Tuscan Roast Pork Loin

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By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

When I find a small cut of meat, I have to purchase it, as it’s sometimes a bit hard to find a wee cut for myself. So when I saw this little 2-pounder pork loin with an ample strip of fat on top, I knew it had my name on it.

I love, love pork in any form. One of my favorites is organic, nitrate-free bacon. If you follow my blog posts every Wednesday, you know about the store up the road from me, Saylor’s, where they butcher their own meat, cure their own bacon, smoke various cuts and make the best homemade sausages – whether it be pork, chicken or turkey – not to mention the ground meats and bulk sausage.

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Very Berry Fruit Salad

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

While it’s still a bit blustery around here, we have glimmers of warm sun and temperatures. Just this past weekend, I noticed all of the buds struggling to get some attention and warmth.

My hydrangea plants are already budding and my addiction to tulips is unparalleled this year with a plant or vase of them in practically every room. So if spring hasn’t arrived just yet outdoors, at least I’m getting a dose of it indoors.

I can’t wait for the farmers’ market to open in Pennsylvania, with all of the fresh herbs, produce, plants and fruits that will be laden on every farmer’s table. I haven’t had a fruit-full year in terms of eating enough fruit. So in an effort to jump-start my intake, I made a fruit salad this past weekend for company, to round out my brunch of eggs, bacon, and breads.

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Rich Chocolate Cherry Chip Brownies

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

We are in the first days of spring but winter has not let go… quite yet. Just yesterday, the snow was falling and the roads were slick and I had a hankering for some dark, rich, chocolaty brownies.

It didn’t hurt that I had a huge block of organic 72% cacao dark chocolate from Endangered Species left over from a cooking demo I did for the magazine where I work. That was inspiration enough to get baking.

The resulting brownie is super rich and is studded with dried tart cherries that have been imbibed with a sour cherry cordial liqueur I had purchased in the Hudson Valley. American Fruits Distillery in Warwick, New York, produces a Bartlett pear, blackcurrant, aged apple and a grappa grape brandy, and an apple and pear eau de vie.

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Corned Beef and Cabbage Leftovers

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

As mentioned before, my mom’s a Murphy so when St. Patty’s Day rolls around, we all get cooking some corned beef and cabbage.

I’m lucky enough to have a store up the road that corns its own beef and even luckier that I got the last piece they had. Only problem was that it was a five-pound piece and not really conducive for one or two bites.

I do love great leftovers and this dish just gets better with age. Only thing is, after two nights of the same, I needed to change it up a bit. I confess I did freeze part of it to make some old-fashioned corned beef hash for a great weekend breakfast or brunch, but what to do with the rest of the bits such as the little bit of corned beef and then the broth, cabbage, carrots and potatoes?

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St. Patty’s Shamrock Shortbread Cookies

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

St. Patty’s Day makes me think of all things Irish, such as corned beef and cabbage, champ and brown bread. But let’s not forget some sweet treats that are so simple and simply delicious.

A friend of mine, Carole E., who lives in the Hudson Valley, made batches of these cookies in the form of small heart shapes for Valentine’s Day. I was lucky enough to be able to get a couple sent my way…they are the BEST shortbread cookies I have ever tasted!

That says a lot, as I have had my fair share of shortbread cookies over the years. These have the best short-like texture with the perfect balance of sweet with a touch of salt. I only wished that I had more of them so I asked Carole for her recipe and, low and behold, she was gracious enough to pass it along to me and now to you…of course with appropriate credit to Carole.

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