balsamic vinegar Archives - Page 2 of 2 - What the Forks for Dinner?

Cranberry Orange Pork Roast

Cranberry Orange Pork Roast……cranberries, with a whisper of orange……..the prettiest little pork roast you will ever see….or serve!!

When fall is here and the temperature starts to drop, I think back to Sunday dinners with my family. First off, let me just say that my family is one in a million. As kids my cousins and I spent many a happy Sunday at someones house and there was alway a big Sunday meal. It was usually at noon…….just after church and so us kids could get home and get ready for bed…..school on Monday you know!

Now, when I was growing up, crockpots we not the norm. I remember my Grandmother and Aunts cooking up a storm in their kitchens, and the smells that came from those kitchens…..well nothing else can quite compare.

So, in honor of fall and my family… Cranberry Orange Pork Roast. The prep for this is very simple and using the crockpot makes a “start it and forget it” main dish.

A nice boneless pork loin roast, seasoned with salt and pepper and browned in just a bit of coconut oil. Browning the meat seals in the flavor and gives the meat a beautiful brown caramel color. Then into the crockpot.

Next in a small bowl, some dried cranberries… deep red, tart and slightly sweet, orange marmalade… bright, sweet, and bursting with citrus flavor. A bit of balsamic vinegar (fermented wine grapes barrel-aged for many years) for its rich, dark brown, sweet-sour flavor and brown sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.

All of this poured over the browned roast and cooked for 3-4 hours on low in the crockpot.

I knew the flavors of this dish would work and taste great, but I was not prepared for how really pretty it was……the cranberries reconstituted and looked like they were fresh. The sauce was sweet tart and a dark umber color with little flecks of orange peel…..beautiful!

I did add a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, but only because Tim and I like a thicker sauce.

Cranberry Orange Pork Roast with some new potatoes or rice, and some nice fresh green beans…….a beautiful Sunday family dinner!

Cranberry Orange Pork Roast

★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours + 10 minutes
Yield: 8 1x
Category: Main Dish
Method: Crock Pot
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

1 boneless pork loin roast (3 to 4 pounds)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon coconut oil
3/4 cup orange marmalade
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat coconut oil over medium-high heat. Brown roast on all sides.Transfer browned roast to a 6-qt. crock pot.
In a small bowl, mix marmalade, cranberries, vinegar and brown sugar until blended; pour over roast. Cook, covered, on low 3-4 hours or until tender and the internal temperature should read at least 145°.
Remove roast from crock pot. Let stand covered with foil for about15 minutes before slicing to allow juice to stay in the meat when sliced.
Remove fat from cooking juices. Serve pork with sauce

Notes

For a thicker sauce use 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of water mixed and add until desired thickness.

Keywords: pork loin roast, orange marmalade, dried cranberries, balsamic vinegar, crock pot, dinner, main dish

Roasted Pear Salad

Roasted Pear Salad

Looking for a special side dish for the upcoming holidays?……… Roasted Pear Salad is it!

I am a recent convert to fruit on a green salad ………..well recent as in the last 10 years……ok so not so recent, but it is a taste to behold.

In my experience, salad was always lettuce,tomato,cucumber…….blah,blah,blah. So, the first time I tried fruit I was surprised how good it was, so I tried it again, and again and it kept getting better and better.

If you read my blog, you know if something catches my eye at the store it will make its way here…….lucky you!

I saw these pears and a fall salad came right to my mind. The pears on a bed of baby greens with walnuts and blue cheese……..sounded yummy. Some kind of vinaigrette to dress the salad……I had a plan.

Now, the biggest problem I have with apples or pears on a salad is that they turn color so easily unless you serve it right away and I am the make ahead type of gal!

I have tried lemon juice and the trick of soaking in 7-up, but never with much luck. I know you all can’t see it, but sometime a light bulb goes off in my head……..no really it does……..

If I roasted the pears the only color they would turn is a pretty, fall golden color, and what’s better than butter to make that happen?…….Paula Deen has the whole butter thing right, everything is better with butter.

So, cut side down in butter and 20 minutes later add a touch of balsamic…….it was going in the dressing, so why not add the flavor to the pears?…….light bulb!
When they came out of the oven I wanted them to soak up all that balsamic butter flavor so, even though it was all I could do not too……..I left them cut side down until they were completely cool. When I turned them over…………I swear they were the most beautiful things, all glossy and golden. I knew I made the right choice.
Another plus to preparing the pears this way besides them not turning colors, you can make them ahead,along with all the other things for the salad, and put it together at a moments notice.
Perfect if you are going to a holiday happening and you are ask to bring the salad……totally portable.

Blue cheese and walnuts “pear” beautifully with pears. I like gorgonzola better than regular blue cheese. To me it has a smoother creamy flavor, but by all means use what ever blue type cheese you like best. Toasting the walnuts…….or any nut for that matter, enhances their taste, like a million, billion times………if you have never tried it, you really have too!

I used individual plates, but if you were taking this to a get-together you can use a platter and just slice the pears. But, I wanted a fancy smancy plate, so heres how it went…….Baby greens, roasted pear half ( cut side up to show all it beauty), sprinkle with gorgonzola and walnut……serve with Honey Balsamic Dressing.

Both Tim and I thought the presentation was elegant and beautiful…….then we ate the salad…….the seas parted and angels sang……..ok not really, but it was a little piece of heaven.

So, impress your friends, family or significant other with this beautiful looking and tasty fall salad Roasted Pear Salad……..it will “leaf” them breathless !

Roasted Pear Salad

★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆ No reviews

Author: Marty Boyd
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Salad
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

8 cups mixed baby greens
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
2 Bosc pears,cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Honey Balsamic Dressing

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400*
Place 2 tablespoons butter in a 8×8 inch baking dish. Place in oven to melt butter. Remove core from pears halves using a melon baller or a small spoon.
Place pears cut side down in the melted butter and bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar,return to oven for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let set until room temperature. Do not remove the pears from the baking dish until completely cooled.
Divide the mixed green among 4 plates. Top greens with one pear half,skin side up. Sprinkle with Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts.
Serve with Honey Balsamic Dressing

Keywords: baby greens, pears, gorgonzola cheese, slaw, side dish, walnuts

Honey Balsamic Dressing

★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆ No reviews

Author: Marty Boyd
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes1
Yield: 1/2 cup 1x
Category: Salad
Method: Blend
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

5 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon minced shallot
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

In a small bowl mix vinegar,honey,and shallot until well blended. Whisk in oil until emulsified. Salt and pepper to taste.

Keywords: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, shallot, dressing

Italian Sausage Caprese Salad

Italian Sausage Caprese Salad

I can say with all confidence that Spring is here, and Summer is on the way. Having said that, salads come to mind………..Italian Sausage Caprese Salad!

“Caprese” refers to something that comes from or is in the style of Capri, an Italian island off the coast near Naples………so it really means Italian.

It really is a delicious salad, fresh baby greens, with mozzarella cheese……….I love that they have the little tiny mozzarella balls called ‘Bocconcini’, they are so easy to use, just drain they, pat them dry and they are ready for the salad. I love fresh mozzarella, but to be truthful, it’s kind of a pain to slice……..and I have a cheese knife! But, lucky we live in the kind of world where everything has an easier way.

Tomatoes and basil, along with a Balsamic Dressing make for a lovely salad. Enter the Italian Sausage……….Italian Chicken Sausage to be exact. Johnsonville makes some great chicken sausages. They are precooked so you just have to grill and warm them up. They were perfect for a salad that usually does not have meat. Adding the meat makes it a hearty meal.

Now, lets talk about how easy this is to prepare. Pre-washed greens, mozzarella balls (I already talked of their ease), grape tomatoes, a quick cut in half, basil, just a little chop or tear, and a quick grill of the sausage. A balsamic dressing that comes together in a snap, especially using a mini food processor, all the ingredients, a quick whirl, and you are ready.

This would make a great weeknight salad, since it comes together so quickly, or a nice light meal after a day of……….gardening, or what ever your weekend pleasures are.

So, enjoy the Italian Sausage Caprese Salad………..Buon Appetito!

Italian Sausage Caprese Salad

★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆ No reviews

Author: Marty Boyd
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 1x
Category: Salad
Method: Grill
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients
3 cups washed baby greens, any kind
1/2 pound Baby mozzarella balls (Bocconcini), drained
1/2 pound grape tomatoes, halved
6 large basil leaves, chopped
2 grilled Italian Chicken Sausage
Cracked black pepper, to taste
Dressing
2 clove garlic, grated
1tablespoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
7 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Grill Italian Sausage until warmed through and you have nice grill marks.
Allow to cool slightly and slice on the diagonal. Set aside.
Measure all ingredients for dressing into small jar with tight fitting lid. Shake and drizzle over salad. Serve immediately.
Divide the greens,mozzarella balls, tomatoes between two plates. (you can also place everything on a nice platter). Place the grilled, sliced sausage on top and sprinkle with basil. Serve with dressing and cracked black pepper.

Notes

You can easily double this recipe.

Keywords: mixed greens, fresh mozzarella, Italian sausage, tomatoes, basil, salad