Fall Dinner Menu

Pork Tenderloin, Baby Pumpkins filled with Applesauce

Here is a great menu for a tasty fall meal: Sage & Fennel Rubbed pork tenderloin, roasted baby pumpkins filled with applesauce, and fresh greenbeans. The pork tenderloin is my mum’s recipe, from Bon Appétit (April 2005). The roasted baby pumpkins are beautiful and the color contrasts nicely with green beans. Here are recipes for the pork and pumpkins:

Pork Tenderloin:

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 1/2 tablespoons ground black pepper

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons dried rubbed sage

2 teaspoons fennel seeds, ground in mortar with pestle**

2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloins (about 2 large or 3 medium), trimmed of fat and sinew

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsleyFresh sage sprigs

Spice Rub:

1. Mix 3 tablespoons olive oil, ground black pepper, salt, dried sage, and ground fennel in small bowl.
2. Rub oil mixture all over pork tenderloins; place in large baking dish and let stand 20 minutes.

Cook the Pork:

1. Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add pork and cook until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes.
3. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 150°F, turning pork occasionally, about 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of tenderloin.

Serve:

• Transfer pork to cutting board; let rest 5 minutes. Cut pork crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices; arrange on platter. Sprinkle with parsley; garnish with sage sprigs. Makes 6 servings.

** If you don’t have a mortar or spice mill, try putting the fennel seeds in a ziplock freezer bag and crush with a wooding rolling pin.

Roasted Baby Pumpkins & Homemade Applesauce:

6 small pumpkins – should fit in the palm of your hand, about 1 lb each.

Kosher Salt

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Homemade Apple sauce

1. Cut off and save the tops of each pumpkin.
2. Scoop out seeds and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Fill with apple sauce and place tops back on.
4. Roast on parchment-lined baking sheet for 45 mins to 1 hour at 350 degrees, Pumpkins should be tender.