Baked Sweet and Sour Pork

Baked Sweet and Sour Pork

This recipe works equally well with chicken and pork. It's a fuss-free, lightened up version of the classic Chinese takeout dish. Serve over your rice of choice for soaking up the access sauce.

Sweet and Sour Sauce
-1/2 cup pineapple juice
-1/2 cup ketchup
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
-1/4 cup water
-1 Tbsp soy sauce
-1 tsp red pepper flakes
-1 tsp sesame oil
-1 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 inch chunk ginger, minced
-1 Tbsp cornstarch, mixed with 1 Tbsp water

-1 pound lean pork, trimmed of excess fat and cut into bite sized pieces
-1 pineapple, peeled and cored and cut into bite sized pieces
-1 green pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
-1 red pepper, cut into bite sized pieces

In a small bowl, whisk together pineapple juice through sesame oil and set aside. Heat oil in a small pot, over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger, saute 1 minute. Pour pineapple juice mixture into pot and bring to a simmer. Whisk in cornstarch, reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes, or until mixture thickens. Remove sauce from heat and cool at least 15 minutes.

In a greased 13 x 9 pan combine pork,chopped pineapple, bell peppers and cooled sauce. Stir well. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Serve immediately over your favorite rice.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Whipped Feta

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Whipped Feta

This is a knock off of a dish served at a local restaurant called Domenica. Even my non-cauliflower eating hubby ate this one.

-2.5 cups white wine
-1/3 cup olive oil
-1/4 cup salt
-4 Tbsp lemon juice
-2 Tbsp butter
-1 Tbsp sugar
-1 tsp red pepper flakes
-1 bay leaf
-1 head cauliflower, outer leaves removed

Whipped Feta
-1/2 cup feta cheese
-2 Tbsp olive oil
-1 Tbsp lemon juice
-1/4 tsp salt

In a medium large pot combine wine through bay leaf with 8 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add cauliflower, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, turning every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. Remove cauliflower from liquid using a slotted spoon and drain on a kitchen towel. Roast cauliflower at 475 for 30 minutes, or until it is browned all over.

While cauliflower is cooking combine feta, olive oil, lemon juice and salt in a food processor. Process until smooth. Refrigerate until cauliflower is done.

Once cauliflower is done, remove from oven and serve with feta on the side for spreading.