Wow, have I missed you! I’ve just begun playing in the kitchen after a really long break.
You’ll be pleased to know that I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends as my first entertaining since back surgery ages ago. It was a success and I can’t remember being that happy in months. I was flat on my back for 3 days after but it was worth every single moan.
Over the weekend John’s brother, his wife, his niece and her 3-year old son here for the annual Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade. I really wanted to spend time with them as I don’t have any family in Australia. I didn’t overdo this one as everyone brought frozen things that could go in the oven and we sat outside and ate junk food and drank beer or bubbles and laughed. Win!
If you’re in Australia, I want to share this wonderful, pop in the oven roast from Murray Valley Pork. They were passing by the Sunshine Coast and dropped off a pork belly and this apple and cranberry stuffed pork loin. This would be a great gift as it doesn’t require any cooking experience. I wiped it dry and put it in the oven and set the timer. I served it with some garlic roasted potatoes and steamed carrots with sugar snap peas.
I should have saved it for Christmas Dinner but I’ve been invited out for the big day so I celebrated last night. It was so good and the stuffing reminded me of one my mother made. It’s a family dinner without the effort.
Murray Valley Pork is available in most parts of eastern Australia so click the link to find a butcher that sells this roast. I have plans for char siu pork belly cooked in my new pressure cooker. I don’t have a new pressure cooker yet but I’ve been hinting pretty big to Santa.
If you don’t live where you can buy an already made stuffed pork loin ready for the oven, this is my mother’s recipe for apple and cranberry stuffing.
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- ¼ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup boiling water
- 1 cup store bought stuffing mix
- 1 cup chopped apple
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- salt and pepper to taste
- In a skillet, melt butter and saute the onion and celery until soft.
- Place stuffing mix in a mixing bowl and add the onion and celery and water and mix to combine.
- Mix in the apple, walnuts and cranberries and the stuffing is ready to use.
Last year was a pretty rough year for both of us so we’re looking forward to a great 2017.
I’m nearly ready for Christmas and Charlie is all the way to eager for his pressies.
Merry Christmas to everyone!