pro bowl pork

On Sunday, two of our favorite things came together {football and Hawaii for Mark, food and Hawaii for me}. The Pro Bowl, played this year at the Aloha Stadium, was on and Mark and I decided to try a new island-inspired recipe: glazed pork tenderloin with pineapple from my new favorite cookbook Great Food Fast.

It was absolutely perfect and really, what's more Hawaiian than pork and pineapples? Check out the quick and easy recipe below.

Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple 

{from Everyday Food Great Food Fast}

Serves 4 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Total time 45 minutes

What you'll need

4 slices (each 1/2 inch thick) fresh pineapple {we love pineapple, so we used more}

3 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce

2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger

1 garlic glove, minced

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed

Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

Quick Ginger Sauce (recipe follows)

How to make

1. Heat the broiler. Place the pineapple slices on a foil-lined baking sheet.

2. In a small bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, ginger, garlic and mustard.

3. Place the pork on a broiler pan fitted with a rack. Brush with the hoisin mixture; season with salt and pepper.

4. Place the pork in the broiler, about 4 inches from the heat; place the pineapple in the oven. {Note: if your broiler is located inside the oven, rather than in a separate compartment underneath, place the pork on the top shelf and the pineapple on the shelf below}. Broil the pork until it registers 155 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the broiler (let rest at least 10 minutes before slicing; the temperature will rise to 160 degrees F as the pork sits). Turn the pineapple slices; cook until browned in spots, about 10 minutes more.

5. Halve the pineapple slices; arrange on a platter with the sliced pork. Drizzle the pork with the pan juices; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the quick ginger sauce.

Quick Ginger Sauce

What you'll need

2 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons pineapple juice

2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger

1 teaspoon soy sauce {we used lower sodium}

Fresh ground pepper

How to make

In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin sauce, pineapple juice, ginger and soy sauce; season with pepper.

Can you believe it's healthy, too?

Here's the breakdown : per serving

292 calories
6.3 grams fat
36.3 grams protein
23.4 grams carbs
1.1 grams fiber

balancing act

For Christmas this past year, I got a Food Network calendar {I'm obsessed with food, so it's no surprise that some of my favorite cable channels are the Food Network and the Cooking Channel}. Every day there is an interesting food tip and on Fridays there is a recipe for you to try over the weekend.

I thought yesterday's tip was informative. Did you know...

Bitter greens, such as escarole, chicory, dandelion and radicchio, require less acidity from salad dressing - they essentially supply their own. Up the oil and / or lower the vinegar content of your dressing accordingly. These same greens also benefit from dressing with a touch of sweetness; try adding roasted garlic {yum!} or raw shallot to your dressing.

{image via here - with a tasty-sounding recipe to boot!}



bhldn

Since it was announced last spring, brides-to-be and blissful yet-to-be brides-to-be have been eagerly anticipating the reveal of Anthropologie's bridal offerings.

Well, ladies - the wait is almost over. BHLDN is being unveiled - most appropriately - on Valentine's Day.

{image via here}

sky high

I am totally obsessed with these shoes. I spotted them at Nordstrom Rack {love!} over Christmas and fell in lust. I didn't dare try them on at the time, because, let's face it - I'm 5'11" and I don't need to be walking around in heels that would make me 6'4".

Oh, but these babies make me swoon. Over the weekend, I was shopping with my soon-to-be sister{-in-law} and her soon-to-be cousin and my shoes were calling to me. I gave in, tried them on... and lust turned to love.

I still can't get over the fact that wearing these shoes would make me incredibly tall, so at the store they stay. I just hope they go to a good home.

happy friday!

Can't wait for the weekend - it's going to be full of family, friends, food and fun. Just the way I like it.

I stumbled upon this photo and just swooned.

{image via weheartit.com}

freshen up

Notice anything different about modern lovely today? My amazing, talented, creative {I could go on, but I'll spare you the editorializing} best friend, Stacey, created a new header and background package. You might remember that she created the paper suite for a wedding that was featured on none other than Style Me Pretty.

What are your thoughts on the new look? And also, you can check out Stacey's other work here.

sweet dreams

Remember when I briefly shared my ill-fated trip to Copenhagen with you? Well, one of the places that was on my list to visit was Malmo, Sweden - just a quick 42 km away. Malmo is home to one of my fave bands, The Radio Dept. {you may recognize their music from Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette}.

And now, Malmo is home to one of my favorite bloggers - Linda from Call Me Cupcake! Linda creates and shares the most delicious-looking treats - cakes, cupcakes, macarons - and presents them in ways that are absolutely to-die for.

Wouldn't it be lovely to fly out to explore Denmark and Sweden and bake with Linda? Oh. My. Gosh. Talk about a sweet dream.

Check out this gorgeous birthday eye candy from Linda. Absolute perfection. Friends, family, fiance - take note for next year's birthday fete.

dress lust

Mark and I have finally set the date for our engagement photos {just one day before Valentine's Day - tres romantique!}, so I'm on the hunt for the perfect outfits. I definitely want to show off both my feminine, girly side along with my fun, girl-next-door side. Right now, I'm obsessed with finding the perfect dress.

As usual, Anthropologie is delivering on some flirty frocks that would be perfect. Which is your favorite?

 

smitten kitten | navy chairs

I can't take full credit for this latest obsession - Mark actually introduced me to it. And full disclosure, it had to grow on me, but now that it has, I can't get enough!

The cost for the orginial Emeco Navy Chair is just a little too rich for my blood, but thank you Crate and Barrel! They have these chairs at a fraction of the cost.

Can't you just see these matched with a sturdy wood dining room table? Oh, swoon.

a very veggie brunch

On Saturday, following an hour on the erg and an hour hiking up South Mountain, I met my friend, Tina, at a little unassuming breakfast / lunch place called Pomegranate. Located next to my local Trader Joe's, this vegetarian / vegan place is divine! They support local farmers and make some really delicious food.

Tina and I decided to split the In-Season Scramble, with scrambled eggs and a medley of seasonal veggies like onion and peppers served with a side of harvest hash - sweet and yukon potatoes, and the Pom-Berry French Toast, made with the most flavorful ancient grain bread. We each enjoyed a latte {caramel for me and vanilla for Tina} which came with a just-the-right-size Mexican wedding cake cookie.

Just take a look...

around the house

As promised {a bit late}, check out the little things we've done that are transforming his house into our home.

~the best purchase ever. our new chefs rack~

~gorgeous granite~

~a new ceiling fan with a light for the master bedroom~

~my new cookbook rack~

cupcake candids

My famous Peanut Butter Bliss cupcakes are usually a big hit, and these shots of my little nephews enjoying them are priceless.

M loves to eat them in one bite...though even the mini ones are a little too big for his mouth.

...the shove...

...the chew...

...the paper scrape...

smitten kitten | all things across the pond

Oh lordy, am I obsessed with all things British right now.


Television shows like Luther

Movies like "Love Actually" and "About a Boy"

Books like One Day

Clothing and accessories from asos.com

Royal couples like William and Kate

Music from amazing artists like Keane

*images via mamapop and fashionista101.

resolution support

How many of you included "exercise more" on your list of resolutions? Well, have I found something to help support your efforts.

My friend and teammate first introduced me to this fabulously supportive sports bra by Moving Comfort and I have to tell you, it's amazing.

It comes in bra sizes {a must if you have larger cup sizes} and perfectly keeps the girls subdued whether you're running, hiking, rowing or working on your inversions at yoga practice.

couch cruiser

Two of my favorite Christmas gifts this year have to be this...

and this...

And thanks to my company gifting me with a few days off, I was able to fully enjoy what these two have to offer. Mark and I spent some quality time snuggling on the sofa and catching up on old episodes of Arrested Development  and movies like "Food Inc." {as if I wasn't already making a change in the way I eat, this movie helped pushed me over the edge} and "District 9."

Of course, my holiday wasn't entirely spent in front of the TV - Mark and I completed some much-needed home improvement projects. Just some little things but they've made a big difference. Check back later this week for a full update!

miss me?

Sorry I've not been posting this past week - my company gave me a wonderful Christmas gift...four extra days off, and I've been taking advantage of them to the fullest!

I promise to get back to my usual posting schedule next week.


Happy New Year!