Friday, March 13, 2009

Herbed Pork Tenderloin

Ok.... so here's the recipe you all have been asking for....

Kim's Birthday Pork Roast

2 lb     pork tenderloin
1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 sprigs ea fresh rosemary, thyme and sage
to taste Salt & Pepper ( I use roughly a teaspoon of each)

Remove herbs from stems and chop in food processor by pulsing about 30 seconds. Add olive oil a little at a time until all combined. Add S & P and whirl one more time to mix.
Take mixture and rub all over tenderloin until completely coated. Cover and  place in refrigerator to marinate a minimum of 2 hours or overnight.
Turn broiler on in oven and place oven rack on second setting in oven...5-6 inches from top of oven. Preheat while meat is coming to room temp.
Remove tenderloin from refrigerator at least 1/2 hour to 1 hour before cooking to bring to room temp for more even cooking.
Place tenderloin on a foil coated sheet pan and place in oven for 7 mins-turn and cook for 7 more mins. Repeat until desired tenderness achieved.  Meat should be firm, but bounce back when pressed with finger... anywhere from 165-175 internal temp depending on your likeness. The meat will continue to cook for 5 mins after being removed from oven, so take this into consideration on how much pink you desire in middle. Start at lower temp for more rare and leave in oven for more med. I perfer mine with some pink in the middle...it is all a personal taste.
Rest for 10 mins covered out of oven.... slice and put on serving platter. Pour pan juices over the top. Add fresh herbs to platter if so desired.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Birthday girl surprise!!!



So what do you do when you want to show a friend how great you think she is and how much you appreciate her???
You grab your favorite gal pals....plan a special night..... and surprise the heck out of her!!!
The evening was filled with laughter, good wine, good food and amazing women. The birthday girl Kim.... girly, but creative and very clean and simple! Pink and Brown fit the table and chocolate cupcakes filled with strawberries fit the girl!!!

The menu.... Wonderful starters.... chicken and lemon grass spring rolls, brie and carmelized onion tarts...just to name a few.
The main course....roasted pork tenderloin and wonderful sides.... like sauteed green beans and tomato and basil orzo. Everyone contributed to the wonderful evening with food, wine and lots and lots of laughter. What better way to tell a friend you love her!!!!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Welcome to my Blog......





So here you are....on my new blog....please be patient as I am new to this whole blogging thing...
I would love to make this a place to show who I am...what I do..... things that interest me and places I want to go in my life. 
Who am I? 
 a wife, a mother, a friend and last but not least a Foodie!!!

What I do?
 I call myself a cook, a pastry girl, a teacher....my friends and family like to say I'm a chef... I save that title for those who I respect as a teacher and master of the arts and those I aspire to be like one day.

Things that interest me?
You name it, books, music, dance, history, travel....
I could go on for days...As I progress more with this blog....
I hope to continue to answer these questions and maybe yours
too. I am always open to helping out, in the kitchen, your home,
your kids or even just a shoulder
to vent on!!! or cry on!!! or laugh on for that matter!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you come back often, to
see what I'm up too

Where I want to go?
This is a double edged question for me.....
were I want to go spiritually and daily in my life...is to a place where I am comfortable and happy and where I can appreciate all that is good in my life.  A place where family and friends support me and I support them....with all our faults, amazing qualities and silly quirks!!
were I want to go in the physical sense... is to travel Italy and all over Europe and explore history and food...and maybe live there for a little while one day. 

Confessions of a crazed pastry girl!!!!


So what happens when someone asks you to come up with a Birthday cake for their 11 year old girl's birthday. The only directions are something girlie, something pink...and oh..they are going to see a movie for the party!!
First, you find out what movie:
Confessions of a Shopoholic
Second,  you grab your favorite gal pal...who just happens to be an amazing graphic designer (Thanks Kim) that's Kim Viernes of Zoom In Designs...you can catch her link at the bottom of the page.
So this is what we came up with...and thanks to Kim's great model work..I was able to create everything else out of frosting...bags, clothes, signs...
A scene straight out of the movie...with a name change for the birthday girl and a street sign for her age!!