Recipes

When I first had Savannah, people brought us dinners for over 3 weeks. It was such a blessing in so many ways. I would encourage everyone out there to take a dinner to a new mom, it's such a help in those early weeks! We had some wonderful meals, and I thought I would share 2 of the recipes for some of the yummy things people brought us.
First up is Sierra's Apple Stuffed Pork. A wonderful alternative to a casserole or chicken, and super yummy.

2-3 pound boneless pork loin
1/2-1 apple chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 shallot diced (or about 1/2 cp diced onion)
1 clove of garlic minced (this can certainly be increased if you like a lot of garlic)
1-2 T butter
-1 cup chicken broth
-1/2 -1 cup apple or cranberry juice
-2 Tablespoons cornstarch (or flour) mixed with water

(Optional: 1/4 cp dried apricots or fresh peaches it nectarines)

-preheat oven to 375

-Sauté shallots and garlic in butter in frying pan until just translucent
-Add apples and cranberries
-cook until tender

-Slice a 1 1/2 to 2 inch hole through your pork loin, stretching to make room for your stuffing
-Fill pork loin with stuffing
-Heat up the same frying pan (you may need to add a little oil) to med high heat
-brown all sides of pork loin, careful not to lose the stuffing out of the sides
-place pork loin in baking dish and bake for 60-90 minutes or until desired internal temp on meat thermometer

Once cooked I let the roast stand in the dish for about 10 minutes, then make your glaze by cooking the drippings over stove top on med-high to high heat, stirring constantly, mix in chicken broth and juice, adding cornstarch or flour for desired thickness.

Second is a really easy, light dessert. Kelli made us a pear cake, which I have since made in loaf form and in a bundt pan. This is very, very light and not too sweet, which was nice after a heavy dinner.

1 can pears in light syrup (15 1/4 oz)
1 package white cake mix (18 1/4 oz)
2 egg whites
1 egg
confectioners' sugar

-Drain pears, reserving the syrup; chop pears. Place pears and syrup in a mixing bowl; add dry cake mix, egg whites and egg. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on high for 4 minutes.

-Coat a 10 inch fluted tube pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour. Add batter. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Hope you enjoy!