balsamic pork tenderloin with roasted veggies

this is one of those great and quick recipes.  it is one of my favorite things to make when we are having  friends over for dinner.  all you need to add is some bread and you have dinner!

balsamic pork tenderloin with roasted veggies

1/2 pounds pork tenderloins, 1 packages with 2 tenderloins

4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 cloves garlic, cracked
steak seasoning blend
coarse salt
black pepper
4 sprigs fresh rosemary leaves stripped and finely chopped
vegetables chopped and washed for roasting (zucchini, broccoli,asparagus, and mushrooms)

1. preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
2. place tender loins in a roasting pan. coat tenderloins in a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, rubbing vinegar into meat. drizzle tenderloins with extra-virgin olive oil, just enough to coat. cut small slits into meat and disperse chunks of cracked garlic cloves into meat. combine steak seasoning blend or coarse salt and pepper with rosemary and rub meat with blend. roast in hot oven 10 minutes. 
3. remove the roast from the oven and add the vegatables to the roasting pan.  drizzle roasts and the vegtables with additional basalmic vinegar.  return the roasting pan to the oven and roast for another 10 minutes.
   
4. let meat rest, transfer to a carving board, slice and serve with the roasted veggies.

the square bar

so, last night, we tried a new restaurant in waco, the square bar.  it is next to olive branch, where we went for lunch the other day.  everything in the restaurant was square, from the menus to the tables to the plates.

since I had already had dinner, I went for dessert, but the choice was tough, they had so many desserts on their menu that sounded good.  I eventually decided on the bananas foster cheesecake and it was a good choice.  the cheesecake was rich and creamy and the bananas foster topping was perfect.

mike went for the beef wellington sliders, since he h
ad not had dinner yet.  they sounded really good on the menu, but left something to be desired when actually eating them.  they were freshly baked croissants with a really good sauce and sliced roast beef.  they were good, but they would have been even better with a better quality meat.

peach french toast bake

this is not only healthy, but it is incredibly easy!  it's best with fresh peaches if you can get them.

cooking spray
1 large whole-wheat baguette (about 8 ounces)
4 whole eggs
4 egg whites
1 cup low fat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups sliced peaches, fresh or frozen
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. preheat the oven to 350.
2. spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. slice the baguette into 1/2-inch slices and arrange the slices in a single layer in the baking pan.
3. whisk together the eggs, egg whites, milk and vanilla. pour the egg mixture over the bread in the pan. in a medium bowl, toss peaches with the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar.
4. scatter the peach slices evenly on top of the bread. combine the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. cover and refrigerate overnight.
   
5. in the morning, uncover and bake for 40 minutes.
   

serving suggestion: top with a dollop of vanilla yogurt and a side of canadian bacon.

lunch at olive branch

I am so excited that olive branch is back open here in waco.  mike and I have been fans of this resturant for over 10 years, through different owners, but always the same great food!  as usual, we shared a BLT and I had potato chips with mayonaise (and odd combination that I only seem to have at olive branch).  I can't wait to make it back again for their breakfasts, since it's one of my favorite places in waco to eat breakfast.  so if you are in waco, make sure you stop by the olive branch for breakfast or lunch, they are only open from 7 am to 2 pm, at their new location 330 austin avenue.

my favorites -- tuesday take 5 -- week #8

what is your favorite food scene in a movie?

audrey hepburn eating crouisant outside tiffany's in "breakfast at tiffany's"

what is your favorite breakfast food?

michael's biscuits 

what is your favorite ethnic cuisine?

I would say italian, but I seem to cook a lot of jewish food

what is your favorite thing to snack on?

salt and vinegar potato chips or blue bell ice cream

what is your favorite kitchen gadget?

my kitchen-aid stand mixer