This pork tenderloin is easily roasted and served with a dreamy crimini mushroom and port sauce. Sponsored by the Mushroom Council.
Why is it that I never quite feel motivated to keep with my resolutions every January to stay healthy and exercise? Probably because it is cold and I have a rotation of kids home sick for a variety of ailments. This year was no different. Even worse as I was home sick with a variety of ailments. My allergies were on overdrive with our spring-like winter and then there was that stomach bug. When I was healthy, I had kids home sick with a cold or another stomach bug. All these road blocks discourage me and my motivation to take care of me.
I was thrilled to be chosen as a Mushroom Ambassador and participate in Mamavation’s 30-Day Mushroom Challenge. I love mushrooms – this is going to be easy, I thought.
For 30 days I have access to my own dietician and life coach, Corinne Dobbas, who has provided us participants with a guide to reprogram our metabolism. I have to admit, I like being told what I can and can not eat. Having creative license to make fun meals has sometimes left me standing still, wondering which direction to turn.
We also have access to our very own personal trainer, Mark Segedie (aka Mr. Bookieboo), who gave us a “simple” workout schedule and instructions to walk 10,000 steps a day. I am being forced to get up from my desk and walk, walk, walk. Oh and that simple workout? Well, the schedule is simple. Burpees, lunges, pushups – oh no!! I quickly realized that I was getting my butt kicked big time and I developed a severe hatred for burpees. Luckily, we aren’t asked to video our pathetic attempts at these exercises.
I am nearly finished with week one and it has been great. I have been drinking oodles of water – oodles more than I was drinking before.
I walk the dog sometimes twice a day – my new dog, Simon (a terrier mix). I’ll introduce him in another post! Let’s just say the dog is very happy with this challenge.
I am eating well – lots of veggies. I have been good about steering away from evil pasta and empty carbs. I have been enjoying brown rice and quinoa regularly. Not that I need this Mushroom Makeover to introduce me to this stuff. I just never took the time to make this stuff for ME.
We have been instructed to makeover our meals with the addition of mushrooms, as well as to replace meat with mushrooms. And why not? They are low in calories, rich in vitamins and minerals and really filling.
I love eating eggs with mushrooms. Even baked an egg in a portobello mushroom. I stuffed mushrooms with quinoa. I sautéed mushrooms in port (don’t worry, Corrine, it wasn’t very much) for this pork tenderloin. And I enjoyed plenty of mushroom leftovers.
I’m working on typing up the recipes for the above dishes. For now, I offer you my recipe for the Pork Tenderloin with Crimini Mushrooms and Port Sauce.
Pork Tenderloin with Crimini Mushrooms and Port Sauce
Pork tenderloin is tender, lean and very quick to prepare. In this recipe it is roasted and served with a dreamy mushroom and port sauce. Recipe by Laura Bashar of Family Spice
Ingredients:
- 1 lb pork tenderloin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
- 1 lb crimini mushrooms
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour, optional
- 1/4 cup vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup port wine
- 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp thyme, fresh
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425ºF.
- Wash and pat dry:
- 1 lb pork tenderloin
- Season pork all over with:
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper, ground
- Transfer pork to a roasting pan and cook until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the roast reaches an internal temperature of 140º-145ºF, about 30-40 minutes.
- During the last 20 minutes of cooking, prepare the port and mushroom sauce. Using a paper towel, wipe clean and slice:
- 1 lb crimini mushrooms
- In a heavy skillet over moderately high heat add:
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- Sautée the mushrooms until the just start to soften, then add:
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper, ground
- Cook flour for 1-2 minutes then stir in:
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour , optional
- 1/4 cup vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup port wine
- 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- Cook flour for 1-2 minutes then stir in:
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour , optional
- 1/4 cup vegetable stock
- 1/4 cup port wine
- 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- Cook until sauce starts to thicken, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and add:
- 1 tsp thyme, fresh
- When pork tenderloin is done cooking, place on serving platter and tent with foil for 5 minutes.
- Remove foil and drizzle mushroom sauce over the roast and serve.
Notes:
Serving Suggestions: Serve with brown rice and steamed vegetables for a healthy and satisfying meal.
Prep Time:
Yield: Serves 4
Cook Time:
Disclosure: This post was created as part of the #MushroomMakeover 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge in which I received a stipend to be the blogger ambassador for the Mushroom Council. The opinions are my own and based on my own experience. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t blog about it.
Hi from a fellow #MushroomMakover blogger! Glad you had a good Week 1 and your pork tenderloin looks delicious!
I have some vegetarian and vegan friends, and I’m always using mushrooms in dishes when they’re over for dinner. They have huge flavor, great mouth feel, and almost seem “meaty.” Good stuff — thanks.
Lovely recipe to another mushroom lover. Use portobellos almost every week instead of meat and altho’ Down Under we do not seem to have some of the US growing mushrooms, many kinds of exciting Asian ones take their place. Ten thousand steps [+] daily and 8-10 glasses of water have been a habit for decades tho’ with fulltime work the first sometimes has to be ‘fitted in’ 🙂 ! I am a strong advocate for carbs [and have been studying nutrition for 1/4 of a century] for even energy levels and a ‘happy brain’ but naturally pick and choose and try to maintain portion control! Love the look in Simon’s eyes: may you all be very happy together!!
Glad your Week 1 went well! My dog’s been loving the extra exercise himself too 😉
Good for you! I too started to have my personal trainer since the end of October and it’s been several months already. I meet her once a week (I purposely pick Monday morning to start a week with someone, otherwise who wants to do exercise on Mondays?), and I go to the gym every single day… I take an advanced step class for Tues/Thurs and it took nearly 2 months to learn all the steps, and the class teaches new choreography which I have to learn again… but so far I have to say I’m much healthier (than last time I talked to you, I think!). 🙂 At least I’m moving out from the desk. 😉 Good luck to you too! Simon is super cute. I can’t wait to see the post about him. I love mushrooms too, and this pork tenderloin looks so delicious!!
Oh my gosh, I’m in heaven! I cannot wait to follow this challenge, it looks divine!! And your photography is amazing!
All looks scrumptious specially that pork loin. The puppy super cute congrats on being part of the #MushroomMakeover project!
I’m in love with Simon. Don’t tell him. So cute.
I also am in a love affair with pork tenderloin and your mushrooms and port sauce – total winner.
I never thought I’d see my husband cuddle and coo a dog. Simon is pretty stinking adorable!