Author: Chef Cloud Wine

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) boneless pork loin roast
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups apple juice, divided
1 cup pitted prunes
1 cup dried apricots
3/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Place the roast in a shallow roasting pan. Mix together the mustard and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar; spread over the roast.

Roast for 3 hours in the preheated oven, basting with 1/4 cup of apple juice every 30 minutes. Roast is done when the internal temperature reads 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

During the last hour the roast is cooking, combine the prunes, apricots, red wine, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup of the juices from the roasting pan, and cloves in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Spoon the fruit around the roast in the roasting pan during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

When the roast is done, place it onto a serving platter and spoon the fruit around it. Remove 1/4 cup of the drippings from the roasting pan, and mix with the cornstarch. Stir into the pan of drippings, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring gently until thickened and no longer cloudy, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a gravy boat or serving bowl.

Slice the roast, and pass the sauce for guests to serve themselves.

Ingredients

12 boneless pork loin chops, 3/4 inch thick
2 cups bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup dry white wine (optional)
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
olive oil as needed

Directions

Pound the pork chops with a spiked meat mallet until 1/4 inch thick; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley flakes, salt, and pepper. Press the pork into the crumbs to bread thoroughly; set aside.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the wine and sliced mushrooms. Allow to simmer and cook until the mushrooms have softened, about 10 minutes. Stir together the cornstarch and water, then add to the mushroom sauce. Simmer until the sauce has thickened, then remove from the heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the pork cutlets a few at a time until golden brown and cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve with reserved mushroom sauce.

Ingredients

4 pounds dark meat chicken pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
5 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
3 (4 ounce) links sweet Italian sausage, sliced
1 cup chopped onion
3 carrots, sliced
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 cup red wine
1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large skillet, heat oil. Add 1/2 of the garlic. Season flour with poultry seasoning. Dredge chicken parts in flour, then brown in the skillet for 4 or 5 minutes. Add the sausage, and saute for a few minutes. Add the onion, carrots, mushrooms, rosemary and the remaining garlic. Stir all together.

Add the wine and tomatoes; stir. Cover and let simmer over low heat for 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and let simmer for another 10 minutes. Let cool covered for 10 minutes, then serve.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
1 pound portobello mushrooms, diced
1 1/2 cups port wine
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Directions

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms; cook and stir until tender. Stir in the wine, and simmer until the liquid has reduced by 1/2. Stir in cream, and simmer again until the sauce becomes a thick gravy. Stir in the basil just before serving.