Wow, have I missed you! I’ve just begun playing in the kitchen after a really long break.
You’ll be pleased to know that I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends as my first entertaining since back surgery ages ago. It was a success and I can’t remember being that happy in months. I was flat on my back for 3 days after but it was worth every single moan.
Over the weekend John’s brother, his wife, his niece and her 3-year old son here for the annual Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade. I really wanted to spend time with them as I don’t have any family in Australia. I didn’t overdo this one as everyone brought frozen things that could go in the oven and we sat outside and ate junk food and drank beer or bubbles and laughed. Win!
If you’re in Australia, I want to share this wonderful, pop in the oven roast from Murray Valley Pork. They were passing by the Sunshine Coast and dropped off a pork belly and this apple and cranberry stuffed pork loin. This would be a great gift as it doesn’t require any cooking experience. I wiped it dry and put it in the oven and set the timer. I served it with some garlic roasted potatoes and steamed carrots with sugar snap peas.
I should have saved it for Christmas Dinner but I’ve been invited out for the big day so I celebrated last night. It was so good and the stuffing reminded me of one my mother made. It’s a family dinner without the effort.
Murray Valley Pork is available in most parts of eastern Australia so click the link to find a butcher that sells this roast. I have plans for char siu pork belly cooked in my new pressure cooker. I don’t have a new pressure cooker yet but I’ve been hinting pretty big to Santa.
If you don’t live where you can buy an already made stuffed pork loin ready for the oven, this is my mother’s recipe for apple and cranberry stuffing.
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- ¼ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup boiling water
- 1 cup store bought stuffing mix
- 1 cup chopped apple
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- salt and pepper to taste
- In a skillet, melt butter and saute the onion and celery until soft.
- Place stuffing mix in a mixing bowl and add the onion and celery and water and mix to combine.
- Mix in the apple, walnuts and cranberries and the stuffing is ready to use.
Last year was a pretty rough year for both of us so we’re looking forward to a great 2017.
I’m nearly ready for Christmas and Charlie is all the way to eager for his pressies.
Merry Christmas to everyone!
CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM TO “SEE” YOU in the blogosphere!
three days on your back after THanksgiving, you naughty woman! I hope you are fully recovered by now, almost one month later…
take it easy, but above all WELCOME!
I either have to rest up before or rest after. It’s just the way it is. When you have bone spurs growing inside your joints, life has a new normal. 🙂 Merry Christmas my sweet Sally!
Welcome back darling friend. Such good news to hear that things are improving. Do please take care. Wishing you, John and the entire family, puppy included, a peaceful, healthful and joyful festive season and all the best for 2017. Much love xxx
Love ?? a pork roast Maureen. How did you go with the crackling? I’ve got some great tips on my blog.
There is no rind on it so it didn’t crackle much but it was really tasty. I’m going to buy another one for my birthday. 🙂 I’ll check out the crackle tips!
Sorry- my heart ?? came out as question marks.
Oh how wonderful to see you back, Maureen – we have missed you!
I sincerely hope that 2017 is a much, MUCH better year for the both of you. xxx
Thanks Amanda. While I haven’t been able to work much, I have followed your travels abroad and at home. You’ve certainly kept busy during 2016. Merry Christmas!
I am so glad you are are blogging again and feeling better. I missed you. Your pork roast looks wonderful, just up my alley. Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year .
Woo hoo! Wonderful to hear you are more active again. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy & healthy New Year! Charlie looks ready to celebrate everything & anything.
Happy Christmas to you and Charlied. It’s so good to hear you’re back amongst the upright, enjoying life again.
Such a wonderful Christmas present to have you back to blogging!! Glad you’ve recovered enough to make a holiday meal—this pork roast looks like a wonderful holiday entree! Merry Christmas you you and Charlie!!! xoxo
I’m glad to hear things are better. Hope you and your family have a great Xmas and New Year.
The pork roast looks amazing as expected.
Delighted to see you post again! And glad you’re getting back to normal. Well, as normal as can be expected. 😀 Love the combo of cranberry and apples — so good. And both play so nicely with pork. And GREAT to see a Charlie picture again! Merry Christmas. And Happy New Year.
So happy to see you and that you are feeling good enough to sit long enough to write up a post! Congratulations as that was a huge under taking. Wishing you and your family a very safe and happy holiday season. See you in the new year!
Yes this was amazing Pork wasn’t it. yours looks very delicious. So glad you did a post so you can get all these lovely comments. Doesn’t Charlie look cute? xxxx
Oh it was so nice to see a blog update email this morning from you. And even better to read that you are both on the mend and looking forward 2017. Good riddance to 2016 I say! It’s been a bit of a rotten one all round. Here’s to a healthier and happier 2017 for us all xx
Fantastic to see you, Maureen!!! Glad you are feeling better. The pork looks delicious. YUM!
Hope 2017 is fantastic all year long.
So happy to see you posting again, Maureen. Your Thanksgiving dinner looks like it was indeed a success. But am glad you’re being catered to on Christmas….As always love the photos of Charlie =) Happy Christmas!
Murray Valley pork is so delicious, you chose well Maureen! 😀 I hope you get your pressure cooker. A very Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones Maureen! xxx
Maureen it’s so good to see you back in action! We missed your delicious posts! I can imagine how great the pork goes with the nuts and tangy apple flours. What a gorgeous pork roast, you got me drooling when I saw it on fb, I had to share it. I wish we could get such beautiful pork roasts here around, it would be a dream to work with such good looking quality. Charlie looks more then conveniently towards Christmas, what will he get for Christmas? =D
Wow… amazing stuff done for the recipe… love the idea of using fruits as the stuffing…
Glad to see you after a long time…
Looks delicious. So nice to hear that you’re both doing so much better. Merry Christmas! Can’t wait to see what you’re cooking in that new pressure cooker 🙂
Good to hear you are back in the kitchen ~ your pork loin looks delish! It has been a rough year for a number of folks I know and they too are looking forward to 2017 with hope of a less bumpy ride. Merry Christmas to you and yours … and a very Happy New Year!
Hi Maureen, All the very best for the festive season. Give Charlie a big hug from me. I lost my three babies in 2016 so I am missing canine hugs. Glad to hear your back is a bit better. xxx
When I write my Yuletide post you will be one of the people in my thoughts. Hoping you still see the glass ‘half-full’ as it is said! May 2017 be just somewhat easier than the one previous . . . . my very bestest to all of you – and that very much includes Charlie who methinks may not quite like that ‘funny’ hat 🙂 !
Great to see you back, Maureen! This pork looks fantastic! Happy holidays and all the best for a healthy and happy 2017!
Merry Christmas Maureen, so happy you’re cooking and blogging again 🙂 That’s wonderful news about John too!
WElcome back and Merry Christmas! You can’t get much easier than that but I looked over your stuffing recipe and it sounds marvelous. I’m always looking for ideas for loin because it’s inexpensive, but can be dry….I love the idea of stuffing it.
Mollie
It’s so great to have you back Maureen, I was so pleased to see that email pop up in my inbox that you had posted again 😀 pleased to hear your op went well and John is getting their as well. The best to you both, Merry Christmas to you and yours Maureen.
Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!
So good to hear your voice again!!!
Welcome back but do NOT overdo it this holiday season. And I do hope you get your pressure cooker.
Happiest of holidays to you and Charlie and all of your family and friends. May 2017 be filled with great health, wealth, happiness and joy!! xx, M
So good to hear from you and to know that you are doing so well. Your mother’s stuffing recipe sounds like a good one to try. Merry Christmas to you and your family and most of all a healthy New Year.
I’m so happy to see you back with us! Thank you for your kind words on my blog.
This is a gorgeous hunk of meat, you’ve prepared it beautifully. It looks tender and succulent.
I hope you had a terrific Christmas and I wish you the best health and most happiness for 2017. XOXO
Hi Maureen!
It’s so good to see you back, I hope you’re feelings by better now xx
The pork looks amazing!!! Although I feel like I’ve eaten enough food to do me well into the new year.
Lots of love to you and the family xx
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
I make this EVERY YEAR for Christmas, and did not make it this year since my mom wanted to make the ham! This makes me miss our annual tradition! Great post! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Woohoo! I just looked online and saw that a butcher near my house in Brighton, SA sells this Murray Valley Pork! Welcome back to blogging, Maureen, and I hope you continue to feel better!
They also sell ready to eat American style pulled pork in bbq sauce. For those times when waiting a day for it to smoke and cook is just too long. Hapy New Year!
Glad to see you made it back into the kitchen Maureen but saddened for you that is takes so much to get over it. That must be soon frustrating. Here’s to a positive 2017 for you. Cheers, Maree.
It’s been a long slog but I’m convinced in spite of what the doctors say that I’m going to overcome this. 🙂
I do hope Santa spoiled Charlie. He certainly looks ready for Christmas. When I put up my Christmas tree I’m always grateful I’m a dog-lover rather than a cat-lover – have you seen what cats do to Christmas trees??? Murray River Pork is a quality product. This roast looks like a wonderful family meal and I love how your stuffing contained cranberries – wonderful with the pork xx
This dish is so inviting, Maureen. This could be a great idea for tomorrow’s lunch.
I’ve done the apple + pork thing…. but will have to try cranberries! Pork chops are on the menu tonight… and I think I have a frozen bag of cranberries 😀
Hello my dear friend! I did not realize you were blogging. This stuffing sounds wonderful . I can get 2″ thick bone in chops that I would love to stuff with this or lay open a pork loin, stuff, reroll and tie. Would be nice with oven roasted potatoes and carrots.