Sexy Lil' Kitchen

I've always been intrigued by the idea that food can be an aphrodisiac. Years and years ago, when Sharon Osbourne still had her own talk show, she had on a guest/author named Jacqui Malouf. They were discussing a cookbook called "Booty Food" which I went and purchased a few days later (and has been one of my favorite cookbooks ever since). The book describes booty food as "any food that causes weak knees, accelerated heartbeat, tingly body parts, and other symptoms traditionally associated with falling in love". Did I get your attention yet? Here are just a few foods that this book classifies as having aphrodisiacal qualities:


-Cheese
-Garlic
-Walnuts
-Artichokes
-Figs
-Mushrooms
-Onions
-Strawberries
-Oysters
-Shrimp
-Chocolate
-Honey
-Champagne
-Coffee
-Ruby Port


I recently made this recipe for Pork Tenderloin with Port-Infused Fig Sauce. I know, it sounds really complicated, but it's so simple and so delicious! The book suggests to prepare this meal "anytime your relationship needs a little pick-me-up".  I actually wanted to make this dish a few months ago, but had a difficult time finding fresh figs.  Fresh figs are in season right now and can be found at most grocery stores in the produce section.  Ruby port, which is also used in this recipe, can be found at any liquor store. As for the consequences of consuming this meal with your significant other, I will not be held personally responsible for whatever may happen later that evening. All I'm going to say is, well....... you can thank me later!

Pork Tenderloin with Port-Infused Fig Sauce

Ingredients:


-20 ounce pork tenderloin
-drizzle of olive oil
-2 cups ruby port
-8 ounces ripe black figs
-salt and pepper to taste


Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub pork tenderloin with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and cook until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. You can also cook the pork on the grill over medium heat.

2. While pork is cooking, pour ruby port into a saucepan and cook over high heat until it reduces by half.

3. Peel and mash the figs, saving two for garnish. (The skin can be removed easily by cutting the fig in half and then simply squeezing the outside.) Add the mashed figs to the port syrup, and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.

4. When pork is finished, let rest for about 10 minutes, then slice into medallions. Serve with fig sauce and garnish with fig halves if desired.

Alissa's notes: In case you're not sure how long to cook the pork, most pork tenderloin packages give you guidelines for how long to cook it per pound. I like to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness, because if you slice into it, all the juices run out. 

Easy Entertaining

I think I may have found one of the easiest meals for entertaining (besides pasta)! In the past I have cooked the big turkey dinner, complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, and all the fixings. It may be delicious when it's all said and done, but the prep work is just too stressful! Your guests begin to arrive and you can't even enjoy yourself because you're still slaving over the stove! I put together a quick, but tasty menu to impress your guests, and cut back on your stress. London Broil isn't known for being the best cut of beef. It can typically be tough and dry, but with the right marinade, it will melt in your mouth. I found this marinade recipe on Allrecipes.com, which is one of my go-to websites when I need a new recipe. I have used this marinade for London Broil a few times now, and I absolutely love it! But before you start "marinading", you have to get your hands on a good meat tenderizer. I have the blade-style tenderizer, which cuts hundreds of "mini-slits" in the meat so all of your marinade can soak right in. The tenderizer also helps break down the fibers of the meat, preventing it from becoming chewy and tough. The combination of the tenderizer and this marinade makes the meat so tender, you might even think you're eating filet mignon. The side dish to accompany the London Broil is super simple, and no, it's not baked potatoes. It's Vidalia Onions with Bacon Butter. Isn't everything better with bacon? The onions are stuffed with a bacon, butter, and bleu cheese filling, and individually wrapped in foil packets. I'm not an onion-lover, but I could easily eat a whole one of these! The heat of the grill really brings out the sweetness of the onions. Believe me, it tastes even better than it sounds! I also made green beans to go along with this meal, but any veggie will do! Now you can entertain and enjoy yourself at the same time! What a fun concept!

The Best London Broil

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (2 pound) London Broil 

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix together garlic, soy sauce, oil, ketchup, oregano, and black pepper. Pierce meat with a tenderizer (or a sharp fork) on both sides. Place meat and marinade in a large resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight.
2. Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place steak on the grill, and discard marinade. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness.

Alissa's notes: Be sure to let the meat rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting. This helps the juices reabsorb throughout the meat. If you cut into meat right after it's finished cooking, all the juices run out and you're left with a dry piece of meat. Yuck!

Grilled Vidalia Onions with Bacon Butter (recipe courtesy The Neely's)

Ingredients

• 4 large Vidalia onions
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme leaves

Directions

Special equipment: Heavy duty aluminum foil

Preheat grill to medium heat.

Cut onion top and "backtail" so onion can sit flat. Peel the onion. Using a parking knife cut a hollow cone-like shape into the center of the onion making sure not to go all the way to the bottom. Salt and pepper the cavity. Place onions on individual squares of heavy duty aluminum foil.

Add the butter, bacon, blue cheese, and thyme to a bowl and mix until well combined. Add large dollops of the butter to each cavity of the onions. Fold the aluminum foil all around the onion, gathering at the top and sealing to create a tent.

Place on the grill over direct heat and cover the grill. Cook for 30 minutes until onions are soft. Let cool for 5 minutes before opening the foil packet and serving.

Alissa's notes: The only alteration I made to this recipe was using dried thyme instead of fresh. I only used a sprinkle of thyme, because I wanted the bleu cheese and bacon flavors to really stand out. I think you are really going to love these, and they look so cute in their own little foil packets. (My dad says they look like Hershey Kisses, and they do!)

By the way, this is the meat tenderizer I use and love. It's the Deni 56-blade meat 
tenderizer. It's great for chicken, too! I literally use it EVERY time I make beef or chicken!


You can find it on QVC:
http://www.qvc.com/Deni-56-Blade-Meat-Tenderizer-Search-Results.product.K8232.html?sc=K8232-SRCH&cm_sp=VIEWPOSITION-_-1-_-K8232&catentryImage=http://images-p.qvc.com/is/image/k/32/k8232.001?$uslarge$