Italian Sausage Pasta

This is one of my family's FAVORITE recipes. The left overs heat up great also. If you are tired of pasta covered in tomato or cream sauce this dish is a refreshing, flavorful alternative.

Takes about 30 minutes to make depending on how quickly you can wash and prep the ingredients. Serves 6-8.

INGREDIENTS:
-1 lb dry fettuccine
-3 tbsp olive oil
-1 medium red onion, sliced
-1 clove of garlic, smashed
-4 mild Italian sausages, casing removed
-1 pint red or yellow cherry tomatoes
-2 tbsp red wine vinegar
-Sea salt
-Black pepper
-1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
-1-2 cups collard greens or kale, torn into bite size pieces
-Freshly grated Parmesan

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

2. While the pasta cooks, heat oil in a large sausage pan with tall sides, and add garlic and sausage, chopping into bite size pieces. Brown for about 5 minutes.

3. Add onion, tomatoes, greens, vinegar, salt and pepper (as desired). Cook about 8 minutes or until tomatoes pop. If the tomatoes haven't popped after 8 minutes use a spoon to help break them. (It is important to the flavor of the dish that the juices inside the tomatoes get out).

4. Add basil, then toss mixture with the fettuccine. Plate the pasta and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cider Reduction

This recipe is incredible easy, fast, and flavorful. I will NEVER do pork tenderloin in a slow cooker again. The glaze is sweet and tangy and the pork is moist and delicious. This recipe is perfect for busy moms.

Cook time: 25 min; Level: Easy; Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

· 2 (1 pound) pork tenderloins, cut in 1/2

· Vegetable oil

· Salt and freshly ground black pepper

· 1 1/2 cups apple cider

· 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

· 1/4 cup maple syrup

11/2 Granny Smith Apple, diced

Corn starch or thickener

Directions

1. Heat oven to 500 degrees F and arrange rack in the upper third.

2. Brush pork tenderloin with oil, and season well with salt and black pepper. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Sear pork on all sides until browned.

3. Place pork in oven and cook about 15 minutes, until center temperature is 145-155*. Meanwhile, place the same pan over high heat, add cider, vinegar and apple. Stir while scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook until mixture is reduced by 2/3, about 8 minutes. Remove the apples and add the thickener until it reaches desired thickness (note: Once the glaze cools completely it will be thicker than it is hot so keep that in mind while adding thickener) Reduce heat to medium, stir in maple syrup and remove from heat until pork is cooked.

4. When pork is ready, remove to a cutting board to rest about 5 minutes. This is important to keep the moisture and juiciness of the meat. Warm the glaze over medium -high heat. Cut pork into slices and place in the glaze, turning to coat completely. Serve with rice or other starch and enjoy!

Applesauce Pork Chops

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Total cooking time: 1 hour

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

6 bone-in pork chops

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 (16 oz) jar applesauce

1 tbsp cinnamon

Preparation:

Season pork chops with salt and pepper. In a frying pan brown pork chops in olive oil. While the first side is browning, season the up side with salt and pepper. Flip and brown the other side. Drain oil. Cover bottom of pan with 1/2 of the applesauce. Put chops on applesauce and put remainder of applesauce on chops. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Cafe Rio Pork Roast and Cilantro Dressing

1 Boneless pork butt roast (Jaime says it has to be BUTT roast)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup salsa (any kind)

Combine listed ingredients and cook in a crock pot on low for 6-7 hours. (Don't let it go all day like a roast, it'll get dry.) Shread pork before serving. It's just that easy!!!!

Here's the sauce to put on the top once you've put the pork into a tortilla:

1 1/3 Cup sour cream
3/4 Cup mayo
1 packet Ranch dressing mix
2 cloves garlic
4 Tbsp Green salsa verde
Juice of one lime
1/4 tsp Tabasco

1 bunch of cilantro--Leaves only!

Put everything in blender until smooth.
Garnish burritos with cheese and beans. Muy delicioso!!!!


Recipe courtesy of Jamie Kunsch!