Roast Pork Tenderloin with Sauteed Apples & Dried Cherries

 Ingredients:

• 1 lb. pork tenderloin, fat removed
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. Spanish paprika
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch wedges
• 1/4 tsp. freshly grated ginger
• 2 sage leaves
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings

1. Season pork with salt and pepper. 
2. Combine ginger, paprika, and 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil. Spread over pork to marinate for 30 minutes or as long as overnight. 
3. Preheat oven to 400 F. 
4. Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and pork tenderloin. Cook until lightly browned. Turn tenderloin over and continue to cook until golden brown all over. Remove from pan (reserve pan to prepare the sauce). Place on a rack on a sheet pan and roast in the oven until the pork reaches in internal temperature of 143 F. Remove from oven and allow pork to rest for 15 minutes. 
5. Add apples to the saute pan. Cook over medium heat until golden brown. Flip and cook on other side until golden brown but still wit ha slightly firm texture. Add ginger, sage, dried cherries, maple syrup, and stock. Bring to a simmer and reduce by three quarters until apples are tender and liquid is syrupy. 
6. Slice pork 1/4-inch thick on the bias or against the grain. Serve on a bed of apples and drizzle with syrup. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Diet Cookbook. This dish can make a decadent and elegant dinner for your family and friends. It's flavorful and easy to make. The tenderloin is the leanest and the most tender portion of the pork. The tenderloin is also the juiciest part of the pork and will melt in your mouth when it it cooked right. The pork is complemented by the tartness of the apples and dried cherries. This dinner is so decadent and delicious. The roasted pork and fruit will melt in your mouth it's that succulent and juicy. This dinner is best served with oven-roasted potato strings, cranberry-orange relish and peas for a fulfilling meal. If you don't have pork tenderloin on hand, pork loin works just as well. You can also use pears in place of the apples and use cranberries in place of the cherries and the meal will be just as decadent. 

Cranberry Orange Relish

 Ingredients:

• 1 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. agave syrup
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 16 Servings (1 tbsp. per serving)

1. Combine all ingredients except 1/2 tablespoon agave syrup in a small saucepan. Cover and cook over low heat until cranberries are tender  and bursting apart, about 30 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent the mixture from burning. 
2. Stir in the remaining agave syrup; remove form heat and cool. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 0 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Diet Cookbook. A homemade cranberry relish is a fall & winter holiday essential. Cranberries and very sweet and tart and they pair very well with roasted chicken, turkey and pork during the holidays. If you want to serve this relish with a sweet dish, omit the apple cider vinegar and use vanilla, cinnamon and/or grated orange or lemon zest.. 

Apple-Cranberry Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. granulated cinnamon
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup plain fat-free yogurt
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

Makes 12 Servings (1/12 of cake per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray.
2. Stir together 2 tablespoons of the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a cup; set aside.
3. Whisk together the flour, the remaining sugar, baking powder, baking soda, the remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the salt in a large bowl. Whisk together the yogurt, oil, egg, vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the yogurt mixture, apples, and cranberries to the flour mixture; stir just until blended.
4. Spoon the batter into the pan; spread evenly. Sprinkle evenly with the reserved cinnamon sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at least 6 hours before slicing for the neatest slicing.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Best-Ever Desserts Cookbook. This homemade coffee cake makes a sweet treat for breakfast, brunch or even a sweet snack. The apples, cranberries and cinnamon make this coffee cake flavorful. The recipe calls for either Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples. If you want your cake to have sweeter taste, use Golden Delicious apples; a little more tartness, use Granny Smith apples. If you don't have canola oil on hand, olive oil works just as well. 

Cranberry-Stuffed Pork Loin

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup cranberry all-fruit spread
• 3 tbsp. dried plain bread crumbs
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 (1 1/2-lb.) lean boneless center-cut pork loin roast, trimmed
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Makes 6 Servings (2 slices pork per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place rack in roasting pan and spray rack with nonstick spray.
2. To make stuffing, put cranberries in a small bowl. Add enough boiling water to cover; let steep 10 minutes, them pour off water. Stir in 1/4 cup of fruit spread, bread crumbs, thyme and rosemary.
3. To butterfly pork, holding knife parallel to work surface, cut pork lengthwise in half, cutting about three-quarters of the way through, being careful not to cut all the way through. Open up pork and spread flat like a book. Place pork, cut side down, between two pieces of plastic wrap; gently pound with meat mallet or rolling pin until 1/2-inch thick. Remove top piece of plastic wrap; sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Turn pork over; spoon stuffing down center. Fold pork over filling and roll up, jelly-roll fashion, to enclose. With kitchen string, tie securely in 3 or 4 places.
4. Place pork on prepared rack and roast 35 minutes. Brush with 1 tablespoon of remaining fruit spread; roast 5 minutes. Continue roasting, brushing pork with remaining 3 tablespoons fruit spread, until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 145 F, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer pork to cutting board and let stand 10 minutes. Cut into 12 slices.

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. This is what I call an elegant pork dish to be enjoyed during the fall holidays. Almost any fruit goes well with pork. Cranberries really compliment the pork in this dish. If you don't have pork tenderloin on hand, boneless, center-cut pork chops will work just as well. You can broil or grill these cranberry-stuffed pork chops and the end result will still be delicious. 

Sweet Potato and Cranberry Bake

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. coarse-grain Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
• fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Makes 6 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, combine the mustard, olive oil, honey, lemon juice, thyme, kosher salt, and pepper. Add the sweet potatoes; toss to coat. Gently stir in the cranberries. Transfer sweet potato mixture to a 2-quart rectangular baking dish; spread in an even layer.
2. Bake, uncovered, about 1 1/4 hours or until sweet potatoes are tender, stirring once. Uncover and bake about 10 minutes more or just until sweet potatoes are starting to brown. If desired, garnish with thyme sprigs before serving.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Cookbook. This side dish screams to be enjoyed during the fall holiday season. Sweet potatoes and cranberries are in season during the fall and they go perfectly in this side dish. The sweet potatoes and cranberries literally melt in your mouth. Don't forget to cut the sweet potatoes into equal pieces so they roast evenly. This bake goes great with turkey, chicken, pork and even certain kinds of fish.



Pork Chops with Port & Cranberries

Ingredients;

• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup port
• 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
• 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 4 boneless pork sirloin chops, cut 3/4-inch thick
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Makes 4 Servings

1. In a small saucepan, combine the 1 cup chicken broth, port, and ginger. Bring to boiling. Boil gently for 15-20 minutes or until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Add cranberries; cook just until cranberries begin to pop. Stir in lemon juice. In a small bowl stir together the 1 tablespoon chicken broth and the cornstarch; add to the cranberry mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper.
2. Meanwhile, season pork chops with kosher salt and pepper. Sprinkle chops evenly with rosemary and garlic, pressing lightly with fingers. In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add pork chops; cook for 8-12 minutes or until chops are done (160 F) and juices run clear, turning once. Serve chops with cranberry mixture.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the Sonoma Diet Cookbook. This is a quick, easy and delicious meal will get you in the mood for the holidays. Who knew that cranberries went so well with pork and port? The pork is so succulent and juicy it will melt in your mouth. I added a touch of garlic to this dish because garlic always taste better when it's added to a savory dish. Any red wine will do in this dish if you don't have port on hand.



Cranberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• 1 Basic Crumb Crust (See recipe)

Filling:

• 8 oz. Neufchatel cream cheese
• 8 oz. fat-free cream cheese
• 2 cups fat-free yogurt
• 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 cup granular sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1 (16 oz.) can whole cranberry sauce
• 3 tbsp. orange juice
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 tbsp. water
• 1 tsp. grated orange zest

Makes 16 Servings

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Follow the directions for the Basic Crumb Crust, using a springform pan. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and 11/2 inches up the sides of the pan. Bake and let cool as directed. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. 
2. In a food processor, blend both cream cheeses, yogurt, and cottage cheese until smooth. Add the eggs, egg whites, sugar, and vanilla extract and pulse until blended. Pour the mixture into the springform pan and place in the center of the oven.
3. Reduce the heat to 325 F and bake until the cheesecake is almost set but jiggles an bit when shaken, 70-75 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit in the oven 1 hour longer. Transfer the cheesecake to the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the topping. In a small saucepan, combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, stirring often; cook 1 minute. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water and stir into the saucepan; return to a boil an cook until mixture is thickened, 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat and stir in the orange zest; cool completely, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
5. Spread the cranberry mixture over the top of the cake just before serving or after the cheesecake is well chilled.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. You can have your cheesecake and eat it too. This cranberry cheesecake is so delicious and will give a new flavor to the holidays or any special occasion you may be celebrating. This cheesecake is very creamy and the cranberry topping gives it an extra kick of zing. You can reduce the amount of granulated sugar t o1/3 of a cup or don't add any and your cheesecake will taste good for sugar-free. You can use whole cranberries or add a touch of pomegranates to the topping and your cheesecake will be just as delicious.

Cinnamon Apple Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. pork tenderloin
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar, packed
• 2 cooking apples, peeled, cored, sliced
• 2 tbsp. dried cranberries or raisins

Makes 4 Servings

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Place tenderloin in roasting pan or casserole dish.
3. Combine remaining ingredients and mix well. Spoon the apple mixture around the tenderloin.
4. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove cover and spoon apple mixture over the tenderloin. Continue to bake 15 minutes or until the pork tenderloin is browned and cooked through, about 150 F on a meat thermometer.

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Cookbook. This is a wonderful comfort food to cook for any holiday or any special occasion. The combination of pork and cooked apples is so heavenly delicious when they are cooked right. As for the cooking apples, you can use, Golden, Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Pippin, McIntosh or Honey Crisp for a rich, fruity flavor. One bite of this dish and you'll have a new taste for pork chops and applesauce.

Chocolate-Cranberry Scones

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cranberries
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk

Makes 12 Scones (1 scone per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Whisk together whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. With pastry blender or two knives used sciccors-style, cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add chips, cranberries, and buttermilk to flour mixture, stirring just until moist dough forms.
3. With floured hands, knead dough, 6-8 times in bowl to bring dough together (dough will be shaggy).
4. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface and pat to 1/2-inch thickness. With floured 2 1/2-inch round cutter, cut into 10 rounds without twisting cutter. Gather scraps and reroll, making total of 12 scones. Place scones 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet.
5. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer to wire rack; serve warm.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. The original recipe was called whole wheat-buttermilk scones with  a variation of chocolate-cherry scones. I decided to make chocolate-cranberry scones to get into the holiday spirit. These scones are so delicious! They are full of chocolately flavor and soft. The cranberries give the scones a nice tart and a little succulent taste. Leave these for Santa and I promise he'll leave you an extra present.

Cranberry-Orange Loaf Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 6 tbsp. butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1 /2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
• 1 tbsp. grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Makes 20 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a 5-X-9-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray; dust with flour.
2. In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. With an electric mixer at high speed, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, on at a time, beating well after each addition. With an electric mixer on low speed, gradually add half of the flour mixture, until just blended. Add the cranberries, orange zest, juice, and vanilla; mix until just blended. Add the remaining flour mixture and the walnuts; stir until just blended.
4. Spread the batter into the loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack 10 minutes; remove from the pan and cool completely on the rack. Cut into 10 slices, then cut each slice in half crosswise.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. This loaf cake makes a nice for a snack, dessert and even a tea treat. Heck, it's even great for breakfast with a touch of cream cheese. The combination of cranberries and orange mixed in with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg make this cake delicious. I added 1/2 teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to this cake because cinnamon and nutmeg always make sweet endings even sweeter.

Cranberry-Orange Compote

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 tbsp. grated orange zest
• 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup granular sugar substitute

Makes 8 (3-tablespoon) Servings

 

Place the cranberries, zest, cinnamon and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat; stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally. until berries have popped and compote has thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sugar substitute to taste. Serve at room temperature.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 0 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook. This zesty side dish adds zing and plenty of Vitamin C to the main dish. You can serve this side dish with chicken, turkey, pork or even duck and it's really good. This side dish also makes a great spread if you want a leftover turkey sandwich the next day. This side accompaniment has five ingredients and will definitely impress Claire Robinson.

Whole-Grain Cranberry Spice Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole-grain pastry flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup granular sugar substitute
• 1/2 cup egg substitute
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp orange extract
• 1 3/4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

Makes 12 slices

1. Position rack in middle of oven and heat oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a 4-by 8-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
2. Sift flour, cinnamon, nutmeg,  baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, sugaar substitute, egg, substitute, oil, vanilla and orange extracts. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients; stir well to combine. Fold in cranberries. Spoon batter into loaf pan, spreading evenly.
4. Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes, them turn cake out onto rack to cool completely before serving.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook. This delicious treat can be made and enjoyed anytime of the year. Cranberries give this cake some zing but you could use, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries and the cake would be delicious. The cinnamon and nutmeg give the cake a nice aftertaste along with the vanilla and orange extracts. I highly recommend spreading butter, margarine or any kind of fruit preserve if you want to add a little more moisture or flavor to your cake. It makes a nice after-dinner treat, tea time treat or even a breaskfast treat as well.