Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Monday, October 21, 2013

Honey Butter Pork Tenderloin

Last weekend, my parents visited me in Columbus for the first time and we had an absolute blast!  I was able to show them all around my new city and introduce them to the my closest friends.  All in all, it was a fabulous weekend.  And because we're O'Gara's, you can rest assured that our entire weekend revolved around food!  We shared appetizers and cocktails at Hubbard Grill and swooned over sinful desserts at Pistacia Vera.  I also took my parents on a tour of North Market where we found perfumed honey from a local beekeeper, which became the inspiration for our Sunday Family Dinner.


We made a fantastic (if we do say so ourselves) pork tenderloin that we ate with oven roasted potatoes, onion and fennel, as well as a fun, cheesy pull-apart bread.  Our pork tenderloin turned out so well, I figured it just had to be the next blog post.  This Honey Butter Pork Tenderloin is juicy and flavorful with a crisp, sweet crust that is perfect for a special Sunday dinner.

Honey Butter Pork Tenderloin

2 small pork tenderloins
Salt & Pepper
3 T. Cinnamon honey (or another flavored, local honey)
1/2 C. Butter
1/4 Onion, thinly sliced
1 T. Fresh thyme, chopped

Preheat the oven to 400.

Rub the pork tenderloin with salt and pepper so they are evenly and fully coated.

In a large non-stick skillet, melt the butter and honey over medium high heat.  Stir constantly until the honey and butter come together in a quick bubble.  Carefully place the pork tenderloin into the honey butter mixture.  Allow the pork to sit for about a minute without turning it so that it gets a good sear.  Turn and repeat until all of the pork has a crisp, dark crust.

Remove the meat from the skillet and place in an oven safe baking dish.  Add the onion to the honey butter sauce and toss until the onions darken, about 2 minutes.  Carefully pour these caramelized onions and sauce on top of the pork tenderloin.  Sprinkle with thyme and place in the oven.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the pork is cooked all the way through.  Remove the pork from the oven and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes so all those juices can redistribute.

Slice the pork on a diagonal (it looks nicer) and serve with oven-roasted vegetables.


*Local honey contains local pollen and can be helpful in warding off seasonal allergies.  Plus, you get to support a local farmer instead of a grocery conglomerate!  Check out Brad's Bees at https://www.facebook.com/BradsBees.





Wednesday, October 17, 2012

RR :: Wing Hing

There are very few things in this world that truly never change.  Wouldn’t you agree?  Whether it’s the ice cream shop that continually exchanges their flavors, the necessity of upgrading your vehicle even though you hate to part with your trusty old one, to even noticing the changes in your own personality and preferences throughout the years.  Change is omnipresent.  It can be good or bad, but it’s everywhere. 

Well, I’ve found something that has not changed in 10 years and I’m confident that it never will.  Let me introduce you to my THE BEST hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant, Wing Hing!


My family discovered this jewel of a restaurant in 2002 when we moved from Illinois to Arizona.  It’s located in a strip mall (as some of the best Chinese-American restaurants are) and it’s the best deal in town.  Hands down.  When I was in high school, and making pennies at my part time job, my friends and I thrived off of Wing Hing.  Recently, I've been there a couple times a month.  Their lunch combo is $4.95 and this is what you get: 

Wanton chips with sweet and sour sauce & Chinese mustard
Choice of soup:  Hot and Sour or Egg Drop
Rice
2 Wantons
1 Eggroll
Your main entrée
Fortune Cookie

All for $4.95!  It can’t be beat!  And the food comes out quickly too.  You never have to wait long. 






One of the best things about eating at Wing Hing is Tam, the owner.  She is cute and friendly and has treated my family incredibly well over the last 10 years.  She’ll treat you well too because her restaurant is her pride and joy.  Her son Willie Chang is great too and he’ll refill your water glass a million times.  Tam has my order and my brother’s order memorized, which makes us feel all the more welcome in her restaurant. 


My favorite dish that Tam makes is Orange Chicken.  It is crunchy and sweet and spicy and garlicky all at the same time.  Forget about that candied Orange Chicken that you get at Panda Express.  This is ever so much better.  There’s always so much of it that I have leftovers too!


I’ve eaten here for 10 years and I can’t imagine Wing Hing changing.  Or, having to find another Chinese restaurant.  Whenever I eat at another one, I always compare it to Wing Hing and it never matches up.  I encourage you to pay a visit to Tam, to try the Orange Chicken and the treasure of Wing Hing.  



                                     Wing Hing
                                     7420 W Cactus Rd
                                     Peoria, AZ 85381
                                     (623) 561-8338



P.S. - I've been trying to get Tam's recipe for 10 years and she's still not talking :)