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Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

November 1, 2013 by Shari Eckstrom 21 Comments

Sweet and spicy Pork Stew

 “The season for enjoying the fullness of life — partaking of the harvest, sharing the harvest with others, reinvesting and saving portions of the harvest for yet another season of growth.” – Dennis Waitley

As I sit down to write my post for this week, I have conflicting emotions. Just how personal is a blog supposed to be? Do I write about “real emotions that are raw, fragile and a bit painful at times” or, “stick to the fluffy stuff that feels warm and fuzzy,” leaving you feeling all good inside but containing only a small portion of who I am, or what I value?  I suppose the answer lies somewhere in the middle. It mirrors the tales of our lives, each taking a turn between fragile and warm, raw and fuzzy.  Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew warms you up from the inside out. The Chipotle spiciness is tempered with sweet potatoes and a hint of apple cider, a perfect combination that works well together.

Today is a fragile and raw kind of day, just like the weather on this cold, blustery first day of November. One of those times when all I want to do is curl up in my favorite chair right next to the fire, pull out a good book, and get caught up in some magical moment that does not belong to me. To leave all the responsibilities, cares and concerns of the day far behind for a few precious moments, and just take care of me. The great thing is I am able to do this every once in a while. I have given myself permission to take care of myself when life seems a little raw. I finally understand that it is not selfish to stop and get off the merry go round for a time. Regroup, refocus, breathe and take a timeout. Life will still be waiting for me when I resurface and I will be all the better for it.  Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew warms you up from the inside out. The Chipotle spiciness is tempered with sweet potatoes and a hint of apple cider, a perfect combination that works well together.

The month of November is a busy one, garlic, onions and leafy greens need to be put out in the garden, holiday gatherings to be planned, food prepared, gifts made or purchased, schedules coordinated, the list is endless. With all the busyness of the upcoming holidays it would be easy to focus on the tasks and forget about the people that we are bustling and striving for. I find that when I stop and take those needed moments for myself to reset and regroup, I have so much more to give to others and feel less put upon to do so. A wonderful side effect I would say and something worth thinking on.  Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew warms you up from the inside out. The Chipotle spiciness is tempered with sweet potatoes and a hint of apple cider, a perfect combination that works well together. I felt guilt for years taking time for me.  Am I alone or have you felt guilty too? How do you handle your raw and fragile days?

 Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew warms you up from the inside out. The Chipotle spiciness is tempered with sweet potatoes and a hint of apple cider, a perfect combination that works well together.

Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

Today’s recipe is a simple, tasty, and delicious meal I like to make on cold, blustery fall days. Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew warms you up from the inside out. The Chipotle spiciness is tempered with sweet potatoes and a hint of apple cider, a perfect combination that works well together. The recipe can easily be adapted for the slow cooker. As an added bonus, Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew leaves the whole house filled with it’s wonderful aroma. 

Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew
2013-11-01 13:38:10
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Ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
  2. 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin, cut into 1-inch cubes
  3. 1 onion, diced
  4. 6 cloves garlic, minced
  5. 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  6. 1 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  7. 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
  8. 1 1/2 cups apple cider
  9. 4 cups vegetable stock
  10. 2 large (about 1 pound) sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  11. 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
  12. Salt and pepper, to taste
  13. Sour cream, for topping
Instructions
  1. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the pork in batches and brown.
  3. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to low, add additional 1 tbsp oil, onion and garlic.
  5. Cook, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pot, until the onions are golden, about 10 minutes.
  6. Add reserved pork, cumin, coriander, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, stir to combine.
  7. Pour in apple cider and vegetable stock and bring to a boil.
  8. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  9. After 1 hour, add sweet potatoes and corn.
  10. Simmer until the pork is tender and potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 45 additional minutes.
  11. Add salt and pepper if necessary.
  12. Ladle into bowls and top with sour cream.
Notes
  1. For use with a slow cooker: after browning pork and vegetables, place everything in a slow cooker except the sweet potatoes and corn and combine. Cook at desired temperature adding sweet potatoes and corn during last few hours of cooking to prevent them for overcooking and getting mushy.
Adapted from http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/pcc/recipes/spicy-pork-and-sweet-potato-stew
Adapted from http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/pcc/recipes/spicy-pork-and-sweet-potato-stew
Pure Grace Farms https://puregracefarms.com/
 Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew shared with:

*Organize 31: Inspire us Thursday *Calm. Healthy. Sexy: Let’s Get Real *The Crafty Wife: The Wednesday Roundup * Daily Dish Of Life: Friday Faves *Kitchen Dreaming: The Weekend Social *Oh My Heartsie Girl: Weekend Fun Party  *An Ali Event: Pretty Pintastic *Natasha in Oz: Say G’Day *Creative K Kids: Tasty Tuesdays *Pebbles and Piggytails: Saturday Dishes

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Filed Under: Entrees, pork, Soup and Stews Tagged With: apple, Chipotle, in the kitchen, pork, simple, slow cooker, spicy, sweet potato

Cooking From The Heart

October 1, 2013 by Shari Eckstrom 4 Comments

“Cooking is at once an act of child’s play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love.” – Craig Claiborne

Dinner time at our home is always an adventure. 

Lime-and-Chili2

Rarely will you pull up your chair, as we gather at the table for a meal, and be served the same thing twice. This is a source of great frustration for my husband, Tim.

Cayenne,-Paprika--and-Thai- peppers You see, when he likes something, I mean really, really likes something, I am hard pressed to make it exactly the same way a second time.

limes

It is not that I don’t have a recipe to follow, or that I haven’t painstakingly written down a recipe when I am creating something new.

Pork Tomatillo Verde with Lime - Tender melt in your mouth Pork loin is roasted over a simple lime sauce and then covered with a  deliciously spicy Tomatillo Verde.

No, the problem lies in my being able to follow the recipe. I just can’t do it. There is always a tweak here or an adjustment there that is screaming out to be tried.

In my humble opinion, this is what makes cooking fun.

So, Tim indulges my passion and in return enjoys all the fruits of my labors. A great adventure, indeed. One embarked on in the spirit of a child who is always learning, experimenting, and seeking new avenues of joy.

Pork Tomatillo Verde with Lime - Tender melt in your mouth Pork loin is roasted over a simple lime sauce and then covered with a  deliciously spicy Tomatillo Verde.

I strive to cook with complete abandon, considering this my offering of love to those who gather at my table.

Pork Tomatillo Verde with Lime is my latest creation. Tender melt in your mouth Pork Loin is roasted over a simple lime sauce and then covered with a  deliciously spicy Tomatillo Verde. Tim said it was great and asked if I could make it again next week.

 

Tomatillo Pork Verde with Lime
2013-10-01 22:56:28
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Ingredients
  1. 2 to 2 1/2 lbs Boneless Pork Loin
  2. 2 tbsp Olive oil
  3. 1/2 - 1 Lime, sliced thinly
  4. 4 Cloves garlic- sliced thinly
  5. 16 Oz Tomatillo Verde Sauce
  6. Cilantro
  7. Cotijo Cheese- crumbled (optional)
Rub
  1. 1 1/2 tsp Sea salt
  2. 1/2 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
  3. 1 tsp Chili powder
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  2. Rinse and pat dry pork loin.
  3. Combine sea salt, pepper and chili powder and rub on all surfaces of pork loin.
  4. Heat 2 tbsp oil in dutch oven on medium high heat. Add pork loin, sear on all sides until pork loin is lightly browned.
  5. Remove pork loin from pan and set aside.
  6. Lower heat to dutch oven, add lime slices and garlic. Gently saute for 1 to 2 minutes to release juices from lime slices.
  7. Return pork loin to the dutch oven, fat side up.
  8. Place pork loin in preheated oven, uncovered, Cook at 325 degrees allowing 20 minutes for each pound of pork loin. Approximately 40 to 50 minutes.
  9. After pork loin has cooked 20 minutes for each pound. Remove pork loin from oven, pour tomatillo sauce over the pork and return to the oven to cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling.
  10. Allow Pork loin to sit five minutes before slicing.
  11. Serve with cotijo cheese (optional) and cilantro sprinkled on top.
Notes
  1. I first made this recipe using 3 whole limes sliced and oh my goodness was it limey. I then cut back on the limes to only 1 and it was just about right for our families taste. If you are not a big fan of lime, I suggest only using 1/2 a lime. The juice from the lime is just enough to keep your pork loin from drying out and adds an extra layer of flavor. Experiment, or make it exactly as written. Above all else, have fun with it. I would love to hear how you liked it or if you made your own touches, so drop me a line and enlighten me.
By Shari Eckstrom
Pure Grace Farms https://puregracefarms.com/

Tomatillo Pork Werde with Lime shared with:

*The Paper Craze: Creative Spark * The Cookie Puzzle: Party in Your PJ’s

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Filed Under: Entrees, pork Tagged With: cooking, in the kitchen, pork, simple

Home Grown Tomatoes

August 27, 2013 by Shari Eckstrom 7 Comments

“Home grown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes, What would life be like without home grown tomatoes. Only two things that money can’t buy, That’s true love and home grown tomatoes.” John Denver, ‘Home Grown Tomatoes’ (from a song written by Guy Clark)

This time of year the tomatoes are coming on fast and furious. Therefore, on this my inaugural blog, I thought it would be fun to talk about one of my favorite treats in the garden.  The home grown tomato.

Juicy Tomatoes - Pure Grace Farms

Heirloom Tomatoes

I look forward to that fresh taste all winter long. Once you taste a home grown tomato you know exactly what I’m talking about. They simply don’t compare to the hard, tasteless tomato you buy in the grocery store. If you haven’t experienced the difference, stay tuned. I intend to help you grow your own juicy, delicious home grown tomatoes. Another blog for another day.

 I planted fourteen tomato plants this year in several varieties including Celebrity, Oregon Spring, Plum, Italian, Paste and Beef which are perfect for making Garden Salsa, Orecchiette Pasta Salad,  BLT’s and Famous Tomato and Basil Pizza Pie with Fresh Mozzarella. Why fourteen plants, though? I can never have too many, although when I am pruning tomatoes it seems like I might have overdone it just a bit! I love the versatility of a really good tomato. Each kind of tomato has it’s own flavor and purpose, which blends into each meal.  I make a variety of dishes that taste great using fresh tomatoes now, and I also preserve the tomatoes  by canning, drying or freezing to enjoy their fresh taste all year long.

Harvesting Tomatoes at Pure Grace Farms

Harvesting Tomatoes at Pure Grace Farms

I’m out in my garden every day this time of year, The benefits are not only in the beautiful, delicious vegetables. There is something very therapeutic about tending, caring and harvesting your own vegetables. I have yet to find something else as rewarding. 

Hopefully you have already enjoyed some home grown tomatoes this year.  If not, head over to your local farmers market. Just remember, the  tomatoes there might not look as pretty as those you would find in a grocery store because they haven’t been genetically altered for uniformity or gassed for color.  Don’t let looks deceive you though; it’s the taste that makes all the difference.  

Bayou BLT with Avocado-Grilled sourdough, crispy Bacon, fresh tomatoes and a spicy avocado cream help to transform an ordinary BLT sandwich into something outstanding.

Bayou BLT with Avocado.

Orecchiette Pasta Salad with Sweet Italian Sausage, Fresh Tomatoes, Colorful Peppers, Basil and Feta cheese

Orecchiette Pasta Salad with Sweet Italian Sausage, Fresh Tomatoes, Colorful Peppers, Basil and Feta cheese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bayou BLT with Avocado 

Garden Fresh Pasta with Italian Sausage, Feta Cheese and Toasted Walnuts

 

Coming up Tuesday,  September 4th

  • The Best Pizza Ever Starts with Fresh Ingredients
  • Want to Up Your Game? Infused oil,  the Way to Go
  • Drying Herbs, Enjoy that Garden Fresh Taste All Year

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “sponsored links.” This means if you click on the link you will be directed to a sponsored site. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Filed Under: pork, Salad, Sandwich, Side Dish Tagged With: bacon, in the kitchen, pasta. blt, tomato

Welcome to Pure Grace Farms. It's great to have you stop in for a visit. We are a small farm nestled in the foothills outside of Boise, Idaho where food is organically grown, prepared and preserved for optimum benefit to body and soul. Read More…

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It has long been a passion of mine to live off the grid and develop a greater level of sustainability. Life and circumstances have not always cooperated with my passions. Sometimes my desires come face to face with reality. I am learning to live within that happy middle ground, finding …A sane approach to sustainability. Read More…

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