Cilantro Pork

Cilantro, what it is? Cilantro is the leaf from a coriander plant. This leaf has some citrus undertones and brightens up many dishes. In Southern Asia, cilantro is used primary in chutneys and salads, while in Mexican dishes it is used primary in salsa and guacamole. Miata Guy and I know a few people whom "hate" cilantro. After doing some research on the interwebs, we learned that a minority of people are unable to taste all the flavor compounds, causing cilantro to taste soapy or like metal. If you decide to make this dish, cilantro is best to be brought fresh. I'm not even sure you can buy if dried or frozen, due to loss of aroma.

The following recipe, we feel, is best if marinated overnight and grilled the following day. The left over marinade can be gently boiled in a sauce pan on the stove to be used a dipping sauce during the meal. We usually pair this meal with a baked potato or white rice and a green vegetable such as green beans or broccoli.

1) In a large container or seal-able plastic bag mix the following ingredients


- 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard

2) Then add 1 pork tenderloin or 6-8 pork chops. We usually half the recipe and make 4 pork chops (supper and lunch the next day).

3) Refrigerate overnight

4) Grill or bake pork in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 25-40 minutes until the pork's internal temperature is 160-165 degrees. While pork cooks, marindade can be gently boiled to be used as a dipping sauce.

5) Let rest for approximately 5 minutes before serving.

6) Enjoy!

Final Course One Cake Decorating Class

Final decorating class, sad face, I've learned so much and can't wait for course 2. First, we practiced writing. I think I'm always going to have to use a template to ensure even spacing, same size, and writing straight across the cake. Next was the ribbon rose. I'm not sure I like the ribbon rose over the regular rose, looks a tad fake. The ribbon rose is difficult, but i think with practice it can be mastered quickly. It requires a stiffer frosting and mine was closer to a medium consistency. The class ended with us working on our final cake. I'm indifferent about my final product. The ribbon roses need some work, as does my writing. If more time was available I would have like to add some more roses to the left side of the cake. Overall, for being rushed and a perfectionist, it's an excellent cake. Miata Guy's coworkers loved the decorations as well as the taste!

ME WANT CUPCAKES! (Cake Decorating Basics Class 3 Update)

As mentioned in an earlier post, the third lesson looked like it would be go go go and oh boy was it. I quickly accomplished the drop flower and star flower with ease. But struggled slightly with the shell border, as I wanted to raise my tip instead of letting the icing do all the work. With a few minutes practice and some instruction from the teacher I managed to resist the urge to move the tip up. Next up was the rosette, which I feel resembles a small rose bud. The hardest part about this flower will be making sure each are all constant in size. We quickly moved on to the pom pom flower. This flower really doesn't look like a pom pom. In fact, the shaggy mum looks more like a pom pom. So I vote the pom pom be called hmmmm., the layered daisy. The appearance of the layered daisy is pretty but find it might be hard for it to be made on the cake, weeeeee lots of spinning. With limited time remaining in the class, we rushed to learn leaves, how to fill a cupcake and how to ice the cupcake. Icing a cupcake is done similar to the rosette but starting from the outside. Finally with just a few minutes left we learned shaggy mum. This flower is definitely not my favorite, much to sloppy looking, but it could make a great monster. Our final class, we will be working on the ribbon rose, writing, and completely our final cake. Miata Guy asked me to make the cake a russian imperial stout (refer to my second entry for the recipe.). I'm plan to ice the cake in chocolate frosting and decorating in red, orange, and yellow, Nice color palette for fall.

Shaggy mum or I prefer the pom pom

Pom Pom or I prefer the layered daisy

The above cupcakes were the only ones left! Miata Guy ate all the others before I remembered to snap some photos.