Crock Pot Cookin': Chinese Pork Tenderloin with Garlic-Sauced Noodles

Now, the recipe called this Chinese, but Joe and I agreed that with the fresh carrots, peanuts, and cilantro it had a Thai flair.... Also, it was easy, beautiful, delicious, made my house smell great and the kids loved it. Now if you know Avery, you know that means something! :)

Crock-Pot Chinese Pork Tenderloin with Garlic-Sauced Noodles

2 (1 pound) pork tenderloins
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp tomato sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp fresh minced garlic
1 tsp fresh shredded ginger

then...

1/4 soy sauce
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 16oz. pkg of Chinese egg noodles cooked
1 cup fresh shredded carrot
3/4 cup diagonally sliced green onions
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

for garnish:

1/3 crushed dry-roasted peanuts
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1) Place tenderloins in electric slow cooker. Combine hoisin sauce and next 5 ingredients; stir well. Then drizzle over the tenderloins and cook on high, covered, in the slow-cooker for 1 hour.

2) Reduce to low-heat and cook for 4 more hours.

3) Remove pork from slow cooker, then reserve the cooking juices in a bowl. Let pork stand 10 minutes.

4) Wipe out crock pot with a paper towel. Shred pork with two forks. Combine shredded pork and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking juices and toss well. Cover to keep warm and set aside. Return remaining cooking juices to the slow cooker and add the 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup vinegar and the sesame oil. Cover with lid and cook on high for 10 minutes. Add your hot noodles, carrots, green onions, and cilantro leaves to slow cooker; toss to coat. Cover let stand for 3-5 minutes.

5) Serve pork over noodle mixture; sprinkle with chopped cilantro and peanuts. Enjoy!

Makes 8 servings (serving size: 1 and 1/4 cup noodle mixture, 2/3 cup pork, 2 tsps peanuts, and 2 tsps cilantro. Calories per serving: 398, Fat 9g, Fiber 8g--8 WW points and worth every one!)

Sunshine in Bothell!

I love a sunny day in the Pacific Northwest!

After all the grey, dark, dreary, damp days we are rewarded for our perseverance with glorious sunshine!! One draw back to all this rain is a really healthy lawn, I mean reeaaaallly healthy. I plan to mow my overgrown little jungle/lawn today but am procrastinating until everyone in the hood is awake.

Later after I shuttle Emma off to a birthday party, Joe, Avery and I are headed out to go buy a new BBQ! Nothing says spring like the smell of freshly mowed grass and BBQ! I am hoping to drag it home today, wish me luck in finding what I want. :)

On to the next question of the day: what will I grill for dinner? I would love recommendations for fantastic grill christening recipes!

Right now I am enjoying a quiet morning with coffee and my girls doing crafts (makit & bakit!) Anyone remember these fun little stained glass things from the 80's? I found them at Michael's for the girls and now they are crafting fools!

Somewhere in here I will squeeze over 100 pages of homework reading, and 4 pages of critical review writing....

Cheers, Happy weekend everyone!