Category Archives: Pork

Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mexican, Pork

Mexican Pork Stew (Crock Pot)

October 29, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This turns out a dish much like pork carnitas, but with a bit more juice so you can enjoy it as a stew. Serve it piping hot and enjoy !

8 servings
252 calories per serving

3 lb. pork loin
1 1/2 c salsa verde
1 3/4 c chicken broth
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 t ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained well
1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1/2 c low fat sour cream

Trim meat and cut into 2 inch chunks and place in crock pot; sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a saucepan mix salsa, broth, onion, cumin, salt and pepper and bring to a boil then pour it into the crock pot. Add tomatoes and mix. Cover and cool 6-7 hours or until meat is very tender. Transfer meat to a bowl and keep warm. Pour the sauce an veggies into a skillet and cook for 15-20 minutes to thicken sauce. Add in pork and ¼ c cilantro and heat through. Garnish each dish with sour cream and cilantro.

To make this without a crock pot, preheat oven to 350 degrees and place pork, salsa, broth, onion, cumin, salt, pepper, tomatoes and ¼ c cilantro in a large baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake 2 ½ hours. Uncover and bake 15 minutes. Garnish with sour cream and cilantro.

Asian, Dinner, Pork

Orange Pork and Broccoli

June 7, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Very orangey – very authentic – very, very good !

4 servings
314 calories per serving

3/4 lb. pork loin cut into thin strips
2 T red wine or beef broth
1 T soy sauce
1 T cornstarch
3/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1 T dark sesame oil
2 c broccoli florets
1 orange bell pepper, cut into strips
1 1/2 t grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 c orange juice
1/4 c hoisin sauce (available in the Asian section at your food market)
2 T honey
2 c hot cooked brown rice

Mix pork, wine, soy, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet on high heat. Add broccoli and pepper and stir fry for 3-4 minutes. Add the pork and stir until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the finer and cook 1 minute longer. Add the juice, hoisin sauce and honey and cook until pork is done and sauce is thickened some, about 3 minutes. Serve with the hot cooked rice on the side.

Dinner, Pork

Pork and Orzo

April 23, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is a fantastic dish – the feta cheese brings a nice flavor and makes the dish much more special. It’s a great balanced meal in a bowl – all your protein, veggies and carbs all in one nice package.

6 servings
373 calories per serving

1 ½ lb. pork tenderloin
1 t coarsely ground pepper
2 T oil
½ t Kitchen Bouquet (flavoring in the gravy or spice section of your market)
3 qt. water
1 ¼ c orzo
¼ t salt
6 oz. baby spinach
1 c grape tomatoes, halved
¾ c reduced fat feta cheese, crumbled
Lemon juice

Rub pepper into meat and cut into bite sized pieces then cook in oil over medium heat for 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Stir in Kitchen Bouquet and stir well. Cook pasta for 9 minutes in boiling water and then stir in spinach and cook a minute longer. Add tomatoes to the pork and cook 1 minute then add the drained orzo and finally add the feta cheese. Just before serving, splash with some fresh lemon juice.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Pork

Rotini with Ham

March 8, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Ham, alfredo sauce, pasta. They just go together so well. Add in some cheese and sun dried tomatos and you have a smash hit that the whole family will love.

6 servings
289 calories per serving

8 oz. rotini FiberGourmet pasta
16 oz. jar low fat Alfredo Sauce
19 oz. can asparagus spears cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 c sun dried tomatoes (not in oil), rehydrated in warm water
1 c diced cooked ham
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese (or a mix of cheddar and Swiss)
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish with Pam. Cook pasta according to package directions. Heat alfredo sauce then stir in pasta, asparagus,. sun dried tomatoes and ham. Stir in half the cheese and turn all into the baking dish. Cover and bake 40 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake another 5 minutes.

Appetizers, Asian, Pork

Crispy Wontons

February 6, 2012 admin Leave a comment

These are the perfect little appetizers. You don’t really taste the cream cheese, but it’s there for the onion flavor and to keep the pork moist. These would also be great dropped in hot chicken broth and boiled for 5 minutes or so. Serve a few next to a big green salad with ginger dressing for a nice light dinner.

16 servings (1 serving = 2 wontons)
120 calories per serving

8 oz. Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 lb. ground pork, cooked, well drained
1 t minced ginger
1 t sesame oil
32 wonton wrappers
2 t sesame seeds
2 T soy sauce
1 T rice wine or water
1 T water
Pam

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix pork, cream cheese, ginger and oil and place 1 T of mix onto each wonton wrapper. Fold into wonton shape (see the video below for easy to follow instructions). Spray a baking sheet with Pam and place wontons on sheet. Brush wontons with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown Then lower oven to 350 and bake another 5 minutes. Mix soy, rice wine and 1 T water and serve with wontons as a dipping sauce. Alternately you can serve with prepared ginger soy sauce.

Kid Friendly, Lunch, Pork, Sandwiches

Taylor Ham and Cheese

January 27, 2012 admin Leave a comment

If you’re from the NY Metro area, then right away you know what I’m talking about 😉 But if you’re not, you’re probably scratching your head. Taylor ham is a very regional item – I have never found it anywhere other than the Northeast and only part of the NE ! It is a compressed product of pork and spices / flavorings. It comes presliced or in a roll like a big roll of bologna. It has a flavor like NOTHING ELSE. It is served as a side to eggs (like bacon or sausage) or on a roll. A BIG breakfast sandwich here is Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese on a hard roll. (Don’t even get me started about a HARD roll – in the NE it is a type of roll, it does NOT mean a stale roll – hehehehe).

I’ve skinnied up the extras so that this sandwich comes in at only 265 calories per serving. To my fellow NJ and NY peoples, enjoy 🙂 (those of you out of state will have to wait to you visit the area – when you do, be sure to try this incredible product).

1 serving
265 calories per serving

2 slices light wheat bread (Stop and Shop has a great one that is only 35 calories per slice)
1 slice Kraft fat free singles cheese
2 thin slices Taylor Ham (pork roll)

Brown the pork roll in a hot skillet. Make a sandwich. Enjoy 🙂

(I cut into the pork roll a couple of times before frying – this helps it to not curl up during the cooking process).

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mexican, Pork

Zesty Mexican Pork Chops

January 16, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Cheesy, spicy without being hot, cheesy, filling, – oh, and did I say ‘cheesy’? 🙂 I don’t know what is better in this meal, the perfectly spiced pork chops with the cheesy sauce or the cheesy rice ! Why don’t you decide 🙂

4 servings
390 calories per serving

1 lb. boneless pork chops
2 t chili powder
1 1/2 t ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
1 t oil
3/4 c white rice, uncooked
1 3/4 c water
1/2 c chunky salsa
3 oz. Velveeta 2 % cheese, cut into cubes
2 T chopped parsley

Sprinkle meat with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet and cook chops 5 minutes or just until browned on both sides. Remove to a plate and cover to keep warm. Add rice to skillet and cook 1 minute then add water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 16 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in half of the salsa and half of the cheese and place the chops on top. Simmer 5 minutes. Melt the rest of the salsa and cheese together with the parsley in the microwave for 30 seconds then pour over meat and serve.

Breakfast, Lunch, Pork, Sandwiches

Ham and Bean Sandwich

January 14, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Heavy, filling and a great sandwich for a cold and blustery day. I think it works just as well as a breakfast sandwich as it does a lunch sandwich !

1 serving
250 calories per serving

¼ c Egg Beaters
2 slices whole wheat toast
4 T white beans, mashed with salt and pepper and 1 t water and heated in the microwave one minute
4 slices very thin, lean baked deli ham
1 slice Kraft Singles cheese (American or cheddar)
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Heat skillet and spray with Pam. Scramble egg beaters or make a little circle out of them so they stay on the bread nicely.

Here’s a quick video to show you how to prep the eggs:

When toast is done, spread one piece with beans. Then add ham, cheese, warm eggs and sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with the final piece of bread.

Lunch, Pork, Sandwiches

Open Faced Ham and Brie

January 8, 2012 admin Leave a comment

I was tempted to leave off the spinach on this one so I could get more brie flavor – I LOVE cheese 😉 But I didn’t and I’m glad I kept it on – it was a nice contrast to the cheesy goodness and embellished it rather than taking away from it. This goes together in 5 minutes and is a nice change from a boring old ham and cheese sandwich.

1 serving
364 calories per serving

2 slices 45 calorie wheat bread
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray
¼ t garlic powder
Pam
2 oz. brie
4 thin slices deli ham (Oscar Mayer makes a great pre-packaged deli ham)
½ c spinach leaves
1 T fat free balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Spray outside of each slices of bread with butter spray and sprinkle with garlic powder. Place buttered side down in a hot skillet sprayed with Pam. Top with cheese and cook a few moments to get the cheese all melty. Top with ham. Remove from heat and layer on the spinach leaves and sprinkle with dressing. Serve open faced.

Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pork

Crock Pot Pork Loin

November 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This tenderloin comes out juicy and tender after cooking all day. There is nothing quite as convenient as a crock pot ! The onion soup mix holds all the flavor you need to make this a family favorite.

6 servings
291 calories per serving

2 lb. pork tenderloin
1 oz. envelope dry onion soup mix
1 c water
3/4 c red or white cooking wine
3 T garlic, minced
3 T soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Place meat in crock and sprinkle with the soup mix. Add water, wine and soy and turn the meat to coat it. Spread garlic on top of roast and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook on high 4 hours or low 7-8 hours. If you like the top to be brown, broil for a few minutes before slicing.