2010 New Year's Resolution and purpose of this blog

My 2010 New Year's resolution may prove to be an insurmountable challenge as it involves not just changes to myself but also major changes in my children!! I pledge to try a new recipe each week (not frozen or out of a box) in an effort to expose my 3 children to new foods and expand their palate. The goal is that by the end of the year they will be eating what we eat (more or less) and I'll no longer be a stressed out short-order cook on the fast-track to the Betty Ford Clinic!

I tried to convince my kids that trying new foods would be a good resolution for them this year but they weren't biting! (pun intended)

This is also an experiment to determine what causes a picky eater? Is it genetic? Are some kids just not as adventurous as others when it comes to trying new foods? (Perhaps the frequent gagging at my dinner table is a sign that may be my answer!) Or is it that I've been lazy and haven't really forced the issue or exposed them to enough new foods on a consistent basis? Maybe it's karma because I was a picky eater myself as a child??

Getting my kids to eat new meals at dinnertime has been the greatest source of my parental frustrations. I LOVE food and trying new recipes but cooking is a lot of effort when you're doing 2 separate meals every night and you have a toddler clinging to your legs! I'm hoping this little experiment might put an end to the insanity, chaos, gagging, whining and wine consumption that ensues in our household every night! Isn't mealtime supposed to be a time of family happiness? Please tell me there is light at the end of this 52 week tunnel??? I'll keep you posted.....

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Week 3: Apple Cinnamon Pork Tenderloin (original recipe adapted from the internet)














The boys have never had pork so I decided to incorporate some favorite flavors to help ease their anxiety!

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. Pork Tenderloin
  • 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon (or pumpkin-pie spice)
  • 2 Tablespoons Packed Brown Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Raisins and/or Dried Cranberries
  • 3 Granny Smith Apples; Peeled, Cored, And Sliced
  • 1/2 cup Apple Cider (or apple juice)
  • 3-4 slices of Bacon (optional)
  • Extra applesauce to serve on top (for extra picky eaters)
- Preheat oven to 400 F.

- Place the tenderloin in a baking dish & lay bacon over the top tucking ends under pork. Add apple cider to bottom of dish and cover with foil. Cook for 25 minutes.

- Meanwhile combine the remaining dry ingredients in a bowl and add apples & raisins. Fold everything together to coat apples.

- Remove foil from pork and spoon the apple mixture over and around the tenderloin. Bake an additional 15-20 minutes until tenderloin is browned and cooked through. If using a meat thermometer, it should register 155 to 160 F when done.

- Remove bacon and slice pork on the diagonal about 1/2" thick. Spoon apples & raisins over each slice to serve. You may also want to serve with cinnamon applesauce on the side.

Side suggestion: Serve over buttered egg noodles or with rice.

Parent Rating: Good easy meal that everyone enjoyed! 8
Hayden: Liked it. We squirted some apple-cinnamon "Gogo Squeeze" over the top and that did the trick! Also, loved getting bacon on the side...gives it an 8.
Sammy: Favorite meal so far.....10!
Anna: Was cranky and wouldn't sit in highchair to eat....picked at the raisins.
Overall Rating: 9






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