Cooking Hazards

The main redeeming quality of living in Alabama is proximity to Florida beaches! In the time it takes to drive to Galveston from Houston, we can be in Destin, Florida! One beautiful Sunday we took a day trip with some friends. There were 6 children with us, but guess who ended up digging holes in the sand...

Now it is time for a new segment called "Braggin' on my Husband." On Saturday, I had to go to work. One of Robert's Army friends was having a birthday golf outing, and Robert decided to go out and have some guy time. They ended up playing for a looooong time, which was a problem since we had to leave at 5 to go see our friend Mandy perform with her dance company. So, I was all dressed up and ready to go when Robert barrelled in through the door with about 5 minutes to get ready. He was making a beeline for the shower when he stopped in his tracks, turned around, gave me a kiss and told me I looked beautiful. *melt*

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming before you all throw up...

Tonight we tried a new recipe, Pork Roast with Hard Cider Gravy:

3 Tbs. butter

2 1/2 lbs. boneless pork loin roast

Kosher salt and black pepper

1 onion, sliced

2 Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced

1 bottle hard cider, 12 ounces (apparently you can find this in the beer section of the grocery store)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat Dutch Oven (you can use a deep pan instead) over medium high heat; add 2 Tbs. butter. Season pork with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper; sear until golden brown, like so:

Remove from pot; reserve. Add onion and apples to pot; season with 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper. Cook until golden, 8-10 minutes.

Add cider; if you so desire, have your husband "help" by putting his beer in the picture while you are trying to take serious photo documentation of your cooking.

Cover. Cook in oven until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees on meat thermometer, 30-45 minutes.

Remove from the oven. The next step is the most crucial:

DO NOT FORGET THAT THE PAN WAS IN THE OVEN AND TRY TO GRAB THE HANDLE!

If you do this part wrong, you will burn your hand and it will be scary and you will turn to the sink and start running your hand under cold water and then you will burst into tears and your husband will be concerned because you are not usually one to cry at an injury and he will ask you what is wrong and you will try to stop sobbing long enough to say that you feel stupid for grabbing it and he will try to make you feel better by telling you he has done the same thing but you will not believe him and then you will cry more because you are mad at yourself for crying over something so stupid in the first place.

If this happens, put your hand in ice water for an hour and then cover in aloe vera.

After this step is complete, remove the pork from the pan (use a potholder!) Pour the drippings into a blender and puree. Return to pot; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in remaining butter. Serve with pork.

If you missed the most important step, have your husband cut your pork up for you so you can keep your hand in your ice water bowl =)