Pan Seared Shallot Stuffed Pork Fillet With Brown + Wild Rice Recipe

Momma Told Me: Anything's delicious when cooked right.

Around here, in the offline world, I have a reputation for being the sweet queen- I make creative, colorful, over-the-top treats for our bowling league each week. It started with me bringing a few leftover servings to the alley because the recipes I'd feature on the blog often yielded enough to serve a small army. For the sake of my waistline, and the fridge space, anything featured on the blog was inevitably served to my league. Before long I was no longer baking an innovating for the blog, but, instead, taking special requests from league-mates and being dubbed their official baker.

To be honest, though, it's the pot-lucks I enjoy most- the times when I can share a little bit of home cooking inspiration, instead of all the sugar. Our alley has a strict 'no outside food policy' so baking and bringing desserts (as the snack bar does not sell sweets) is the only thing I get away with the other 50 weeks of the year. That's why I always get excited over the chance to share a savory recipe such as this Pan Seared Shallot Stuffed Pork Fillet recipe, sponsored by Minute® Ready To Serve Rice.

Of course some of my favorite recipes are ones that are pretty stinkin' simple- recipes that shine on their own as elevated food, with minimal ingredients, and a great plating impact. In the past few years, for dietary reasons, I've had to cut back on my weekly pork consumption greatly. When Jay and I first met, I would cook pork, mostly chops, at least once a week. I still remember the stories he told me about being forced to eat dry, flavorless, tough pork chops as a child- and how he absolutely disliked pork today, as an adult.

Well, dry pork should be a cardinal sin- pork is such a richly textured meat, with beautiful flavor and endless pairing options. And my favorite cut of pork (no it's not bacon) is a tenderloin, often reasonably priced, and even pre-seasoned, in the local grocer's meat case. Pork tenderloin comes in a variety of cuts- so you can serve a family of 2 to a family of 5, and is often pre-trimmed and quite lean.

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My pan seared, shallot stuffed, pork tenderloin fillets are a clear winner- After all it's the recipe that converted Jay back to the 'pork side.' These fillets marinate for 48 hours, inside and out (thanks to the stuffing pockets I slice into them before marinating) and have the most tender, melt in your mouth, full of flavor experience you'll find at about $3 a serving. Even more impressive, they look like they just left the line of a Michelin star restaurant.

My secret, outside of the marinating process, is to baste and pan sear each side before slow baking them to perfection in the oven. I love a light char on the outside of my meat, and this really does lock in the flavor, and add a great texture experience to each bite of this meal. pan searing also allows me to use any of that leftover marinate to help lock in flavor before the final cooking procedure.

If you have a grill pan you can actually take your fillets straight to the oven from the stove- I like to transfer them to a silicone baking mat where it'll be a little easier to turn them during the slow cook process. I find, even with a high quality cast iron skillet my fillets tend to stick from time to time.

Because the pork is the star of this meal I like to pair it with a simple side solution that as both wholesome and nutritious, as it is effortless.

Minute® Ready To Serve Rice comes in packages of 2 perfectly portioned, ready-in-60 seconds, just microwave cups. It's the perfect on-the-go side, or, in this case, last minute meal companion. Jay and I often are the only ones dining at our table, and I am notorious for forgetting to plan our side dishes. With these Minute® Ready To Serve Rice cups we can eat right from the package, mix in some fresh veggies, or spoon it onto the plate alongside our main entree.

For my Pan Seared Shallot Stuffed Pork Fillets, I prefer to enjoy a cup of Minute® Ready To Serve Rice in Brown and Wild Rice. It's the perfect pairing of grains and texture for the spinach and shallot filling of the fillets. Of course this particular dish would go good with just about any of the Ready To Serve varieties including, Yellow Rice, Fried Rice, Whole Grain Brown Rice, or the newest flavors; Brown & Quinoa or Basmati. Thanks to the individual serve portioned cups we can even enjoy our own, different, favorite rice varieties at the same meal. No more arguing over whether brown or white rice tastes better!

When serving alongside Minute® Ready To Serve Rice, you don't have to worry too much about timing your meal. Pork should always be cooked to an internal temperature of around 145F- for this recipe I like to remove them at about 135-140F, and let them rest 5 minutes prior to cutting and serving. The meat will be darker along the edges, as a result of the marinating process, but the texture should be soft and tender throughout- it's also the perfect time to prepare your Minute Rice! I've yet to disappoint with this recipe- and it takes minimal ingredients and effort! Do you have a preferred way of enjoying pork? Tell me a little about your favorite pork dish or pairing!

 This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Ready to Serve Rice.

What Daughter Says: In my book pork doesn't need any dressing up- this pan seared fillet recipe is the perfect way to enjoy the natural flavor and texture of this classic meal.

Parmesan Shallot Stuffed Pork Fillets

***Click here for printable Stuffed Pork Fillet recipe

#KraftRecipeMakers Helped Me Juggle a Lemonade Stand + 2 Meals! #shop

Momma Told Me: I'm not a short order cook!

I try to be Wonder Woman; I really do.

I'm usually the first awake on the weekends, I plan elaborate shopping routes to pick up Jay's favorite shoe polish or the cat's preferred kitty litter, and I like to have meal plans laid out a week in advance. But I am not without flaw, for I am human, and every now and then the afternoon rolls by and I catch myself caught by that ticking clock, stopping to ask, "What's for dinner tonight?" It's times like those where quick family meals can make or break the success of our day. Where I once would have leaned on a quick swing through the drive through to satisfy the looming dinner slot, I now find comfort in inspiring meal helpers such as #KraftRecipeMakers.

There was a time with the 'Type A' inside me would have cringed at the thought of pulling out a box to help ease meal prep on a hectic weeknight. Unfortunately, my pride often lead to less healthy alternatives dished by the golden arches or one crowned burger mega-conglomerate. In recent years I've grown into my role as head of household, and executive chef to our humble family, and learned I can plan meals in a pinch with the help of the right meal kits. I try to avoid meal helpers that limit my options to ground beef, or include pasta as it's designated carb. Simmer sauces and marinades can be a great way to inspire the rushed home cook, while expanding protein and vegetable options that will best suit your family's tastes. After all, who wants to go through the effort of cooking a meal only half of those at the table will eat? That's why I was especially thrilled to discover Kraft's new Recipe Makers range.

With 9 exclusive recipe starter kits, across three methods of preparation (oven, skillet, slow cooker), Kraft Recipe Makers also include alternate preparation idea right on the inside of the packaging. That's 3 recipe ideas with 2 simple to incorporate preparation sauces. Last week was a pretty hectic one for our family, with back-to-school shopping, several birthday preparations, and our long awaited Lemonade and Cupcake Stand kick off. All meal plans somehow got thrown out the window, and I was left without a lunch or dinner plan, rounding 1PM on Thursday.

Verde Chicken Enchiladas

***Printable chicken enchilada recipe here

Ingredients:

* 1 Box Kraft Verde Chicken Enchiladas Recipe Makers

* 4C Shredded, Cooked, Chicken (about 1.5lbs)

* 12 Corn Tortillas (6-8 inch)

* 1C KRAFT Mexican Style Four Cheese Shredded Cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F

1.) Prepare 13" x 9" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Combine shredded chicken and Filling Sauce (Kraft Recipe Makers bottle).

2.) Stack tortillas; wrap in damp paper towel and microwave on HIGH 30 sec- 1 MIN, or until warmed through. Pour half the Finishing Sauce (1 pouch) into prepared baking dish.

3.) Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place seam-side down, in prepared baking dish. Repeat until baking dish is full.

4.) Cover with remaining (1 pouch) Verde Finishing Sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15-20 MIN, until heated through.

****Note: The fresher and warmer the corn tortillas, the easier they will roll without splitting. If you encounter an issue with your tortillas splitting, you may layer tortilla, meat, and tortilla in casserole fashion, as shown above. I do not recommend substituting flour tortillas, which can become chewy and hard to cut when damp and cooked.

I resisted the urge to pick up the phone for discount Large pizzas, or to swing through the drive through for dollar burgers and salty fries. Instead I visited my pantry shelf where I had 4 flavorful Kraft recipe Makers options waiting to inspire me. These innovative new meal helps are much more than fancy sauces; they are the freedom to create restaurant quality meals at home, in 30 minutes prep or less. Don't believe me? Each variety clearly labels the suggested prep method, recommended ingredient must haves to create the desired dish, and a full break down of prep and cook times to easily work into your schedule. I knew right away I wanted to make Verde Chicken Enchilada for lunch, and Chicken Cacciatore for dinner. Best of all, I was able to do both of these things at the same time! Verde Chicken Enchilada took 8 minutes of prep time, with 1.5lbs of shredded pre-cooked chicken, and I was able to set up my Chicken Cacciatore in the slow cooker while I was waiting for our lunch to heat (15 MINS) in the oven!

No sooner had the last of the paintbrush Sharpies been scooped from our dining table did a delicious Mexican inspired dish hit the Lazy Susan. We scarfed down the Verde Chicken Enchilada, leaving no leftovers, then hit the park for a few hours of educational, and profitable, cupcake and lemonade selling. By the time we arrived home our dinner was well underway and on it's way to the final stages of preparation. After 5 hours on high in the slow cooker, our Kraft Chicken Cacciatore only required 10 minutes of pasta prep over the stove top. Because the recipes are so easy to mold, I substituted peppers with fresh mushrooms (an ingredient more popular within our family), and was able to make a second home cooked meal worthy of raving. I actually feel like I cheated a little, it was really that easy!

Thankfully, it's hard to feel guilty on the back of a successful lemonade stand and 2 delicious meals (complete with compliments from the 'customers'.) While I wasn't ambitious enough to try some of the alternate recipes this go-around, I can't wait to have an excuse to hit my shelf again and further explore the time saving and delicious #KraftRecipeMakers range. For a more in depth look at my time saving meal prep, check out my Walmart shopping trip Google + where I consider the range of meal kits available to today's consumer.

Chicken Cacciatore

***Printable Chicken Cacciatore recipe here.

Ingredients:

* 1 KRAFT Chicken Cacciatore Recipe Starters

* 2lb Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breasts

* 1 Green Pepper, Cut Into Strips

* 2C Fresh Sliced Mushrooms

* 3C Rotini Pasta, Uncooked

Directions:

1.) Add Simmer Sauce to slow cooker; top with chicken and vegetables. Turn chicken to coat in sauce.

2.) TOP with cooking sauce; cover. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH 4-6 hours.

3.) 15 MIN before serving, cook 3C Rotini pasta as directed on package (no salt). Drain.

4.) Serve chicken mixture over pasta.

***Frozen, ready sliced vegetables can help cut prep time and costs.

What Daughter Says: Bring delicious family meals back to your table without the extra stress. Lean on quality meal kits to help inspire busy weeknight meals.

I'm not the only Blogger who has experienced Kraft Recipe Makers, see more of the product range, and get exclusive recipe ideas by following along on the Blog Hop below!

How Nestle Meal Solutions Make Me Look Like Wonder Woman #shop

***I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. #cbias #shop

Momma Told Me: I don't have time to be a chef today!

I have a reputation both on and offline for being a sort of modern Betty Crocker. While my immense modesty forbids me to confirm or deny the validity of such a handle, it is an expectation I try to live up to none-the-less. Believe it or not the parade of tantalizing Instagram shots, and Pin-worthy blog pics do not happen overnight. In most cases I brainstorm various snack or recipe ideas over the course of a month, or longer; often postponing the actual replication due to forgotten ingredients, dead camera batteries, or last minute schedule changes. Most parents can identify with this pressure to delivery tasty and fun meals for their families; and the amplified stress involved with the back to school season. Throwing together easy meals your family will rave about is hard enough on the Summer or weekend, let alone in between recitals, sports practice, homework tutoring, and early bedtimes.

So, today, I am here to tell you not everything that hits my table is made 'from scratch.' That's right, I cheat. But the difference between food they simply eat, and a meal they absolutely love is in the key to the right components. Not all pre-made family size entrees are created equal; some have an excess of sodium, others require 16 steps to preparation (including ample flipping, poking, prodding, and the sacrifice of a small animal- okay, I might have made that last part up.) My point is, I am a successful family chef because I make smart buying decisions when it comes to my main course; and this enables me some spare time to create a delicious home-made side, and even whip up a tempting dessert kit (or two). Since my own childhood my family has trusted the Stouffer's brand for hearty family meals that warm the stomach, clear plates, and bring us together.

There are dozens of Family Size Stouffer's entrees to choose from at my local Walmart, and the preparation instructions are always minimal; so I can focus on creating a time saving side and rewarding dessert. With a little help from Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk, Breyer's Slow Churned, and Nestle Baking Kits, I can have a complete meal on the table in less than 30 minutes. Unless I'm thawing freeze-ahead home made meals, this would otherwise be a challenge on a school night. In fact, Nestle has several family favorite brands trusted worldwide to fill seats around the table, even during the busy school season. In addition to the wide range of Stouffer's Family Entrees (from lasagna to enchiladas), Tombstone and Digiorno easy bake pizzas offer me time saving entrees to keep our family out of fast food restaurants and eating dinner at home.

As the Summer winds down I'm already beginning to put together weekly meal plans and #BTSIdeas for the upcoming school year. Recently, between building a lemonade stand and navigating swim lessons, I reached into my bag of tricks for a simple and hearty meal I could fit within the busy schedules. Already a cafeteria favorite for Sabrina (10), Stouffer's family size Salisbury Steaks offered 5 generously portioned roasted beef patties smothered in a thick caramelized onion and mushroom sauce. With 55 minute slow-prep oven instructions, and 16 minute no-fuss microwave instructions, I could easily prepare this entree while whipping up 2 desserts and a side, thanks to Nestle and Carnation Baking Kits. Using some potatoes I had set out to boil earlier that afternoon, I (literally) whipped up some creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Mashed Potatoes with a simple Mushroom Sauce (gravy) using Carnation Evaporated Milk and Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup.

With just over 10 minutes, combined, prep-time, the Nestle and Carnation complete baking kits pleased both the chewy and creamy palettes in our house. I'll admit, I don't always serve 2 desserts after dinner, but there was so much debate (Cookie Brownies vs. Chocolate cream Pie), and so little preparation involved, I made both! I'd never used the Nestle baking kits before, but was thrilled to see the 'necessary ingredients' were nominal and primarily consisted of butter and water. The Chocolate Cream Pie Kit even included a can of Carnation Evaporated Milk for a silky finished texture that truly had me feeling like a cheat. When I shared a few leftover slices with the neighbors that evening I was embarrassed by the "You really should be a professional baker" comments I kept hearing. Paired with a fresh scoop of No Sugar Added Dreyer's Slow Churned Vanilla the Cookie Brownies made for tough competition for the title of favorite dessert. Thanks to Walmart's back to school values, and a few minutes of elbow grease, this was one dessert worth raving about!

Sometimes I feel guilty, during the school year, that I don't have enough time to devote to my family. I wish I could give them a 'from scratch' meal every night of the week, but it simply is not practical. Thankfully there is a wide range of Nestle meal solutions products to incorporate into my weekly meal plan routine. When I save time substituting these delicious favorites on our table, I have more time to round out the meal and even whip up their favorite mashed potatoes. I know a lot of 'Type A' moms, like me, have a hard time leaning on meal helpers and ready-made entrees; but the simple truth is in the smiles on my family member's faces. I may not have spent 4 hours slaving over a stove, but their stomachs feel loved anyway. And the Nestle baking kits are simple enough the younger aspiring bakers can even help out and feel included! Check out our trip to Walmart for some back to school meal staples, in our Google+ album.

What Daughter Says: Smart meal aids can truly help ease back to school season stress for the entire family.

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