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DAY ONE: PORK LOIN WITH FIGS. DAY TWO: PULLED PORK QUESADILLAS. BOTH FROM A SINGLE $6.00 PORK LOIN
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For Pork Loin Two Ways, we start with a boneless pork loin roast. This cut stands out as one of my top favorites to cook. This cut, sourced just below the shoulder, boasts a trimmable fat cap that boosts its flavor. Sized between 2-5 lbs., these roasts are approximately 2-3″ in height and up to 12″ long, although ours was just about half that long. Caution: Pork loin roast is NOT Pork tenderloin. They differ significantly. The tenderloin is narrower, leaner, and cooks faster. For these recipes, ensure the label specifies pork loin roast, not pork tenderloin. These two recipes focus on simplicity, making pork roast the perfect choice. I applied dry ingredients — paprika, rosemary, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper after coating it with Worcestershire sauce. The result: A remarkably tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful roast with a seamless blend of flavors. What do you do with that leftover pork roast? Plan on using it another night! In this case, we shredded the pork adding it to a blend of seasonings that bring Mexican flavor and heat to the dish.
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PORK LOIN TWO WAYS: FIRST WITH FIGS…
Fruit and pork are great companions. In this case, we chose Figs. Fresh figs are in season now. And it’s a short one. How long is it? Food Forest Nursery has put together a chart showing which varieties to use now. And they should know. Food Forest Nursery specializes in fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, fruiting vines and ‘other perennial permaculture plants”. Here’s a link to their fig chart: https://foodforestnursery.com/growing-guides/fruit-trees/fig-tree-growing-guide/fig-ripening-chart/. I used Mission figs. But if you can’t find fresh figs, by all means, soak dried figs overnight in water or–even better–Port, and proceed.
LATER IN THE WEEK, PULLED-PORK QUESADILLAS
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Pulled Pork is used as filling for tacos, burritos, and tortas–Mexico’s version of a sandwich. It can be served with rice, beans, and tortillas or used as a topping for nachos. We chose to make our pulled pork the prime ingredient in Quesadillas. The Quesadilla consists of a thin tortilla filled with cheese and, in this case, pulled pork cooked in ready-made salsa. Our salsa of choice is Sam’s Fresh Salsa. It’s so fresh you’ll find it refrigerated section in the grocery store. And to add its appeal, you can choose the level of spice that works best for you. I went all out with Sam’s Fresh Hot Salsa to add as much flavor and spice to our pulled pork. Here’s where to find Sam’s Fresh Salsa near you. https://samssalsa.com/where-to-buy. For cheese, you can use Oaxaca, Chihuahua, or, in a pinch, shredded Mozzarella. I went with Trader Joe’s Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese Blend– Monterey Jack with Jalapeños and Habanero Peppers. (We do love our spicy food.) Here are today’s recipes and after them some other takes on Figs, Pork, and Figs and Pork.
Pork works well with fruit, and the subtle sweetness of fresh figs (plus port wine) makes for an especially seductive combination. Pork Loin with Figs
Ingredients
Directions
A great Pulled Pork Quesadilla is one of the joys of Mexican cooking. Pulled Pork Quesadillas
Ingredients
Directions
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR OTHER FAVORITES FEATURING FIGS, PORK, AND PORK AND FIGS.