The first post of 2016 and, I hope, not the last - Herbed Pork Loin with Prosciutto

So, my new year’s resolution is conveniently vague and is basically to try to ‘do stuff better’. This could encompass such aspects as eating better, trying harder to do the things I enjoy, more exercise, stop buying shoes… whatever. I think a general malaise has set in, due to modern life being, frankly, rubbish and whilst I don’t want to sound like a miserable old cow, one of the quotations that I learned for my German Literature A level examination, 23 years ago, was ‘fur die Tretmulle bestimmt’ from ‘Und Sagte kein einziges Wort’ by Heinrich Boll. This phrase kept coming back to me towards the end of 2015. Basically, destined for the treadmill. And I've gotta get off that treadmill.

So here is a blog post about a pretty yum, easy and satisfying meal that we actually sat round the table for, (and there we have another little, but crucial, activity that went by the by last year and needs to return: Eating together and having a bit of a conversation about ‘stuff’). In the spirit of trying to ‘get back’, I returned to the tried and tested brilliance of the Barefoot Contessa, who, no matter which dish I pick from one of her gloriously colourful and luscious books, the end result will make you look pretty adept.

This recipe is from her last book, ‘Make it Ahead’, which appeals to the organised person with not a lot of time and who wants to party on with her guests. I already have not a lot of time; now I just need to be organised and have a party.

Herbed Pork Tenderloin (with Apple Chutney which I did not make because I had some to use up) from 'Make it Ahead' by Ina Garten

My alterations/additions are in red

Ingredients:

I halved the recipe below - except for the prosciutto, of which I used 10 slices

2 pork tenderloins (also known as pork fillet) (2 1/2 to 3 pounds total)
1 tablespoon minced (chopped!) fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

1/2 tbsp. (chopped) fresh sage
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Good olive oil
10 to 12 slices prosciutto

 Apple Chutney (I used apple sauce, left over from Christmas)

Method

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Cut any sinew or excess fat from the pork loin and pat dry.

Chop the rosemary, the sage and the thyme then add ½ tsp of salt and ½ of ground black pepper to the herbs. Combine.

It’s probably easier to lay out the slices of prosciutto, overlapping each other, onto a baking tray, in preparation for laying the herbed loin onto it.

Coat the loin in a little olive oil and rub the herb and seasoning mixture all around it. Place it onto the prosciutto and pull the prosciutto over the loin, a bit like a blanket. Carefully turn the loin over so the prosciutto ends are tucked under the loin.

Place in the oven for about 25 minutes and then if you have a thermometer, check that the internal temperature is … I just cooked mine for 25 minutes and took a chance, to be honest. Pork loin is seriously chewy if you over cook it.

The Barefoot Contessa serves this with an apple chutney which, let’s face it, is a pretty fab idea. I used the last of the apple sauce with Calvados from Christmas which counteracted the saltiness of the prosciutto fabulously.

Like baked beans, only better! Simmered beans with sausage and tomato

 

 

Well, maybe. Baked beans are pretty damn amazing. Maybe I should have said 'different'.

Last week we had Summer again, several days of fabulous temperatures, coinciding with Lola's return to school (and, indeed, my return) which is irritating but not wholly unexpected as these things seem to happen when it comes to 'Britain' and 'weather'. Now we're back to something more Autumnal and I don't know whether it's just contrast but it's a bit chilly! So something a little more hearty was in order, and this Italian style dish was very satisfying as well as registering very low on the 'faff' scale, which is very important on weeknights where frankly, in this house, it is total chaos. In fact it's a wonder we get fed at all.

Sausages. I do love them. For this to be authentically Italian, (well as authentically Italian as it can be in a little kitchen somewhere near Liverpool) you should be using Italian type sausages, or at least the meaty type. Mine were bought at Sainsburys and they were quite fennel-ly. I think that the sausages you need to buy have to be the tasty robust type and not the cheaper sort.

Lola and Finn like sausages and beans. Not surprisingly, they liked this. Fantastico!

Simmered White Beans with Sausage and Tomato, taken from 'Italian Comfort Food' by Julia Della Croce.

Serves Lola, Finn, Mum and Dad

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves

1lb 'meaty' (Italian) sausages

1 tbsp tomato puree

1/2 tsp dried sage

125ml meat stock (I used beef)

1/2 tsp salt, or to taste

1 tin of cannellini beans, drained

1 tbsp flat leaf parsley

Method:

 

 

 

In a frying pan over a medium low heat, warm the olive oil. add the onion and garlic and saute gently until totally softened but not browned.

Remove the onions and garlic from the pan and transfer to a bowl, in preparation for adding later.

 

 

 

Add the sausages to the pan (I cut mine up; the original recipe suggested removing the skins and allowing the sausage meat to break down into chunks, but I like texture and I wanted the kids to see that it was actually sausages) and brown a little.

 

 

 

Return the onion and garlic to the pan and add the tomato puree, sage and stock and some seasoning to taste. Bring to the boil.

 

 

 

Add the cannellini beans and bring to the boil again then reduce to a simmer. Partially cover and cook gently for about 10 to 15 minutes.

 

 

 

Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crusty bread.