CEiMB: Pork Au Poivre Filed under ( CEiMB, light recipes, main dishes, pork, quick and easy, sauces, wine )

I literally just ate this dish about 30 minutes ago, and I'm still basking in the glory of this dish. You must. make. this. pork.

This is hands down my very favorite CEiMB dish that I've made yet. It's simple, but the flavors are amazing. It's also so easy to make, with readily available ingredients, and takes about twenty minutes from start to finish. However, promise me that if you make it, you won't skip the sauce, you promise? It takes two ingredients, chicken broth and red wine, to basically change your life as you know it today. I poured a little on my mashed potatoes as well and well, pure heaven. I already can't wait to make this again, and as far as I know, there are no dinner plans tomorrow night...

Thank you Rachel Hearts Food for hosting!

Pork Au Poivre
Ellie Krieger

Ingredients

1 1/4 pounds pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, coarsely ground or crushed
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dry red wine
Salt

Directions

1. Slice tenderloin lengthwise, being careful not to cut through to other side. Split meat into 1 large, flat piece. Spread mustard over both sides of the meat and rub in the pepper, pressing gently so it adheres well. Cut meat crosswise into 4 even portions.

2. In large skillet, heat oil over medium flame. Put tenderloin in the pan and cook for about 10 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 155 degrees F, turning once. Transfer meat to a plate and tent with foil to keep it warm. Add chicken broth and wine to pan and cook over medium-high heat, scraping up any bits that have stuck to the pan. Continue to cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until sauce is reduced to about a half cup. Pour sauce over meat, season with salt, and serve.

Serves 4

Per Serving: 235cal, 10g fat, 30g prot, 0g fiber

Points per Serving: 6

I'm going to be absent for about a week. Glenn has family coming in Saturday for Spring Break baby! So we will soaking up our free time with family as much as possible. Have a wonderful week and I'll look forward to catching up with you all soon!!

M: Aurorae Yoga Discount and Poppy Seed Chicken! Filed under ( Charleston, chicken, wine )

Thanks so much to everyone for your sweet comments on my previous yoga and Aurorae mat post! We have such awesome readers =)

So, how fantabulous is this? The incredibly nice people at Aurorae have extended a 15% discount on all of their products to Itzy's Kitchen readers! The offer is good through December 31, 2010 and all you need to do is enter the coupon code Aurorae9 when you checkout. Just visit Auroraeyoga.com and follow the checkout process from there! Let us know if you have any questions on the offer =)

Have you ever been to a cooking class? I haven't yet, but definitely plan on it after going to this super cool wine tasting class this past Wednesday at my favorite kitchen shop of all time, Coastal Cupboard. They also host a myriad of cooking classes =)



This place is so adorable and they carry so many local products - local coffees/teas/handmade ornaments. Along with the normal bigger name products as well - Cuisinart/Le Creuset/Emile Henry. Shout out to Adam, the store manager, with whom we had some great conversation =) What a nice guy! PART of my favorite section - the baking section =)



Anyway, we had a blast at this wine tasting class. I actually think miss Erica is going to one of their cooking classes around Christmas time =)



So they usually hold their classes after work hours, which is so cool because you're literally the only people in the shop! Anyway, we tasted some amazing wines and learned how to judge wines based on look, nose, and taste. So much fun if you're a wine lover!



Let me tell you, if you're a Pinot Noir or Riesling person, I had two incredible ones! Those are my favorite wines - I tend to have more of a delicate palate and can't do the super intense wines, like Shiraz or Chardonnay. This Sass Pinot Noir is the BEST North American pinot I've had! Usually my faves are Italian. And, the Mosel River Riesling is so nice - not on the super sweet scale of rieslings, just perfect.



We had so much fun! And, the best part is they open the store to their classes afterward so you can shop around and buy =) Anyway, if you're ever in the Charleston area, you must stop by Coastal Cupboard or plan to take one of their classes - such an awesome experience!

Before I go, I need to also share my mother-in-law's poppy seed chicken casserole recipe. I am pretty southern, I won't lie. I grew up eating casserole dish after casserole dish, and I LOVE them! This one is no exception, and it is so easy to make!



Seriously, try this stuff out. It is creamy and so good with the Ritz cracker and poppy seed topping. This is definitely a southern dish =) I would think that maybe adding some English peas or mushrooms would be tasty too. I've seen many other versions of the casserole, but of course I'm partial to this one since my sweet mother-in-law gave it to me!



I usually just serve the casserole with brown rice and it's a meal!



Ingredients:
4-6 chicken breasts (I used 3 VERY large ones and it turned out great)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. sour cream (I used fat free, which normally I go with Light, but for the casserole, you really can't tell)
salt and pepper
1 stack of Ritz crackers
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2 TB. poppy seeds

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Boil chicken breasts until cooked through (I cut mine up just so the cooking is a bit quicker - I also think you could just get a rotisserie chicken from your grocer and use that as well).

Let chicken cool (I put in the fridge to cut the time as well - I know I'm a stinker!) and cut up into chunks. Mix the chicken with sour cream and cream of chicken soup. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well!

Spoon your mixture into a baking dish as evenly as you can. Crumble up your Ritz crackers and mix with the butter and poppy seeds. Spread the cracker on top of the chicken mixture.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. I serve mine with brown rice =)

Enjoy!!

M: Whole Wheat Molasses Bread Filed under ( Bread, Breakfast, Vegetables, wine )

Molasses you say? Oh yes…yes I did. And oh how delicious said molasses is when it is put into this easy bread.

If you’ve read any of my posts you will note my love for Joy the Baker. She just has her sh…I mean, stuff, together. She’s always got the greatest recipes and whenever I’m having a baker’s block, she just pulls me right out of it.

I saw this recipe yesterday on her blog for whole wheat molasses bread and I knew that was my next baking adventure. Well, not really THAT much of an adventure – it is pretty dang easy to make. But, I have never made a bread like this and her description made it sound fantastic. Plus I’m always looking for healthier snacks to have around the house other than chips and hummus and apples…

The dough does come out pretty thick, but no worries, it’s all part of the process.

Oh the many possibilities of this bread…The flavor is so versatile – it lends a savory aspect but there is such a great sweetness that the molasses adds. And, there is NO sugar! No oil, no eggs, no white flour…I know, sounds like it might suck, but it seriously doesn’t. It actually reminds me a little of a bran muffin. A little savory a little sweet =) Perfect density and texture!

Of course my first taste was simply with butter and preserves

You see how that turned out – I soon devoured this last bite shortly after the picture was snapped

Bryan tried it with almond butter, and man that was good too! Joy smeared some Nutella which I think would also be fantastic. You could do cream cheese, butter, anything your little heart desires! Last night I served up this easy vegetable soup alongside a buttered piece of this fantastic bread…

…Paired with a large glass of this Cabernet Sauvignon for me – super bold and full of flavor – I had to have this one, I mean, come on the name of it says it all

…Aaaaand a nice Imperial Stout for the hubs (Victory is one of his fave breweries)

And that was dinner! Tomorrow morning I’m making up some homemade oatmeal with bananas, raisins, and brown sugar and serving another piece of the bread with some butter and jam and/or almond butter =) I’m pretty sure this entire loaf will be gone within the next 24 hours!

If you missed it, go here for the recipe!

What are some of your favorite snacks to have on hand at home?