Happy early food fun to you!

With Thanksgiving next week, my weekly food fun post on Tuesday is going to be my favorite  Thanksgiving recipes, and tips I have learned along my journey with Thanksgiving Food Fun.

Although, I didn’t want to miss posting on a Weekly Food Fun meal, so here it is.

This weeks food fun finale was Pork Loin, with fresh apples, onions, and potatoes I just picked up from a Riley’s Farm Delivery. They are a local Utah Farm, and I am thrilled they do what they do.  I know if something didn’t work out in my garden, or I need a bulk order they will have great local / regional produce I can order periodically though the season to be delivered to our city.

A pork loin roast is really good,  and not something we have very often.  So, I have been saving it for that special day.  That sounds good doesn’t it…  actually, it was lost in the back of the freezer.  At first I knew what it was, so I wanted to save it.  Then, passed it by not realizing what it was, then finally the day came, oh wow! I forgot about this.  I have fresh onions, potatoes and apples coming, perfect.

First step, melt lard, butter, and garlic in the skillet.. cast iron should be your first choice if you have it.  Then I added sliced onions and a little salt.  Then pepper and sliced apples.  Time to sear the pork loin.  Once seared I add about a 1/4 cup of Marsala, simmer while I am mixing a cream gravy (yes I used a packet)  pour that in the skillet, stir and put into the oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the pork is done.

The side dish was a first for me,  cheesy scalloped potatoes.

I have always made them from a box.. I know..I know, ewww for many.  I do like easy sides, even though I know they may not be the best, sometimes they are the best for an easy dinner.  Although, now that I have finally made these, not going back to the box.  In addition, I got a fun new tool this week to make the dish even easier, a mandolin.  I really don’t know why I never purchased one before,  it is inexpensive, and makes beautiful tiny onion and potato slices. I will certainly enjoy this little tool more and more.

I got the motivation to try the potatoes from a facebook page I like, Cast Iron Cooking, the members share some beautiful food pics and so many new ideas for me to try. I got the recipe from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. It was a gift for my wedding many, many years ago.  Even after all this time, several homes, a few different states and new technology to find so many amazing variations of recipes online, I still go to this book. Sometimes the basics are all we need, except for garlic, we should always add garlic.

Enjoy the Fun of Food!