Pork “Filets”

We had this simple pork dish for dinner tonight. It is super easy to make and really adds Wow! factor to pork tenderloin. The flavors here are very rich, you need a simple starch (see the Fried Potato Wedges recipe) to balance it out.

Ingredients
1 – 1lb pork tenderloin
2 slices bacon
salt, pepper, dried whole sage to taste
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425F. Cut tenderloin into 4 pieces. Wrap tenderloins with one strip of bacon and secure in place with 2 toothpicks. Repeat with rest of pork. Sprinkle both sides of each fillet generously with salt, pepper, and sage.
 

 2. Preheat iron skillet (or other heavy skillet) over med-high heat. Place filets in middle of pan and cook for 5 minutes.

3. After 5 minutes, flip filets and cook for another 5 minutes.

4. Stand filets on edge and sear for 1 minute, rotate 1/3 cook another minute, repeat for final third.
 

5. Place filets in oven and cook for 7-10 minutes

6. Remove filets from oven, let rest for 5 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove toothpicks. Serve immediately with savory dishes.

Simple Grilled Chicken

 

This is a very simple main course for a weekday. It takes almost no preparation and is done in half an hour from start to finish (other than grill startup time).

Notice nothing fancy here, just let the smoke and the chicken do most of the work.

Ingredients
½ Chicken cut into 3 pieces: breast, leg quarter, and wing
Garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper to taste

Serves 2

Directions
1. Preheat the grill to 400F. I use a mix of hardwood charcoal and hickory.

2. Cut up the chicken and apply seasoning. I use generous amounts of each.

3. Place chicken on the grill, turn after about 10-12 minutes once skin is nice and brown.
 

4. After another 10-12 minutes check the chicken. Don’t over cook the chicken or it will be tough and dry. If you pierce the breast with a toothpick, the juices should run clear. If so, you are done.

5. Serve and enjoy the fruits of your labors.