Broccoli Slaw

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broccolislaw

Have you guys hopped on board the spiralizer bandwagon yet? I hadn’t, but have wanted to for quite some time. So when OXO reached out to me to give their new Countertop Spiralizer model a try, I was happy to oblige.

I opted for the the standard zucchini noodle to get my “feet wet”, and then quickly found myself spiralizing everything I could get my hands on. It’s so much fun to use! Couldn’t be any easier to clean or store, and has three different blades for a plethora of slicing needs. spiralizer

Like curly fries! I’m trying to think on the healthy side – but it’s hard to deny the fact that for me this is groundbreaking. Curly fries. Sprinkled with Old Bay. From the comfort of my own home. Ya heard?

Of all the things I passed through this little gadget last week, I think I had the most fun with broccoli stems. I always felt so bad tossing them in the trash on the regular, so believe me when I say it felt so good to make this delicious, crunchy, and tangy slaw with those big green stalks!

What a great way to stretch a buck, and good for you to boot! I mixed with some shredded green and red cabbage, as well as some shredded carrot for a little additional crunch and pop of color. Would be the perfect addition to any potluck party table.

Broccoli Slaw

2 large broccoli stems, spiralized or shredded
1 cup thinly shredded green cabbage
1/2 cup thinly sliced purple cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, greek yogurt, vinegar, honey, and celery seed.

Add in broccoli, shredded cabbage, carrots, salt and pepper. Toss to combine, and season to taste.

Cover and refrigerate for and hour to let flavors meld before serving.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the good folks at OXO. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Garlic Herb Seasoned Salt

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Garlic Herb Salt

Back at Christmas time I bought an insane amount of pre-peeled garlic due to poor grocery shopping planning, and needed something to do with it. I’d remembered a recipe they’d talked about on The Splendid Table a while back for homemade seasoned salt using fresh garlic, and decided that since I had a plethora of the stuff that I needed something to do with…this was the perfect opportunity to try out said recipe.

You guys, it’s been pretty much the only seasoning I’ve used since then – save chili powder and cumin. Not a meal goes by that I don’t find myself dipping into the stuff. I keep a mason jar curing of it at all times, just because it’s so perfect to use on everything – any protein under the sun, to any vegetable or starch you can throw at it! It really heightens the flavor of whatever it is you use it on, without overwhelming it…which many store-bought seasoning blends tend to do!

I roasted the garlic first – to intensify and deepen the flavors. Then, toss it into bunch of salt along with some freshly chopped herbs. Any mix of your favorite will do – I’ve been using rosemary and thyme recently, just because it’s been pretty readily available during the cold months.

However now that it’s warming up and I’m starting to think about my herb garden – I’m looking forward to experimenting with different blends of herbs this season. I also think that bit of citrus zest would also be a welcome addition to the party! Or maybe a smidge of lavender for an Herbes de Provance twist? Have fun with it, you can’t mess this one up!

Garlic Herb Seasoned Salt

20 large cloves garlic, peeled
2 tsp olive oil
1.5 cups kosher salt
1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves, removed from stems
1/2 cup fresh rosemary leaves, removed from stems

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place garlic in small baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Place garlic in preheated oven for about 25 minutes, until brown on the edges and fragrant. Roughly chop and set aside.

Combine kosher salt, roasted garlic, and herbs into a quart size mason jar. Seal with a lid and shake well to combine. Store in a dark space, shaking occasionally every other day or so, for about 5 days.

Place salt infusion into a food processor and blend for a few pulses until garlic and herbs are mostly chopped and uniform. Place back into the mason jar or another airtight container for storage.

Source: adapted from The Splendid Table

Roasted Citrus Pork Tenderloin

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Citrus Pork Tenderloin

Just when I think I can’t possibly come up with another preparation for a pork tenderloin, I’ll find a new twist that I love. I’d originally made a version of this tenderloin while out on the boat this year. I’d put it together in the morning, then grilled it on the boat. The orange, lime, honey, and garlic meld together to give wonderful flavor to the pork. And the sugars in the orange juice and honey give the create a beautiful, deep carmelization. Just served it with something simple like sesame noodles or potato salad. Everyone always loved it!

As it was such a big hit over the summer, I figured it would be something that would translate nicely to a one-dish meal, now that the weather has turned cold. So instead of grilling, I seared it off in a cast iron skillet, ten added some sweet potato wedges, Brussels sprouts, and fresh cranberries. The whole thing is placed into the oven to finish off cooking. In about 30 minutes, you’ve got a delicious (and complete!) meal.

I’d never roasted cranberries before, but now that I have – it certainly won’t be the last time! The flavor concentrates, and their sweetness really comes out. Not to mention that they were so gorgeous and festive dotted in-between the roasted veggies. For a meal that’s so easy, it’s really impressive. Something a little different than ham or crown roast of pork – also much more economical. I know I’m trying to pinch a few pennies between now and Christmas! Everyone will love this one.

Roasted Citrus Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts & Cranberries

For the marinade:
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lime juice
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3 Tbsp honey
1/3 cup olive oil

For the roast:
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 lb each)
2 large sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch wedges
2 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved if large
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
olive oil
kosher salt

Combine all the marinade ingredients in a lidded jar, and shake well to combine. Add pork tenderloins to a resealable bag and pour in marinade. Let sit for at least 1 hour, or up to 8.

Preheat your oven to 425. Place 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet (like cast iron) and add the pork tenderloins. Sear until nicely browned on all sides, about 7 minutes. Turn off heat and add the sweet potato wedges and Brussels, nestling in-between and around the pork. Scatter the cranberries over the top. Drizzle with about 1 Tbsp of olive oil, and season with a hefty pinch of kosher salt.

Place in oven and cook for about 20 minutes, until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 140. Remove the pork from the oven onto a cutting board and tent with foil, continue roasting the vegetables for 10 minutes more…until starting to brown around the edges.

Slice pork and serve with the roasted vegetables and cranberries.

  • Pork can also be grilled. Marinade as directed, then grill pork tenderloins over medium-high heat for about 20 minutes, turning occasionally, until pork reaches 140 degrees.

Apple, Bacon, & Goat Cheese Salad

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Apple, Bacon, & Goat Cheese Salad

Nothing beats a really good salad in the summertime. Whether it’s a simple Greek salad with grilled chicken – or something a little fancier like this apple, bacon, and goat cheese salad…they always go over well with our family after spending a day outside in the hot summer sun!

Crispy smokey bacon, crunchy apples, tangy goat cheese, candied walnuts – and the pièce de résistance, a delicious apple butter vinaigrette. I think it may be my new favorite salad dressing!

Musselman's Apple Butter

First off, it acted as an awesome emulsifier – it truly was the perfect consistency for a dressing. It also added wonderful flavor. The sweet and spicy notes in the apple butter really worked well with the salad, and combined with apple cider vinegar – there was definitely a ton of apple flavor going on.

I think the recipe for the dressing would also be an amazing marinade for chicken or pork. Looking forward to trying that soon, will report back! In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful salad.

Apple, Bacon, and Goat Cheese Salad

For the salad:
4 cups mixed greens
1 apple, cored and thinly sliced (Fuji, Jazz, or Honeycrisp are my favorites)
4 oz fresh goat cheese, crumbled
4 slices of bacon, chopped

For the candied walnuts:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup walnuts

For the apple butter-vinaigrette:
1/4 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Cook the bacon in a medium sized skillet over medium high heat until crispy. Set aside on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain. Set aside. Drain the bacon fat from the pan and wipe clean with a paper towel.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat. Prepare the candied walnuts. Add the sugar and butter to the same skillet you cooked the bacon in, and let melt. Once it’s mostly liquid, add the cinnamon and the walnuts, stirring carefully to coat. Cook until sugar is completely dissolved, and starting to caramelize – about 2 minutes more. Pour onto the lined baking sheet, flatten out into a single layer, and let cool.

Prepare the dressing by whisking the apple butter and vinegar in a small bowl or measuring cup. Add the salt and pepper, then slowly whisk in the olive oil. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Assemble the salad by placing the greens in a large bowl. Top with the sliced apples, crumbled goat cheese, bacon, and candied walnuts. Serve with dressing on the side.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the good folks at Musselman’s Apple Butter. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.