Pressure Cooker Pork Loin

We were having friends over for dinner and I've been craving Cafe Rio Pork Salad like crazy for a few weeks. I really wanted to put my pressure cooker to the test and see what it could do - and today was the day.

THIS is the usual method and recipe I use - it takes 16 hours - NOT including time it takes to thaw the tenderloin. So it's a plan way ahead overnighter meal. Will my new toy be up to the test??

I'll be posting more PRESSURE COOKER recipes - so I'll first tell you which one I got The Instant Pot  it is a pressure cooker, crock pot, rice cooker, sautee pot and on and on and on and on and on...

It's brilliant. So far so good. So - with the above information (16+ hours of cooking - always starting dinner before I went to bed the night before) this ABSOLUTELY KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!!

I had 2 frozen (in the same package) pork tenderloins (from Costco) about 6 lbs. I cut the wrapper off the FROZEN tenderloins - stuck that in the pressure cooker - added the rest of the ingredients - locked it up and set it for 2 hours just to see where we would be in that amount of time. 

Would it be thawed? Would it be awful? How much longer will I need to cook it??

Well, IT WAS DONE!!!! Fall apart, moist, delicious, amazing PERFECT!! Do you believe it??

5-6 lbs FROZEN pork tenderloin

2 liter of Coke a Cola (or Dr. Pepper) 

2 12 oz La Victoria Red Taco Sauce

1 c brown sugar

1 T cumin 

People were going back for seconds - INCREDIBLE. Can't wait to see what else this baby can do!!

Brussels Sprouts That Your Kids WIll Devour!!

I had the amazing opportunity to go to High School In Brussels, Belgium. My entire family moved there and man o man did we have the experience of our lives. 

I went to the International School of Brussels. English was the primary language but other languages were taught and many cultures were incorporated into our education.

I had the rare opportunity to have dinner with one of my awesome friends from ISB last month in Santa Fe while she was here on business. She looks more amazing than ever and told me that she is in the midst of a brussels sprout obsession.

Tonight at the grocery store I tapped into that obsession and texted her for her fav reciepe and she came through...

Tonight we had grilled pork tenderloin, brussels sprouts and rice - pork tenderloin and rice are faves amongst our children in this house.

We had a bigger crowd than usual last night - the usual 6 of us + my 10 year old had a friend over. They were a hit with EVERYONE adults and kids from 11 - 2. The Brussels sprouts were gone first - and I made a TON of them. Delicious recipe - one we'll eat again and again!!

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts & Bacon via Christina Fiorenza Davis
1 lb bacon - cut into small strips fried
5 lb brussels sprouts
EVOO
Fresh cracked black pepper
Kosher salt

Once bacon is fried - use a slotted spoon to drain the bacon on paper towels

Add thinly sliced brussels sprouts into the bacon fat and sauté until tender. Course salt and fresh black pepper as needed.

Garnish with bacon and toasted pine nuts!

Enjoy!