Author: Chef Cloud Wine

Ingredients

1 (3 pound) boneless pork loin
salt and pepper to taste
8 slices bacon
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons dry red wine
1 sweet onion, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons golden raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a shallow roasting pan with aluminum foil.

Season pork loin with salt and pepper. Wrap the bacon slices around the pork loin and secure with toothpicks. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the pork loin. Cook until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes, then place onto roasting pan. Stir together honey, balsamic vinegar, red wine, onion, and rosemary in a small bowl; spread over pork loin.

Roast the pork loin in preheated oven for 15 minutes, then sprinkle with raisins. Continue cooking until the internal temperature of the pork loin reaches 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), about 15 minutes more. Remove from the oven, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before removing toothpicks and slicing.

Ingredients

1 (14 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15.5 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 (14 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can white corn, drained
1 cup finely chopped Vidalia or other sweet onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or amount to taste

Directions

Stir the black beans, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans, white corn, onion, garlic, parsley, and basil together in a bowl.

To make the dressing, mix the olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, dry mustard, and hot sauce together in a small bowl until well blended. Pour over the bean mixture and toss to mix evenly. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour for coating
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – pounded 1/4 inch thick
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup Marsala wine
1/4 cup cooking sherry

Directions

In a shallow dish or bowl, mix together the flour, salt, pepper and oregano. Coat chicken pieces in flour mixture.

In a large skillet, melt butter in oil over medium heat. Place chicken in the pan, and lightly brown. Turn over chicken pieces, and add mushrooms. Pour in wine and sherry. Cover skillet; simmer chicken 10 minutes, turning once, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

Ingredients

1 cup canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained, rinsed
1/8 cup tahini
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pinch paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 cup water
4 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
1 large tomato, sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced

4 slices bread
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2/3 cup shredded lettuce

Directions

To prepare the cilantro hummus, place the garbanzo beans, tahini, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, and paprika into a blender. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of water, lemon juice, and the cilantro. Puree until smooth, and set aside.

Whisk together 1/4 cup of water, vinegar, 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, sugar, 1 pinch of salt, and sesame oil in a bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add the cucumber, tomato, and red onion. Toss to coat the vegetables in the dressing.

Spread two slices of bread with the cilantro hummus, and sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese. Top with shredded lettuce and the vegetable mixture. Pour on additional dressing to taste, and top with the remaining slice of bread.