Thursday, July 22, 2010

Trisha Yearwood Roundup: Slow-Cooker Pork Loin, Apple Dumplings, and Spicy Edamame Dip


Trisha Yearwood's Slow-Cooker Pork Loin is one of my new favorite recipes. I've made it three times in the past month. Do you use your crockpot in the summertime? If not, it's a great way to escape the heat in your kitchen. You can have all of the ingredients in the crockpot in less than ten minutes.

The first two times I made this recipe I used a pork tenderloin, which resulted in meltingly tender pork that simply fell apart. The third time I made this I used a 3.5 pound pork loin(pictured above) and the meat was good, but not as good as using the pork tenderloin. A gravy is made from the cooking liquid, which consists of chicken broth, lemon juice and soy sauce and it is mild and delicious. This pork is great served with mashed potatoes and green beans.
NOTE: I recommend making this recipe with pork tenderloin. The meat is noticeably more tender, succulent and delicious. Using two pork tenderloins would yield just the right amount!
Slow-Cooker Pork Loin *AKA* The Blue Plate Special
Recipe adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood
1 2-1/2 to 3 pound pork loin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons cornstarch
salt and pepper
Trim the visible fat from the loin. If necessary, cut the roast to fit into a 31/2, 4-, or 5-quart crockpot. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, ginger, thyme, and pepper. Rub the spice mixture over the entire surface of the loin. In a large skillet, heat the oil and brown the loin slowly on all sides. Drain off the fat. Transfer the loin to the crockpot. Combine the chicken broth, lemon juice, and soy sauce; pour over the loin. Cover and cook on a low heat setting for 8-10 hours or on a high-heat setting for 4-5 hours. When the roast is done, transfer the meat to a serving platter and cover to keep it warm. To make the gravy, pour the juices from the crockpot into a glass measuring cup. Skim off the fat. Measure 2 cups of liquid, adding water to the juices, if necessary to make 2 cups. Transfer the juices to a saucepan, reserving 1/2 cup. Stir the cornstarch into the reserved 1/2 cup of juice until dissolved, then stir into the juices in the saucepan. Heat, stirring frequently, until the gravy is thickened and bubbly, 5-7 minutes. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Season the gravy to taste with salt and pepper. Slice the roast and serve it with the gravy.

Apple Pie for breakfast anyone? Trisha's apple dumplings will make your entire house smell like apple pie. The smell is intoxicating!

Slices of Granny Smith apple are cut vertically into 8 slices each and a buttermilk biscuit is wrapped around each slice of apple. The biscuits and apples are covered with a hot liquid sugar mixture.

Then the whole thing is doused with cinnamon and sugar and popped into the oven where the magic happens.

It looks like this when you pull it out of the oven and the smell is out of this world amazing!

The biscuits are fluffy and inviting, the apple is tender and warm, the hot liquid sugar mixture turns into a thick sauce. A perfect way to wake up the family!! You can find the recipe on girlichef's site HERE.

The last thing I made from Trisha's book was this Spicy Edamame Dip. I went to four stores looking for edamame and finally found them at Walmart. Trisha's Edamame Dip is made with shelled edamame, lots of garlic, cayenne pepper, cumin, olive oil, lime juice and cilantro.

I served mine with extra cayenne pepper on top in order to bring on the heat! The dip was creamy, spicy and delicious and is actually one of the healthier recipes in her book. We really enjoyed it!!

Of course, I have to leave you with one of my favorite Trisha Yearwood songs.
She's in Love with the Boy............

30 comments:

  1. Man, I LOVE this book! I haven't tried that pork yet, but holy cow does it look great! And thanks so much for the link love...those apple dumplings were THE BEST- I wish my house could smell that heavenly at every minute of the day! Now, off to watch that video which I haven't seen in forever! =)

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  2. These apple dumplings look out of this world! I'm bookmarking this for sure!

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  3. Wow, we're sorry you had to go to four stores to find edamame! If you're ever in need again our site has a store locator with a list of all edamame carriers! These recipes look fantastic!!

    -Dave
    http://seapointfarms.com/

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  4. Sounds like Miss Yearwood gets rave reviews all around! I love the looks of that edamame dip...I foresee many sandwiches with it in my future.

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  5. All those dishes look wonderful, but that dip would be super healthy as well!

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  6. Your apple dumplings look delicious .. apple and cinammon are a great combination.

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  7. Ohmygod this is a ridiculously mouth watering post here Kim!! The apple pies are too much... you and Girlichef are da bomb. Feel like popping in the Scion and driving to Kentucky right now! Great idea on the pork...not using an oven in these summer temps is a great idea.

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  8. Oh my goodness, the apple dumplings look so delicious! I want some!

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  9. Wow, the apple dumplings would definitely go over big with my husband but the pork loin would have me hooked instantly. Love Trisha's simple yet delicious recipes. You do them justice, Kim, as your stuff could easily fit into a cookbooks as well.

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  10. Yum-apple dumplings!!! The pork loin looks soo delicious!!!

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  11. Ok, I admit it, I wasn't expecting to be interested in these recipes, but they look amazing! Those apple dumplings are SO going on my list!

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  12. Oh I'm fascinated by the edamame dip. My youngest loves to eat edamame beans so I wonder if he'd like this.

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  13. Must. Make. Dumplings. Like right now.

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  14. The apple dumplings look insanely good! I can almost smell them! Or maybe that's just wishful thinking... The dip reminds me of hummus and makes a delicious and healthy snack. I have a big bag of edamame that need to be used up and I know what I'm going to be making.

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  15. It all looks and sounds terrific!

    I use my slow cooker whenever a recipe that catches my attention calls for it. Sooo, which recipe do you prefer Ina's that won your throwdown or Trisha?
    ~ingrid

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  16. Holy apple dumpling!! Those made me want to grab one right out of the screen. I MUST try them. I may need to try this pork loin recipe as well. I recently tried to slow cook a loin and while it was tasty, it was definitely dry. Not what you want in a piece of meat. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Your pictures make it looks SOOOO good. I want to eat a plate of everything right now!

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  18. Everything looks absolutely yummy. I can't believe the apple dumplings, how great is this? I'd like to try it with the peaches I have in the fridge right now. Thanks for the great sharing.

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  19. The pork is making my mouth water--could be the fact I ate popcorn for dinner and it's now about 10 PM! ;-) Everything looks amazing. It sounds like a book that would get me in trouble...

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  20. I really love your 'Blue Plate Special' it actually looks and sounds really great. I guess, I would have to leave some of the fats on when I tried this one. Yes, I'm quite guilty about that, lol! I just think it's more flavorful with some of the fats. Anyway, I will surely give this a go, with or without fat, lol! I'd try it first with 'some' of the fats on ;)

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  21. The pork recipe is perfect for summer. I have a tenderloin in the freezer I'l have to pull out for Sunday dinner. Thanks.

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  22. Marvelous recipes, Kim! I am especially loving the apple dumplings!
    I really must try the edamame dip too because I am such a fan...

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  23. Who would have thought a cookbook by a singer could have been full of so many great recipes.. wow!!! All of them look super.

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  24. Ok, I'm coming to eat leftovers at your house! Just kidding, but seriously, it looks fabulous!! I really need to get that cookbook. Sounds like Trisha Yearwood certainly knows her way around the kitchen!

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  25. wow awesome recipes, I want some apple pie and cool edamame dip love your cooking Southern with a twist lol

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  26. I am really liking the sounds of this Trisha Yearwood cookbook!! I am a big fan of using my slow-cooker all year long and I looove pork tenderloin, so it's a must-make for me!

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  27. I have to get a copy of that book. Everyone has nice things to say about it, The pork looks wonderful and the dumplings even better than that. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  28. I haven't used my slow cooker lately. Tis pork recipe definitely makes me want to break it out again. I love edamame dip but I've never had it spicy. I would love to give it a try!

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  29. I really don't use my slow cooker in the summer, I always head to the grill. Lucky for me, I have a pork tenderloin defrosting and I can give that slow cooker a summer try.
    Mimi

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