Pork Marsala with Pasta

First off, thanks for all your well wishes for my first WI of the year!  But the second week is probably going to be tougher than the first.  Because for me, I tend to get a little complacent in week two – maybe an extra bite here, an extra slice of cheese there.  I really need to keep my focus up so I will continue to show a loss on the scale.

Breakfast was a mini breakfast casserole for one.  1/2 a cup of egg whites, 1 egg, 1 ounce of deli ham, cooked broccoli and 1/2 and ounce of cheese.  I nuked it 2 minutes at home (it was still not cooked through) and finished it off another 1.5 minutes when I got to work.  It was light, tender and tasty!   And the last of the tangerines my PIL sent me – still so good!

I ended up doing my HIIT app on my phone, but this time I ran 4 minutes, and only walked 1!  I did that rep seven times.

I am contemplating doing the 100 workout again today, but my legs have just gotten over being sore from the last time, but Jenn assures me that my legs will get used to it!

Lunch was amazeballs.  How can you gone with a taco salad?  Mine had romaine, cucumbers, carrots, orange peppers, 4 ounces of taco meat, fat free ranch and Buffalo Tabasco for the dressing.  This seriously took me about 45 minutes to eat.

I had pork chops on the menu, and I told Tony I had an idea for a pork chop dish with a mushroom white wine sauce.  He immediately said “how about marsala?” I am a bad wife a lot of the times, because some of Tony’s favorite dishes I don’t care for – such as tuna noodle casserole.  Just . . . ew – I make it for him but the smell and combination of tuna and cheese makes me want to throw up.

Now I love marsala, it’s the mushrooms I am not a fan of, but you know what?  I ate a few last night and I think they are growing on me!

Marsala wine is expensive, however, Marsala cooking wine is not – my bottle cost $1.99.  It’s on the same aisle as vinegars and olive oil.

I have my friend Nicole to thank for last nights dinner, however, I did adapt it a bit.  I also made mine four servings vs. her six servings.  Since Tony doesn’t eat leftovers, they are all mine!

Pork Marsala with Penne Pasta

• Adapted from PreventionRD – her original recipe is here

Makes 4 servings: 423 calories, 15 fat, 33 carbs, 3.1 fiber and 28 protein

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces dry pasta
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 12 ounces of lean pork (I had two, 6 oz. chops), cut into bite sized pieces
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 3/4 cup Marsala cooking wine
• 8 ounces fat free evaporated milk
• 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• pinch of crushed red pepper to mine

Cook the pasta according to package directions.  In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and cook the pork so it starts to brown, but don’t cook it all the way through.  About 6 minutes.  I tossed my pork in salt and pepper before searing.  Remove to a plate. 

Add the butter, garlic and mushrooms.  Cook for about 3-4 minutes.  Slowly add the Marsala wine, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom.  Then add the evaporated milk, lemon juice, zest, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.  I then put the heat on low, and added back the pork and let the pork cook through – another 5 minutes.

Lastly, I added the Parmesan cheese and stirred until it was melted.  Then tossed the cooked pasta to the skillet and tossed to coat.

Nicole – I will say that the addition of the lemon juice and zest really woke up this dish – the next time you make it, give it a try.   A little GOOD cheese goes a lont way.

That was Tony’s plate – notice the cheese wrapper and my pink cell phone in the background.  That’s what us professional photographers call “texture.”  Ha!

My plate with the crushed red peppers.  My plate was better.

This was so good.  The sauce thickened up nicely and coated the pasta beautifully.  Thanks for the idea Tony – this one is a keeper!

I was so comfy this morning, I slept until 7:00!  Now it’s 7:45, and I have 20 minutes to get my shit together.  Thank goodness the world is used to seeing me without makeup every day!

Make it a great day!