What's for Dinner?

Since I have not posted about cooking in awhile, I have several good recipes to share with you! Today's recipe will be grilled pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon with cheddar ranch grits and baked bean casserole. It is one of our favorite meals and a go-to when we have the time. If you remember from an earlier post, I commented that grilling the pork tenderloin is our favorite cooking method for tenderloin. WELL, that still holds true...but add bacon to the equation and there's the winner. Adding bacon to anything makes it better, right? OH YEAH.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Bacon - Serves 2

Cut the pork tenderloin into medallions. In one tenderloin, you should be able to get 8-10 medallions. Take a strip of bacon, cut in half, and wrap the bacon around the tenderloin medallion. Secure the bacon with a toothpick (I promise the toothpick will hold up to the grill heat). Once you have each medallion wrapped, sprinkle paprika, salt and pepper on both sides. Place the tenderloin back into the refrigerator until ready to put onto grill.

 Heat the grill to medium/high heat and place the medallions on the grill.

Cook on each side for 4 minutes or until done. Try keeping the flipping to a minimum.

Now moving on to the sides:

 Baked Bean Casserole:  serves 2

1/2 pound ground beef

2-3 slices bacon

1 - 15 oz. can Pork & Beans

3 tbsp. ketchup

1/8 cup packed light brown sugar

2 tsp. dijon mustard

pinch of salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Coat Pyrex with cooking spray and set aside. 

In a large skillet, cook the beef until brown, breaking up the beef as it cooks. Drain the ground beef. In a large bowl add the ground beef to all other remaining ingredients except for the bacon. Mix well. Pour mixture into the casserole dish and top with bacon. Bake until thick and bubbly (30 minutes). If at the end of the 30 minutes the bacon is not cooked to your liking, raise the oven temperature to broil. This will cook and crisp the bacon nicely.

Cheddar Ranch Grits

3/4 cup quick cook grits (do not use instant)

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 tbsp. ranch dressing powder mix

1 cup shredded cheese

In a medium pan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Slowly stir in grits. Reduce heat to medium/low. Cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally (if you see the grits getting too thick, add in a little more broth). Stir in the ranch and cheese. Cook until the cheese is melted and serve immediately.

Dinner is served!

There's nothing complicated in making this meal, but I will give you some tips. Make the beans first and get them to cooking in the oven. Then, start wrapping the tenderloin medallions with bacon. Once they are placed in the refrigerator, begin heating up the grill. Once the tenderloin and the beans are done, last thing make the grits. The grits cook so fast and are not good cold!

I hope you will try all of the recipes or at least one of them! They are all yummy! Maybe, just maybe, I will have inspired your family's dinner tonight! ENJOY