Really Delicious Birthday Dinner

First off I have to give Nicole C. a really big shout out for posting on her blog this pork tenderloin recipe.  Tracy found it a few weeks back and said "This is what I want for my birthday dinner!"  Nicole C. gave it a rave review and made it sound so delicious.  Okay, we will try it too.  This recipe is pretty basic on the ingredients so you can easily pick up on the different tastes.

• 1 lb. pork tenderloin, cut into 3/4 inch thick medallions
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 3/4 Cup Trader Joe's Cherry Preserve (or a good brand if no TJ is in your area)
• 3 Tbsp. creme fraiche (thicker but less sour than sour cream)
• dash of Trader Joe's Chili Pepper Hot Sauce or Jalapeno Pepper Hot Sauce (I used Louisiana Brand)
• salt and pepper

Cut tenderloin into medallions and salt and pepper each side.  In a medium saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and saute medallions.  I managed to cut up the tenderloin into 12 medallions so it was easy to saute 6 at a time.  Once one batch is browned on both side (maybe 3-4 minutes per side) place that batch on a warm plate.  In the oven on the Preheat setting is a good place to put those medallions while the second batch is cooking.  Once all the medallions are cooked, in the same saute pan melt the cherry preserves, stir in the creme fraiche then add a dash or two of hot sauce.  Finally add those medallions back into the pan and let the whole thing simmer for a few minutes.

I served the medallions with some simple brown jasmine rice that I had cooked up with turkey stock instead of just water and some some Brussels sprouts roasted with garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil.

 

Really this was a very basic meal but the pork tenderloins was divine.   Dinner was served with some Riesling wine that also went very nicely with the whole ensemble. 

For dessert Tracy melted up some white chocolate squares while I washed and cut the stems off some fresh strawberries.   We dipped the strawberries in the chocolate, fondue style.  All in all Tracy was so very happy with her birthday meal that she simple forgot about the diamond earrings that I had given her that morning. 

Happy Birthday My Love from your Frog Prince. XOXOXO

Comments

[Nicole C.]

Woo hoo, I made it onto the Two Happy Bellies blog! Yeah, this is definitely a basic recipe for you guys -- nothing fancy about it. But it is lick-the-plate worthy. And diamond earrings -- oh my!