Pulled Pork Tacos

Servings:  6

• 2-2 1/2 lbs. boneless pork shoulder
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
•  1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves
• 2 jalapenos sliced into rings and seeded
• 1 red onion, roughly chopped
• 8 sm. flour tortillas or corn warmed
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

1. Heat oven to 300°.  Place pork on two layers of aluminum foil.  Season pork with salt and pepper and cumin. Spoon jam over the pork turning to coat.  Scatter the jalapenos and onion around the pork.  Fold the double layer of foil around the pork and crimp edges to seal tightly.  Place in a baking dish.  Roast until for tender.  About 4 hours.  Let cool.
2. Unwrap pork, reserving juices and discard foil.  Use fork to shred pork.  Transfer to a bowl, pour cooking juices, onion, jalapeno over pork and toss. 
3. Serve with the tortillas, cilantro and lime wedges and BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD, if desired.

BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD

• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups of corn kernels (frozen)
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 tsp. hot sauce (tobasco)
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 Tbsp. olive or vegetable oil
• salt and pepper

1. Combine all ingredients and let stand 15 minutes for corn to defrost.  Corn chills salad.

*This salad makes a healthy and great salsa by itself for tortilla chips too.

Grilled Chicken and Corn Quesadillas

Servings:  4

• 1 Tbsp. canola oil
• 1 large red onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 boneless chicken breast halves, grilled and torn into strips
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. chile powder
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
• 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
• 4 ounces thinly sliced Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
• 3 ounces crumbled goat cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup salsa

1. To prepare chicken filling:  Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Saute onions and corn for 5 minutes.  Add garlic.  Cook 1 minute.  Stir in chicken, cumin, chile powder, oregano, salt and pepper.  Remove from heat.
2. To assemble:  Place tortillas on work surface.  Layer one-fourth of sliced cheese on half of each tortilla.  Top with chicken filling, goat cheese and cilantro, dividing evenly.  Fold tortillas closed.  Press lightly to seal.
3. To cook:  Heat oven to 200°.  Heat medium saute pan over medium heat.  Cook quesadillas, 1 at a time, 4 to 5 minutes per side or until cheese is melted and tortilla is crisp.  Place finished quesadilla on cookie sheet in oven to keep warm.
4. To serve:  Slice each quesadilla in half.  Plate with 1 Tablespoon sour cream and 2 Tablespoons salsa.

Provençal Tomatoes

Servings:  8

• 6 ripe tomatoes (2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)
• 1/4 cup minced scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil leaves
• 2 Tbsp. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tsp. minced garlic (2 cloves)
• 1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese
• Good olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Cut the cores from the tomatoes, removing as little as possible.  Cut them in half crosswise and, with your fingers, remove the seeds and juice.  Place the tomato halves in a baking dish.
3. In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs, scallions, basil, parsley, garlic, thyme and 1 tsp. salt.  Sprinkle the tomato halves generously with salt and pepper.  With your hands, fill the cavities and cover the tops of the tomatoes with the bread crumb mixture.  Bake the tomatoes for 15 minutes, or until they're tender.  Sprinkle with the cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 30 seconds more.  Serve hot or at room temperature.

Parmesan Roasted Asparagus

• 2 1/2 lbs. fresh asparagus (about 30 large)
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 lemons cut in wedges, for serving

1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. Break thick ends off asparagus.
3. Lay asparagus in a single layer on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.  Sprinkle with the Parmesan and return to the oven for another minute.  Serve with lemon wedges.

*  Buy thickest asparagus possible because they have more flavor.

Crispy Apricot Pork Chops

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil, plus more for baking sheet
• 2 slices multigrain sandwich bread
• 4 bone-in pork loin chops (about 8 oz each, 3/4 to 1 inch thick), patted dry
• coarse salt and ground pepper
• 4 tsp. apricot jam

1. Preheat oven to 425°.  Lightly brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil; set aside.
2. Tear bread into large pieces; place in food processor.  Pulse until large crumbs form.  Drizzle with oil; pulse once or twice, just until crumbs are moistened (you should have about 1 1/2 cups crumbs.)
3. Season pork chops generously with salt and pepper; spread one side of each chop with 1 teaspoon jam.  Dividing evenly, sprinkle breadcrumbs over jam, and pat them on gently.
4. Transfer pork, coated side up, to prepared baking sheet.  Bake until crust is golden and pork is opaque throughout (meat should register 150° on an instant-read thermometer), 14 to 16 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Pineapple Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Servings:  6  Hands-on time:  18 min  Total time:  48 min

• 2 (1 lb.) pork tenderloins
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
• 8 oz. can pineapple slices in juice
• 2 limes
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 3 Tbsp. hoisin sauce
• 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1. Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (med-hi) heat.  Remove silver skin from tenderloins, leaving a thin layer of fat.  Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper.
2. Drain pineapple, reserving 1/3 cup juice.  Grate zest from limes equal to 1 Tbsp.; squeeze juice from limes to equal 1/3 cup.
3. Bring reserved pineapple juice, lime juice, zest, marmalade and next 5 ingredients to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  Boil 3 to 4 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Reserve half of mixture in a bowl. 
4. Grill pork, covered with grill lid, 10 to 12 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 155°, basting with remaining half of pineapple mixture.  Remove from grill; cover with aluminum foil, and let stand 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, grill pineapple slices 1 to 2 minutes on each side.  Serve grilled pineapple and reserved pineapple-marmalade mixture with grilled pork.

Lamb Chops with Red Wine Herb Butter

Serves: 8

• 8 (6 oz.) lamb chops
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 1 large shallot, finely minced
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 1/2 lb. unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 Tbsp finely chopped mixed fresh herbs:  chives, parsley, tarragon and thyme
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 tsp. lemon juice

1. Bring red wine, minced shallots and garlic to a boil in a small saucepan.  Turn heat down; simmer until there is about 1 tablespoon of liquid left in the pan.  Remove from heat and cool completely.
2. Beat butter in a food processor until creamy.  Add the red wine mixture and combine thoroughly.  Mix in the herbs and lemon juice.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Refrigerate butter in container until ready to use (butter can be frozen up to one month).
3. Salt and pepper the lamb chops on both sides.  Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.  Cook chops on one side until golden brown.  Turn chops and finish cooking, about 8-10 minutes, depending on thickness.  While chops are still in pan, spoon a dollop of butter onto the warm chops.  Cover with a lid for a few minutes to melt the butter slightly.  Remove lid and serve.