a large wooden spoon to keep me from slicing all the way through.)

3. Arrange the potatoes in a baking sheet and insert the garlic in randomly between the slits.   Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some salt and freshly ground black pepper on top of each.

4. Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

An Irish Supper

We have had a crazy few weeks, and I know I am late with this post. Regardless, this is a fantastic Irish meal.  Don't be tempted to skip the parsley sauce, it is delicious and pairs perfectly with the corned beef. I serve this meal with steamed carrots, but steamed broccoli would also be a good side and look pretty on the plate. It does take some time to make everything, so I would suggest putting the corned beef in to cook, then prepping all the rest of the ingredients. Make the colcannon through step 5. Make the parsley sauce and keep warm, then finish making the colcannon (step 6). If you are going to have carrots or broccoli, prep them along with the rest of the ingredients and steam in the microwave while you are mashing the potatoes or slicing the beef. Enjoy!


Corned Beef with Parsley Sauce and Colcannon
 For the Corned Beef:
2 lbs. corned beef (flat cut is better than point cut)
2 carrots, trimmed, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, peeled and chopped

For the Parsley Sauce: 
2 TBS. butter
2 tsp finely chopped yellow onion
2 TBS. flour
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. English  mustard (I use stone ground)
Pinch nutmeg
Salt and black pepper

For the Colcannon:
4 lbs. large red potatoes (about 9) peeled and quartered
12 TBS. butter
1/2 small head cabbage, cored and thickly sliced
2 lightly packed cups chopped greens (any combination of spinach, parsley, kale, or broccoli and cauliflower leaves) 
1 1/3 cups milk
4 scallions (green onions), green part only, chopped
Salt and black pepper


1. For the corned beef: Put beef (including spice packet contents), carrots, and onions into a large pot, cover beef with water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium- low, skim foam, cover and simmer until tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Reserve 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid. 


2. For the colcannon: While the corned beef is cooking, put potatoes in a steamer basket over a large pot of simmering water. (I use my pasta pot.) Steam over medium heat until tender, about 45 minutes. (If you do not have a steam option, put potatoes in a large pot and barely cover with water. Boil gently until tender.)

3. Meanwhile, bring 1/2 cup water and 2 TBS of the butter to a boil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add cabbage, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until just tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well, discarding liquid, and set aside. 

4. Melt 2 TBS of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped greens and saute until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Add cabbage and cook until heated through, 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a large mixing bowl. 

5. Put milk scallions, and remaining butter into a small pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until scallions are softened, 1-2 minutes, then add to cabbage mixture and cover to keep warm. 

6. When potatoes are done, add to cabbage mixture and mash with a potato masher until fluffy and smooth with some chunks. Season to taste. Serve hot. 

7. For the Parsley Sauce: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add onions ad cook until just softened, about 1 minute. Whisk in flour until smooth, about 30 seconds. Whisk in reserved beef cooking liquid, milk, parsley, mustard, and nutmeg, and whisk until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper and cook, whisking, until thickened, 4-5 minutes. 

8. Drain and slice corned beef and serve with parsley sauce and colcannon.