Pretty Please...With a Cherry on Top

Posted: July 11, 2012

If you missed yesterday's post where I told you I'm going to embrace my inner vegetarian, it's worth the time to go back and read. It is going to be a bit of a transition for us, but we are able, ready, and excited.  Last night I made my first truly vegan meal, inspired by the Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana!  I will be sharing that recipe with you tomorrow.  It was delicious, a perfect medley of flavors, and packed full of good veggies: 4 cups of kale, 2 russet potatoes, and veggie/grain "sausages." But back to today...cherries and please.  We have been trying to teach Babycakes some manners, to say please and thank you before/after requests.  Let me tell you, it is not easy!  She is a bit better at "please" and most forgetful about "thank you." (I think because she's already moved on and enjoying whatever it is she was wanting).

Cherry, Please Top

During a recent teaching moment, I explained to her that when you REALLY want something you can say: "Pretty Please... with a cherry on top?!!" Of course every almost 2 year old toddler needs to know this phrase, right? It came back to me more like "cherry, please top."  Maybe with a bit more practice...

We have been eating cherries like crazy!

Cherries in salad:

Spinach salad topped with diced cherries, crushed walnuts, and cranberry goat cheese, with a Poppyseed dressing.  Dear Hubby and I BOTH ate this for lunch this past weekend!

Cherries in snacks:

Sweet Onion and White Cheddar "Better Chips" topped with cranberry goat cheese and cherries.  It's not too late to enter this week's giveaway to win your own assortment of "Better Chips!"

Cherries for breakfast:

Babycakes eats cherries and cherrios out of this really cute "jello" mold from Ikea.  She also eats diced cherries by the fistfuls, dark red juice running down her face and onto her bib!

Cherries for dessert:

Protein-packed Chocolate Cherry Frozen Greek Yogurt, recipe here.

Cherries in dinner:

I made this Sweet Cherry Pork and Rice Bowl and it was wonderful! Again, Dear Hubby approved :)  Thinly sliced pork loin in a cherry/wine reduction sauce.

Sorry for all the "dark" pictures.  I made this late in the evening this week on a rainy day.

I served it over Bob's Red Mill Sweet Brown Rice.  This was the FIRST brown rice Dear Hubby has ever actually liked (and said he'd eat again)!

And I served it in my favorite bowls.

Questions:

  • What's your favorite way to eat cherries?
  • Do your kids say please and thank you regularly? Do they ever break out the phrase: "Pretty Please, with a cherry on top?!!"

{Sweet Cherry Pork & Rice Bowl}

Description

Sweet pork in a cherry/wine reduction sauce, served over rice.

Ingredients

1 pound
Pork Loin (thinly sliced)
1 teaspoon
Olive Oil
1⁄2 cup
Chardonnay
1 cup
Cherries (pitted and diced)
1 teaspoon
Molasses
1 teaspoon
Garlic (minced)
3 teaspoons
Soy Sauce
2 tablespoons
Brown Sugar

Instructions

  1. Follow instructions to cook brown rice.
  2. Saute minced garlic, until slightly browned.
  3. Add in wine, 1/2 cup diced cherries, garlic, soy sauce, molasses, and olive oil.
  4. Heat through.
  5. Add in one layer of sliced pork into sauce.
  6. Let it cook on one side for 2 - 3 minutes, until meat starts to turn white.  Then flip and cook another 2 minutes.
  7. Take cooked meat out, and place on a plate to the side.
  8. Repeat with additional meat, until all is cooked.
  9. Once all meat is cooked, add in the additional 1/2 cup of cherries and 2 Tbsp of brown sugar.  Stir continually until sauce thickens.
  10. Serve in bowls with rice, pork, and a couple tablespoons of the sauce on top!

Yields 6 Servings

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Comments

Submitted by Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean - July 11, 2012 - 8:42am

love the chips topped with goat cheese and cherries. perfect little appetizer or snack!

Submitted by JoAnna - July 11, 2012 - 10:04am

This blog makes me want to eat so much healthier. I love getting my daily dose of NSSL!

Submitted by kelly - July 11, 2012 - 11:04am

Thanks for the super sweet comment, JoAnna! I love it :)

Submitted by JoAnna - July 11, 2012 - 9:27pm

I thought of you while I was brushing my teeth and feeling what I dread is an impending cavity. Maybe I need a no sugar intervention...

Submitted by Betty Lynn - July 11, 2012 - 10:32am

Looks wonderful Kelly. Will try for sure. How many servings does it make?

Submitted by kelly - July 11, 2012 - 10:38am

I added a servings size at the bottom of all future recipes, btw. I know that was a vital piece of info missing from the recipe write-ups :) This one serves 6.

Submitted by Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries - July 11, 2012 - 11:00am

i LOVE cherries! i can never get enough! :)

Submitted by Shirley - July 11, 2012 - 1:19pm

You might think about replacing the soy sauce (GMO) with Bragg's Liquid Aminos (Nom-GMO). It is much healthier.

Submitted by kelly - July 11, 2012 - 1:20pm

I saw that at the store the other day, but didn't buy it. Might have to next time I'm there :)

Submitted by Doris - July 11, 2012 - 2:44pm

This makes me want to run out and buy some fresh cherries--my favorite way to eat them btw! I also get the cherry "raisins"/Craisins(??) for salads, etc.

And I'm a soup fanatic, so I'm very much looking foward to your new recipe.

Submitted by Crystal - July 20, 2012 - 2:09am

The lady who used to take care of my daughter while I was at work had horrible grammar. It is one of my pet peeves, so when I started hearing it creep into my daughter's speech, I had to correct it. On day, she stated, "I didn't get none!" "I didn't get ANY", I corrected. "I know! I didn't get none either!" she replied. LOL

Submitted by kelly - July 20, 2012 - 5:55pm

Great story! Thx for sharing :)

Submitted by Nila - July 25, 2012 - 9:05pm

I just made this tonight and it was AMAZING! like something I would buy at a restaurant! Thanks so much!

Submitted by Rick - September 18, 2012 - 1:08pm

Hi Kelly,

Man oh Man those cherries look good. I have 2 quick comments/questions:
I though this site was supporting no or little sugar? Also have you or will you be adding the nutritional facts to any of your fantastic juices or dishes. Love the site keep up the good work.

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