Pork Tenderloin with Sour Kraut and Black-eyed Peas

Caught myself looking for the UN-Turkey meat as I cruised through the freezer this morning wanting to prepare a one crock pot meal. It is just after Thanksgiving and I had been in the kitchen prepping food for hours this past week. I want something different. PORK the other white meat (hehehehehe). I found some fine frozen pork loin chops I had cut and prepared from a nice meat sale that my local market had last October. I buy the whole loins and cut them, zip lock bag them (or vacuum wrap them) and in the freezer they go. I do keep vigil on my purchases and try to budget for a few months out if possible.

I rubbed these thawed pork loin chops with some McCormick’s Grill Mate Brown Sugar Bourbon Seasoning. Browned them on all sides in my most awesome cast iron skillet and finally prepared the crock pot with some drained and rinsed sour kraut, apple sauce, dijon mustard and onion. The chops lay upon the veggies and around all that goes the black eyed peas. Set that crock pot on LOW and place the lid upon that beast. Go about your business and come back with a little chicken stock in a few hours to keep things moist. Simple….quick… head turning meal that is the UN Bird.

3 ea Thick cut (1.5 inch) Pork Loin Chops

1 can sour kraut (drained and rinsed)

1 cup chopped sweet onion

1/2 cup apple sauce (unsweet)

2 tsp canola oil

2 tsp Dijon Mustard

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup chicken stock

2 tbsp McCormick Brown Sugar Bourbon seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

1 10 ounce package frozen Black-eyed peas

In 12 in skillet add canola oil. Heat on med hi

Rub pork loins with Brown Sugar Bourbon seasoning

When oil is beginning to smoke in skillet, brown pork on all sides

Deglaze skillet with wine

In crock pot place sour kraut and add patty of butter on top of sour kraut

Place apple sauce on top of sour kraut and butter

Place chopped onion on top of apple sauce to maker the layers

Add wine glaze from skillet on top of onion

Place browned pork chops on top of onion and kraut

Place a little drizzle of the Dijon mustard over each pork loin

Around the outside of pork loin place the frozen black-eyed peas

Place lid on crock pot and set on LOW

If necessary … add chicken stock to keep kraut mixture moist.

Cook until pork is tender to your fork

Place this meal with some steamed carrots or parsnips…..serve each guest a pork loin chop and some of the now caramelized sour kraut and onion. Add some black-eyed peas for a delicious meal.

I really like a one pot menu like this. With just a little thinking you can create some great meals in your crock pot and have a fine menu awaiting your lunch or dinner later in the day.

Enjoy!