I made this dinner a few days ago. When I made the applesauce– pork came to mind. So, I went to Trader Joes and purchased myself a pork tenderloin to serve with the sauce. 

I cooked the sauce with some shallots and garlic to make it a bit savory. I marinated the pork with a mixture of garlic, rosemary, thyme and salt. It gave it a delicious flavor that complemented the applesauce really well. 

I wasn’t sure what to serve with the pork- but then while I was at the store, I saw broccolini. I have used this vegetable before, so I decided to give it a try. It was delicious with the pork and the potatoes.

I had potatoes at home and decided to try a side dish I saw a few years ago- it’s a Jacques Pepin’s recipe. I made it for Christmas couple of years ago and they were delicious. The potatoes are cooked in chicken broth and butter with some herbs. As the potatoes get soft, smash them a bit with the back of a ladle or a small bowl. As the smashed potatoes cook and brown up, they get crispy on the outside. They are out of this world. 

These potatoes will be fabulous for Thanksgiving. Easy and really delicious. I will be posting the broccolini recipe soon as well- it will be ideal for a holiday dinner!

Please go through the blog and choose ‘Holiday Ideas’ to get lots of other ideas for your holiday family dinners. Enjoy the festive time with your loved ones, eating some fabulous dishes! It’s a great time of year!

• 1½ to 2 pounds pork tenderloin, excess fat removed
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Have a digital thermometer ready.

 Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper to a mortar and pestle. Pound and mix well and add it to the pork tenderloin covering all sides. Keep aside for about an hour.

Place the tenderloin on a lined cookie sheet and put it in the oven. Roast till the internal temperature is about 145 to 150 degrees. Take out and cover to rest for 20 minutes before serving.

Applesauce with Shallots and Garlic

• 1 cup homemade applesauce
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium shallot, sliced thin
• 1 garlic clove, sliced thin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Pepper

In a medium frying pan, heat the olive oil and add the shallots and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add the applesauce, salt and pepper. Saute till everything is heated through. Serve on top of the pork.

Roasted Potatoes

• 4 medium yellow skinned potatoes, peeled and cut in half
• 1 cup chicken or beef broth
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

In a large non-stick frying pan add the chicken or beef broth. Add the potatoes cut side down. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to simmer and cover. Cook the potatoes till almost done- about 15-20 minutes. Take the lid off and increase the heat to evaporate the broth. Once most of the broth is gone, take a small bowl and squish the potatoes down with the back part of the bowl. Brown the squished potatoes till both sides are golden brown. Add salt and pepper and serve.