Pork Tenderloin (2 versions)

These recipes are both from saltandlavender.com

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes (oven); 2 hours (crockpot)
Rest Time: 5-10 minutes

Ingredients
2 pork tenderloins about 1 pound each
1/2 cup beef broth (FOR SLOW COOKER VERSION ONLY!)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
1/4 cup butter cut into pats
Chopped parsley optional, to taste

Oven Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position.
Prep the tenderloins by cutting off any excess fat and the silver skin (the tough part that may cover some of each tenderloin). Pat the tenderloins dry with paper towel. Add the spice rub ingredients (brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper) to a small bowl and stir together. Coat the tenderloins all over with the spice rub.
Add the pork tenderloins to a 9x13 (or similar size) baking dish and place the butter pats on top. Bake, uncovered, for about 25 minutes or until the pork has reached 145F. Let it rest 5-10 minutes before slicing it into medallions so it remains juicy.
Pour the pan juices over the pork (they're also great over a side dish like mashed potatoes) and sprinkle with chopped parley if desired.

Crockpot Instructions
Prepare the tenderloins by trimming off excess fat and the silver skin (the tough part that may cover some of each tenderloin).
Pour the beef broth into your slow cooker.
Add the spice rub ingredients (brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper) to a small bowl and stir together. Using your hands, coat the tenderloins all over with the spice rub. You may want to do this on a plate with each tenderloin one at a time.
Add the pork tenderloins to your slow cooker, along with any excess rub that is on the plate. Place the butter pats on and around the tenderloins and close the lid.
Test for doneness after 2 hours on low or 1 hour on high as slow cookers can vary a LOT, and it's easy to overcook tenderloin. If it's not quite ready, simply put the lid back on and test after another 5-10 minutes if it's close (145F-150F will be medium after resting, and keep in mind that 160F is already well done). If your tenderloins are larger than 1 pound each, they will take longer to cook.
Take the pork tenderloins out of the slow cooker and slice into medallions after 5 minutes of resting. You can put the pork back in the slow cooker to toss with the sauce or plate it and spoon the sauce over top. Sprinkle with chopped parley if desired.


Pork that's 145F in the thickest part is safe to eat. Farming practices have changed over the years, and it's no longer recommended to overcook pork. This recipe, by the time it's finished resting, yields pork that is slightly more cooked than the 145F but may still have some pink in the middle (this is totally safe!). Use an instant read meat thermometer so you never over or undercook meat again.

Helga's Butternut Soup

This is the original version (which I like but is a little spicy): Serves 6-8.

1 tbsp butter

1 cup onion
3 garlic cloves (1/2 tsp minced or 1 tsp chopped)
4 cups cubed, peeled butternut squash
4 cups plus 1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ground red pepper 

1/4 cup whipping cream
1 tbsp fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried oregano)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cans (16 oz each) Great Northern Beans

Instructions
Cook onions and garlic in butter until tender.
Add squash and cook for 3 minutes.
Add 1/4 cup broth; cook until liquid almost evaporates.
Stir in broth, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, and red pepper. Bring to a bil; simmer for 5 minutes until squash is tender. Mash the squash up a bit to it isn't so chunky. (I even run it through the blender sometimes.)
Stir in cream, oregano, salt, pepper, and beans.Bring to a boil again, then remove from heat. 

 This is the modified version (essential, I tripled the squash and broth parts, only doubled the spices--and modified them to fit what I actually have on hand--and left the beans the same) Serves 18-24 

1 tbsp butter
3 cups onion
1 tsp garlic powder or 1/4 tsp garlic salt
12 cups cubed, peeled butternut squash
12 cups plus 3/4 cup chicken broth (I sometimes substitute water and bullion cubes for some of the broth) 

2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
(I leave the red pepper out)
3/4 cup whipping cream
2 tsp dried oregano (For some reason, I never have oregano, so I sometimes substitute dried basil, and sometimes I just leave it out)
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cans (16 oz each) Great Northern Beans (I have also substituted dried GN Beans that I precooked and had in the freezer)

Instructions
Cook onions and garlic in butter until tender.

Add squash and cook for 3 minutes.
Add 1/4 cup broth; cook until liquid almost evaporates.
Stir in broth, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, and red pepper. Bring to a bil; simmer for 5 minutes until squash is tender. Mash the squash up a bit to it isn't so chunky. (I even run it through the blender sometimes.)
Stir in cream, oregano, salt, pepper, and beans.Bring to a boil again, then remove from heat.
Eat what you like and put the rest in the freezer!