Peppered Pork With Caramelized Pears And Rosemary Potatoes Recipes

PEPPERED PORK AND PARMESAN FLATBREAD SANDWICHES

Steps:

• For the flatbread: Combine the yeast, sugar and 1/4 cup lukewarm water in a small bowl and let the yeast puff up and proof.
• Pour the yeast mixture into a large bowl and add 1 cup lukewarm water, the oil and salt. Add 1 cup of the flour and whisk until smoothly combined. Switching to a wooden spoon, add the rest of the flour and stir until you have a soft dough. Rub the dough with a bit more oil, press a square of plastic wrap to its surface and let it rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough, transfer it to an oiled plastic bag and let it proof in the refrigerator at least 4 hours or as long as 3 days.
• For the peppered pork loin: To give the roast a quick cure for added flavor, stir together the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt, rub the mixture all over the roast and refrigerate for 1 hour or as long as overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Blot the roast dry. Crush the peppercorns with a mortar and pestle (or in a spice-devoted coffee grinder) to a medium-coarse texture. (Some will be finely ground, but you want the larger pieces to resemble cracked pepper.) Rub the pepper into the meat, saving what doesn't stick for the marinade.
• Heat a small saucepan over medium-low heat, and add the butter and garlic. Cook until the butter bubbles; add the vinegar, thyme and remaining black pepper, and remove from the heat.
• Sprinkle the pork with 1 teaspoon salt. Heat an ovenproof skillet large enough to fit the pork roast over high heat and add the oil. Brown the meat quickly on all sides.
• Brush the meat generously with some of the pepper mixture, put the skillet in the oven and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the skillet, roll the roast to another side and baste it with more of the pepper mixture. Continue to roast the meat, removing it from the oven every 10 minutes or so to flip and mop, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the roast reads 145 degrees F, about 50 minutes total.
• Transfer the meat to a platter and let it rest for at least 10 minutes, rolling the pork around to sop up its exuded juices. Refrigerate the pork until using. (The pork could also be sliced and served hot at this point.)
• For the doctored aioli: Stir together the mayonnaise, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and lemon zest and juice in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until using.
• Heat a grill over high heat. Generously oil a baking sheet. Divide the flatbread into eight portions on the baking sheet. Press the dough into thin rounds, about 8 inches in diameter.
• Grill the breads over medium-high heat, closing the lid right after putting them on and flipping and turning to avoid any flare-ups. Each flatbread will take about 2 minutes to cook.
• Slice the pork very thinly. Spread some aioli across the flatbreads and pile some pork on one side of each. Top with shaved Parmesan and a handful of arugula. Fold the sandwiches in half and pile them on a platter for serving.

HICKORY-SMOKED PORK CHOPS WITH BLEU CHEESE MASHED POTATOES AND CARAMELIZED PEARS AND ONION STRAWS

Steps:

• In a medium sized bowl, combine milk, rosemary, garlic and salt and pepper. Place each pork chop in the bowl and allow the meat to marinate for approximately 1/2 hour.
• Over an open-flame grill, sear each side of the pork chops until black grill marks form.
• Remove the meat from the grill. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat and place hickory smoking chips in the bottom of the pan. Cover the chips with a lid, which is slightly smaller than the pan, and then place each pork chop on top of the lid. This will allow the meat to smoke and become infused with the hickory flavor. Smoke the meat until it is fork tender. Serve with potatoes, pears and onion straws. Garnish with red pepper and mushroom strips.
• In a large pot, add the potatoes. Cover with water and bring to a rolling boil. Boil the potatoes until they are soft. Drain the water from the pot and place the potatoes in a medium sized bowl. Add all of the remaining ingredients to the bowl and mash together until you reach the desired creaminess. Set aside.
• In a medium sized saute pan, combine all of the ingredients over medium heat and saute until the pears soften and the sauce thickens. Set aside.
• In a medium sized bowl, combine milk, oil, salt and pepper. Slice an onion into long strips and place them into the milk mixture. Shake off any excess liquid, and then dredge the onion strips in flour. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a medium sized saute pan. Place the dredged onions into the saute pan and cook until they are brown and slightly crispy. Set aside.
• Thoroughly clean the skin of the red bell pepper. Rub olive oil lightly over the entire surface of the skin. Place the whole pepper on an open flame and roast it until the skin is blackened. Remove the pepper from the flame and rub the charred skin with a towel. Once the skin is removed, slice the pepper into thin strips and serve with the pork chops.
• Thoroughly clean the skin of the baby mushroom. Rub the entire surface generously with garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Place the whole mushroom into a steamer and allow it to steam for approximately 20 minutes, or until tender. Remove the mushroom from the steamer and slice into strips. Serve with the pork chops.

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH CARAMELIZED PEARS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Pound pork into 1/4 inch thickness between plastic wrap or wax paper.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large saute' pan and add pears, onions and thyme. Salt and pepper to taste. Let cook until pears turn golden and onion is soft.
• In another pan, melt 1 tablespoons butter and add one layer of pork slices. Salt and pepper pork. Cook pork about 2 minutes per side, or until just cooked through and a nice crust starts to form (you will have to cook pork in batches).
• Arrange pork on a serving platter and slather the pear-onion mixture over the top.