Delicate fresh angel hair pasta takes only a minute to cook. If it cooks too long, it will clump together and taste pasty. The secret to cooking it is to bring the water to a rolling boil in a large pasta pot and then add the angel hair. Lots of fresh herbs give the dish a fresh, garden flavor.
Helpful hints:
- Dried angel hair pasta can be used instead of fresh. Boil it 3 minutes.
- A quick way to chop herbs is to snip them with a scissors.
- Be sure to heat your skillet to smoking before adding the meat. The pork will brown instead of steam when it is placed in the pan.
Countdown:
- Place water for pasta on to boil.
- Make pork recipe.
- Make pasta recipe.
Shopping list:
To buy: 3/4 pound pork tenderloin, 1 bottle cider vinegar, 1 bottle cranberry juice, 1 package fresh angel hair pasta, 1 package fresh cranberries, 1 bunch basil, 1 bunch chives
Staples: olive oil, honey, salt, black peppercorns
Pork Medallions with Red Berry Sauce
Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer
3/4 pound pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
Remove visible fat from pork. Cut pork into 1-inch slices to form round medallions. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Brown pork medallions for 2 minutes. Turn and brown second sides for 2 minutes. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste on cooked sides. Remove from pan. Lower heat to medium and add vinegar. Let simmer about 30 seconds, scraping up all of the brown bits in the pan while the liquid reduces. Add cranberry juice and honey. Stir to thoroughly combine. Add cranberries and return pork to pan. Gently simmer for 2 minutes. Turn pork and simmer another 2 minutes. Remove pork to individual plates. Pour sauce into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. This takes a few seconds. Spoon the sauce over the pork.
Yield servings: 2
Per serving: 295 calories, 55 calories from fat, 6.1 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 3 g monounsaturated fat, 108 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium, 21.4 g carbohydrate, 1 g dietary fiber, 9.3 g sugars, 35.8 g protein
Exchanges: 1 1/2 fruit, 5 lean meat
Mixed-Herb Angel Hair Pasta
Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer
3 ounces fresh angel hair pasta (1 rounded cup cooked)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup snipped fresh chives
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fill a large saucepan with water and bring water to a boil. Add pasta and stir. Boil 1 minute. (If using dried angel hair pasta, boil 3 to 4 minutes.) Drain. Place in a bowl or back in the saucepan and add oil and vinegar. Toss well. Add basil, chives and salt and pepper to taste. Toss again.
Yield 2 servings
Per serving: 206 calories, 48 calories from fat, 5.3 g total fat, 0.8 g saturated fat, 3.4 g monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 mg sodium, 32.8 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 1.4 g sugars, 6.4 g protein
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat
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