Hi Everyone,
I know most people do not take pictures of their meals, but being a food blogger it’s a must and today’s recipe is one of those ahhhhhhh, I want to scream because my pictures are not coming out. Let me explain. I have made this recipe every week for three weeks in a row, not because I wanted a good picture, well of course I did, but it’s because my Husband has requested it every week. Yes every week, it’s the same dish! I made this three weeks ago and it was a wonderful meal, turned out perfect, but the pictures did not! They turned out yellow looking and this dish does not look good yellow. So I moved on, and then the following week, I thought, I’ll give it one more try since my Husband really loved it. Yes loved it! So I took more pictures and they turned out gray, which is worse than yellow. What the heck? Then this week my Husband asked are you going to make your Pork in a Crockpot again? I said NO!! I am done trying to take pictures of this meal. My Husband said with a smile, it’s so good, you don’t need pictures, just post the recipe. What? No picture? Really? He said yup, I love it and it needs to be shared. So I did my best to give you pictures and yes these ones, turned out better, but still not great! I don’t like taking pictures of meat dishes!
Let’s discuss the meal and no more picture talk! Oh, I never gave you the name of my dish, it’s Pork Tenderloin with Savory Apple Gravy and it’s probably one of the easiest Crockpot meals I have ever made! It takes less than 5 minutes to throw together, nice for when you’re rushing in the morning. The pork is so tender, juicy and reminds me of a meal my Grandmother would make. My Husband thinks it tastes like roast beef. I think it tastes like pork, but he is a beef eater and if he think it tastes like beef, so be it. It’s made with a pork tenderloin, chicken stock, apple juice, thyme and dijon mustard. That’s it! But what really gives this meal the ultimate taste is the gravy I pour over my ohhh so tender pork.
To make the gravy, I took my pork out of the Crockpot and covered it with foil to keep it warm and poured all of the juices into a pan and added some cornstarch and water to it to make it thick. Within a few minutes I had the most thick, creamy gravy ever. I’m pretty proud that I can make gravy now, because in my younger years I couldn’t make gravy if my life depended on it. I guess all you need is a little patience.
As I said before this is one of my Husbands favorite dishes. He doesn’t brag too much about what I cook, because everything is pretty healthy, but this is one dish that he does brag about, which makes me smile. I told him if these pictures don’t turn out, I am never making this again. You should have seen his face. It was sad! lol I know I shouldn’t laugh, but I am so flattered that he likes it so much!
I normally make it with mashed potatoes, so my Hubby can pour the gravy over it, but I decided to make it with red potatoes, which he still poured the gravy over. I actually cooked these potatoes in the microwave. I poked holes in them, put them into a microwave safe bowl, added some water and covered it and cooked them for 5 minutes. Flipped the potatoes and cook for 5 more minutes. They turned out perfect! No one would know they were made in the microwave. Just another way to make this meal quick. Plus as another side dish, I also microwaved some beans. I do have to tell you, I took my 4 ounces of meat, one potato and ate most of the beans, my Husband ate the rest! Yes he ate almost a pound of potatoes and a almost a pound of pork. See what I mean, he really likes this meal! Plus it probably helped that all he had to ate today was a banana, KIND bar and Mini Blueberry Orange Muffins that I made. How does a person who has a physical job just eat that? I would be one crabby person!! if i don’t have food I am mean!!
- 11/2 lbs boneless pork tenderloin roast
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup unsweetened apple juice or 1 cup applesauce (both work great)
- 1½ tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 heaping tsp. thyme, ground
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. ground pepper
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 2 tbsp. cold water
- Spray the bottom of the crockpot with cooking spray and add your pork.
- In a bowl, add chicken broth, apple juice or applesauce and mustard, whisk together until combined. Pour over pork tenderloin. Add the spices and place lid on crockpot.
- Set the crockpot to low for 8 hours or on high for 4 - 5 hours.
- Once pork is cooked; carefully place pork onto plate and cover with aluminum foil.
- In a small bowl add cornstarch and water; mix until smooth.
- Take the juice left in the crockpot and place in a small sauce pan. Over medium heat; whisk in cornstarch and water mixture until it has thicken, about 2 - 4 minutes.
- Cut pork into slices and pour gravy over pork. You can even use the sauce for gravy over potatoes.
I have to laugh, the description of the meal in the summary of my recipe is my Husbands. I think this is the first time he ever participated in a blog I was writing. I’m really glad he liked this dish and if you’re a pork fan, I think you will like it too! However if you like roast beef, you may like it to, because I my Husband swears it tastes like roast beef. You be the judge of it! Either way it tastes good! Oh and if you have leftovers, it’s amazing made as a sandwich, drizzle some BBQ sauce over the pork, top with fresh sliced apples and cheese. Grill it in a Panini maker or cook in a skillet. Oh man, it’s good! I have done that with leftovers from the previous weeks.
I am posting the picture from the first time I made this dish three wekes ago, I had with sweet potatoes and applesauce. It’s the only decent picture I got and it’s a close up of the pork.
Have a great day and I just realized it’s Friday! Woohoo!!!! Have a great weekend!! No a super great weekend!!
Toodles,
Jennifer
I can see why hubby loved this so much! It sounds wonderful and you’re so right, meat is very difficult to capture in a good photo!
I know, what is it about meat? I think it has to do with the color? 🙂
That looks delicious! And so easy.
Thanks and it is very easy to make!
I love this, Jennifer!! I can see why this is your husband’s favourite, mine would love it too! I love cooking potatoes in the microwave sometimes, so handy. I’ll have to try this, I’ve never put pork tenderloin in the slow cooker but I bet it just melts in your mouth!
Crazy how we can cook potatoes in the microwave, beats boiling them on the stove! Thank you for your sweet comment!
Woman this is amazing. Love this dish so much.
I think your pictures look gorgeous! As does the food 😉
This looks great! I’m normally not a pork fan, but if it’s cooked fork tender, I’m in!!!!
There isn’t such a thing as a pork tenderloin “roast.” So I bought a pork loin roast. It has a layer of fat that a tenderloin wouldn’t have had. Should I remove that layer and should I adjust the cooking time? I’ve got it set to 8hrs on low right now. Thanks!!
Huh, I swear mine is called pork tenderloin roast, I’ll check when I get home. Anyway, I would remove some of the fat, if you can. Setting for 8 hours is perfect!
Hi Jen!! Love this recipe – it was great and so simple to make!! Thanks for sharing.
What seasoning do you recommend for the red potatoes?
I hate to say it, but I used a little salt, pepper and a pinch of garlic. Pretty basic, but that’s how I like the potatoes. Plus if you make this recipe, you can use the gravy over the potatoes. 🙂
The red potatoes in your picture show something sprinkled over them. Is that parsley?
Ahhh, that’s right it was parsley! I totally forgot!
It’s amazing! One of our new family favorites.