Sweet Balsamic Pork Loin

Before we get to the meat of the post (pun intended), I must say that I was mighty happy with my back progress shot today!

I have my next shoot booked for November, so I am 10 weeks out today! Operation photo prep is in full swing. As is operation pack up and move! Stressful and happy all mixed together...

This recipe became my go-to pork loin recipe about a year ago. Since then, we have had it almost weekly and I still love it.

I found the original inspiration recipe on Pinterest and made it my own by subbing a few ingredients and cooking methods.



One of the first things that I want to point out is that I prefer to use the small pork loins by Farmland rather than pork tenderloin. #1 it is cheaper by about $1 per pound and #2 there is less calories per serving. I find the Farmland pork loins at Walmart, they are about 2 lbs generally.

If you are eating lean meat and you have not discovered pork loin, you are missing out. It is almost identical to chicken breast in terms of grams of protein per serving and cals per serving.

 

Sweet Balsamic Pork Loin

Makes approx. 8x4 oz servings

The Stuff-

• Pork loin
• 1 tsp ground sage
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 cup diet coke (or you can use water)
• 1/2 cup sugar substitute (splenda, stevia, your choice)
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce

What you do-

Place the pork loin in your non-stick sprayed crock pot. Pour in the diet coke, and top with sage, salt, pepper, and garlic. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

 

1-2 hours before you are ready to serve- mix cornstarch and cold water in a small saucepan until lumps are gone. Mix in balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar substitute.

Cook on med for approx. 5 minutes until mixture thickens. Pour over pour over pork loin in crockpot.

 

Allow the glaze to cook on pork loin an additional hour or two. I usually shred it right in the crockpot so the meat will soak up all the sauce (YUMMMMM)

 

 

 If you need to speed things up you can throw the pork loin in your sauce pan and broil it for 5-10 min.

Oh where did that sweet potato come from you say? WELL do I have a tip for YOU!!! This menu plan at our house happens to be my favorite because I can make the whole darn thing in machines!

 

Did you know you can cook baked potatoes and sweet potatoes in the crockpot?

 

Yup! 6-8 hours on low! Here is a tip though, if you are mixing potato varieties- place sweet potatoes on the bottom and regular potatoes on top. The sweet potatoes ooze caramel goodness. My man and daughter prefer baked potatoes and my son and I prefer sweet. Everyone is happy, happy, happy.

 

Meanwhile, in the bread machine- homemade bread is in the works. Tada!

 

Nutritional Stats

Per 4 oz serving of pork

• 130 calories
• 3 g fat
• 1 g carb
• 22 g protein