I don't know if you guys noticed as I've been slowly approaching the big one-zero-zero! I can't believe it! Thank you all for reading, and taking the time to comment, I read each and every one and they definately are the bright spots in my day :) More on this in a moment, but first a fabulous dinner...
A simple salad of balsamic-dressed spinach tossed with roasted butternut squash and sliced almonds hung out humbly in the background. Leaving room for the goat cheese-stuffed pork tenderloin with a cherry-wine sauce!!
Goat Cheese-Stuffed Pork w/Cherry-Red Wine SauceDon't let the name deter you ;-) As soon as I saw this on Kevin's site, I knew I would be making it. This seemed like this was the perfect occasion for such an impressive dish. It actually came together a more quickly than I expected, even without the butchers twine... oops! I tried using some old scallions, but that didn't work so well so I just flew by the seat of my pants--gotta keep it interesting :) Thyme went into the filling instead of basil, as that's what I had on hand. If only I had company, this would've left quite the impression!
Chocolate PateA celebratory dinner wouldn't be complete without dessert, so here's the Chocolate Pate I had prepared a few days ahead of time. Holy Yum as Veggie Girl would say, this takes the "cake" :) I can't say enough good things about this, but it's rich, velvety, and even has an avocado! Ok, one more--DANGEROUS. Ricki is a genious!! The ingredients definately make a difference, and the intricate flavors of the Maya Gold chocolate bar I included really shined. I was going to save this for company, but after my first taste... decided to keep it for myself! hehe
Hodgepodge of Chocolate for the PateOk ok, how to say thank you for your support?? A Giveaway!! I've got a small package of some of my favorite baking goods-- Hot Cocoa Kisses and Cinnamon Chips. Some other goodies may sneak in there too, but I'm not sure yet. All you lurkers out there, now's the time to speak up! To enter, leave a comment on this post before Monday, Jan 12, 8am EST with two things, 1. what would you like to see more of on this blog? (a discussion of ingredients, more about a tri or how i trained for my first... you name it, as long as it doesn't require me to be too web-saavy). 2. what would you do with these goodies?!?
Um chocolate pate?!?! Wow, that sounds amazing. Why am I not surprised that it's Ricki's recipe? Her stuff is always awesome!
ReplyDeleteCongats on the 100! How exciting :) That pate looks unbelievable! What a fun giveaway too!
ReplyDelete1. what would you like to see more of on this blog? Can I say more of the same? I really enjoy your posts! You make a lot of differnt foods which is very cool. I would also like to hear about where your inspiration for meal creations come from and a review of your favorite meals to date!
2. what would you do with these goodies?!?
Well, as you know, I've been looking for those chips for quite some time and still have not found them! I would like to make a sweet bread with the chips added. I want to make this when my in-laws come to help Josh and I move into our new place as a thank you. These chips are PERFECT for this occasion because Josh's dad is a major Cinnamon fan! He puts about a tablespoon in his morning coffee every day!
Hooray for 100!!!! I love your blog and continue to be inspired by your fantastic culinary skills.
ReplyDeleteLooooooovely eats!!
Oooo that sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteKelly Turner
www.everygymsnightmare.com
Yeah for 100! Your blog rocks!
ReplyDeleteThat chocolate pate looks amazing!
ok that chocolate pate sounds amazing! and it looks so lovely with the pom seeds!
ReplyDeleteOoohhh!! Goodies! Let's see....I'd make thumb print cookies with the kisses and I'd use the cinnamon chips in banana bread....or pancakes!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know what you did to train for a tri and how many months it took you to "feel" ready for it!
The eats in this post look fabulous! You have a way to make everything shine to it's full potential!
I'm so glad you liked the pate! I love your photo, too, with the brilliant red pomegranate! And CONGRATS on reaching the big 100--that is really quite the accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteThose goodies sound fabulous--I've never even heard of cinnamon chips before! (no surprise, as we don't get a lot of US stuff over here very quickly). Would love to bake some goodies for my HH with those! And I'd love to hear more about your training on the blog, as that's the closest I'll ever get to a triathlon myself ;)
wow - your dinner and dessert are fabulous!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletelet's see...
1.) i LOVE your recipe creations, but i think i would be very interested in reading about how you trained for your first tri!
2.) i think that i would use that chocolate to experiment in oatmeal (obvi, duh!)... and of course, they'd be perfect to use when baking and i'd have to incorporate some into scones!
Congrats on your 100th post!! That chocolate pate looks amazing!! So does the pork and cherry sauce, yum! I only recently discovered your blog and I love what you've been doing. Your an awesome cook and you make some really good, nourishing, mostly healthy food. You have a good balance between healthy and dessert food. A little bit of everything.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add what I would do with the sweet little giveaway. I would bake up some comforting, delicious desserts!
congrats on the 100th post!!!
ReplyDeleteHoly Yum to the Chocolate Pate!!! You've put some great/finest ingredients in it! :D
1. I'd like to see more workout posts!
2. I'd bake some easy to make but welcome to everyone brownies!!!
chocolate pate? whoa!
ReplyDeletethat sounds like pure heaven to me.
congrats on the big 100! I have no idea what number I'm up too.
I would love to hear how you train for marathons...I think that'd be cool.
Cook, cook, cook!
ReplyDeleteLove to hear about your training too.
Hey there.. what a great giveaway!
ReplyDelete1. I love your blog the way it is... YOU don't have to change a thing!!!
2. What would I do with these YUMMIES if I won?? Well, I would share 'em with my Hubby!
Good luck everyone!
Leslie
I love love love your blog. But I would totally love it even more if you talked about your workouts. And we should TOTALLY have a Boston Food Bloggers party! That's what I think I would like to see the most! And what would I do with the ingredients? I feel like cinnamon chips would be awesome in cinnamon raisin bread. No?
ReplyDeleteYay for chocolate giveaway! Now thats what I'm talking about!
ReplyDeleteEven though you say none of the recipes are yours, I do find your blog a great resource for yumy recipes and thats why I keep reading.
I would definitely made some yummy cookies or maybe even brownies with that chocolate loot. :)
Oh my gosh...that pork tenderloin, the chocolate pate...amazing. Everything looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I'd like to see more on your blog as this is my first visit. Things look great so far. :)
What I do with goodies...bake cookies or maybe some coffee cake. Congrats on the big 1-o-o and thanks for the giveaway!
PS - I love your header. Very clever. Don't ever change that! I'm adding you to my blogroll if ya don't mind. :)
ReplyDeleteMuffins, brownies, cookies, all my favorite with a little extra chocolate. The links to the wonderful recipes are great - why reinvent the wheel if someone has already worked them out, and your photos are very nice. -- Michele
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 100! That is a nice milestone. I would love to hear about your training. Now you have me craving sweets. I would love to bake some cookies to share with friends.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 100!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm drooling over the pork tenderloin, AND just bought a ginormous log of goat cheese at Sam's yesterday. Coincidence? I think not.
A big WOW on that dinner and pate! I might need to make it. Now.
ReplyDelete1) I want to learn more about your triathlon training!
ReplyDelete2) Bake cookies. Namely, a riff on the classic Peanut Blossoms, but with different flavors that complement those kisses, and maybe an oatmeal or maple cookie with the chips.
Man, I missed the cut off, but I will answer anyway .
ReplyDelete1. I would like to know more about yor tri and what exercise you do now.
2. If I could have one, I definitely would have baked something with the goods.
shoot - I missed the deadline! But the pork with goat cheese and cherry red-wine sauce looks incredible. and chocolate pate? um - wow.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 100th post anniversary! Cheers to you!
ReplyDeleteFrom one lab rat to another, I'd love to hear more about what you eat for lunch at work. Do you brown-bag it? Do you eat out? Do you eat lunch AT ALL?!? (My stars, I hope you say yes to that last question.) Dinners are so easy when you have access to a stove and your well-stocked kitchen, but lunches are tough.
Hmm, perhaps I should talk about lunches on my own blog! See how you inspire me? :-)
Congrats on 100 tasty posts! I look forward to reading more. That looks like a really tasty meal! Now you've got me craving that stuffed pork again.
ReplyDeleteUnwaxed and unflavoured floss works well when you are out of butchers twin.
OMG, both the goat cheese/cherry pork and chocolate pate (with avocado!!!) look absolutely fantastic! I know you didn't come up with the recipes but you found them and shared them with us, so thank you. I will try making one or both of these some day. Yum!
ReplyDeleteShannon, I made the goat cheese stuffed pork tenderloin last night and everyone loved it! Now I need to find the time to make that chocolate cake. It looks SO good!
ReplyDelete