Mahogony Pork and Veggies with Oven Polenta

While I'm trying to eat more vegetables during my meals, I could never be a vegetarian. I like meat too much. I have eaten vegetarian meals, and I always feel like I'm missing something if I don't have meat.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought another pork tenderloin (on sale) and had it cut up into chops so we could freeze the rest in one pound baggies  to take out when needed. I pulled out one of the bags of pork this week. Usually when I eat pork, I think it is a little boring, but this recipe made the best meat I've ever made at home! It is so flavorful and the bed of peppers brings out the flavor even more.

The second recipe, Oven Polenta, is something I had never made before. I had seen polenta in the grocery but didn't really know what it was. When I found the recipe, it seemed like cornbread without the flour. Well, it didn't exactly taste like cornbread, but it was delicious all the same. I will definitely make it again....and Eden (one year old) will be super excited. She couldn't get enough of it!

Mahogany Pork & Veggies
1-lb pork tenderloin, cut into strips
1 Tbl brown sugar
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large red or orange bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 large onion

• Combine pork with brown sugar, soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, and garlic in a medium bowl. Combine peppers and onion in another bowl. Spray each with about 10 sprays of oil (maybe Tbl each?)
• Preheat skillet to Medium-high. Add veggies Cook about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Remove, cover, and keep warm.
• Add meat to skillet. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until done. 
• Put meat over veggies to serve.

Oven Polenta
1-1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth (I used chicken broth, will probably use veggie next time)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 Tbl olive oil (I used Canola)
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbl Asiago or Parmesan Cheese (I think Cheddar would be awesome, too!)

• Preheat oven to 350* Grease 8x8 dish
• Combine all ingredients except cheese.
• Bake 50 minutes, stirring once.
• Stir in cheese. Bake 10 more minutes.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

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