Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

I am really having fun with this whole cooking kick!  Let's hope it lasts!  Here is a recipe that I cooked for New Years Eve dinner!

Ingredients:

1 (2 pound) boneless pork tenderloin (or regular pork loin)

1 teaspoon ground sage

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 cup water

Glaze

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions:

Combine sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Rub over roast. Place in slow cooker with 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 1 hour before roast is done, combine ingredients for glaze in small sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture thickens. Brush roast with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking. Serve with remaining glaze on the side.

I chose some veggies to add and in hindsight I would cut up the zucchini differently next time. They were a little mushy for my taste but got the bro-in-law seal of approval!  (But he's pretty awesome, so he would support my efforts as a budding chefanista! (my word by the way) :)

I hope you enjoy it!

Julia

Barbecue Chicken

I am working on a blog about the yummy pork tenderloin dish I made for New Years' Eve dinner, quick chicken soup and a make-up magnetic frame I am working on.  In the meantime I will share this quick Barbecue Chicken recipe I made for the fam today.  Have a wonderful start to 2012!


I love using the crockpot.  We needed a quick recipe so I borrowed this one from "Stick A Fork in It".

The only thing I did differently was that I added carrots, red potatoes and onions on top of the chicken.

Here is the recipe:

4-6 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts (I threw them in frozen... even easier!)
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1/4 c vinegar
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 - 1 tsp. garlic powder

mix BBQ sauce with all ingredients listed under it. place chicken in crockpot. pour sauce over it and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. 

Enjoy!

Julia