Fall Wines Under $12

Come Fall some people crave Pumpkin Spice Lattes, but not me. When the evenings turn chilly all I really want is a decent wine that won't break my grocery budget and a warm blanket on the couch. To celebrate the first day of Fall here are my picks: 

Resso 2013 Garnacha Blanca , Spain

Bright and crisp with hints of apple and peach

Mcmanis 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon , California

Bold and Jammy, perfect for sipping on a cozy evening

Happy Fall!

Get It Together Woman: Easy Pork Tenderlion

Tenderloin Medallions

" GET IT TOGETHER WOMAN!" That has been my mantra of late. September is a busy time of year in my house, and while much of it can be fun; with all the craziness also follows the disorganization (I think they are in cahoots together). After one particularly long day where I woke up and realized there was no coffee left in the cupboard and my kids had eaten pizza in some form or other for the last 3 days, I thought enough was enough. I needed to take an extra 5 minutes and try to plan ahead, in the name of sanity and full bellies. Fake it till you make it right?

In the name of planning ahead, in the morning (yes, the morning) before you leave the house, take a gallon size ziplock bag and put in:

2 Pork tenderloins about 1 pound each (total of 2 pounds)
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
A few dashes garlic powder
1 stem fresh rosemary, chopped

Shake up all the ingredients and let those babies marinate.

When you are ready to make dinner, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put pork tenderloins, along with marinade, into a 9x11 baking dish. Make little slits along the pork tenderloin and stuff in half a garlic clove. I usually put 5-6 per tenderloin. Season the pork with pepper. Bake pork for 45 minutes, basting every 10 minutes or so. After 45 minutes, cover the dish with aluminum foil and let pork rest about 10 minutes before slicing. I like to serve this pork with mashed potatoes and braised cabbage. My favorite recipe for braised cabbage can be found Here.

Pork Tenderloin isn't exactly, photogenic, but you get the idea....

If you live near a Trader Joes, pick up a box of these, it just might help you looked prepared in a pinch!

I'm really liking this easy mix of late, if you live near a Trader Joe's pick a box up, it just might make you look well prepared in a pinch!

Slow Roasted Tomatoes

Before Roasting

Fall is my absolute favorite season. The first sign around here of Fall's approaching arrival are when the first rains come, and the evenings get a touch more chilly, forcing you to break out that extra blanket for the bed. Or, if you are anything like me, it might also be the first time you have had a desire to turn on your hot oven in a few months! Although I love the anticipation of Fall and what it brings, I often feel reluctant to let Summer go. I find myself hoping for one last day to squeeze in by the pool, one last late night BBQ with friends, one last adventure to put the brakes on life for a day. Anything really that will slow time down, just a little. Change can be hard.

I had a bunch of beautiful Brandywine heirloom tomatoes sitting on my kitchen counter and I just couldn't eat them fast enough, no matter how hard I tried. Rather then sit and watch them die a slow death, I decided to slow roast them in my oven. A simple idea really, but one that will let me have a taste of summer just a little while longer.

 7-8 tomatoes, garden variety, you can use any type you want, although you may have to adjust cooking time.
7 garlic cloves
Fresh Thyme sprigs
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Preheat your oven to 225 degrees. Line a heavy rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Slice tomatoes and lay on baking sheet. Scatter garlic cloves between tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (not too much salt, these will reduce). Drizzle with a healthy dose of olive oil. Roast tomatoes, turning every so often if you like about 3.5-4hrs.

I love to toss these tomatoes in big bowl of pasta, but they are also excellent served with cheese and crackers or on a sandwich, preferably one with bacon!

My favorite gluten free pasta- you really can't even tell the difference!

Let's hope this gal will survive my brown thumb and the Fall!

After 3.5 hours