Events: March 2003 Archives

There are only two of us, so I'm always looking for ways to use leftovers. One weekend I shredded leftover pork tenderloin to make pork tacos.

Pork Tenderloin
Todd's sister bought me programmable thermometer with a timer for my birthday, and it has really made roasting meat much easier. I rubbed a 1 to 1 1/2 lb pork tenderloin with a mixture of cumin, chili power, salt and pepper, inserted the thermometer in the middle of the thickest part of the tenderloin, put it in my flat-bottom skillet, and cooked it in a 350-degree oven until the internal temperature reached 150 degrees. Then I took it out of the oven and let it rest about 20 minutes. (The internal temperature went up to about 160 degrees while the meat rested. Don't take the thermometer out or all the juices will run out of the hole.) While the meat rested I baked some corn bread that I had ready to go. When the corn bread was done, we sliced up about half of the pork to eat, and I shredded the rest for the tacos.

Pork Tacos
To warm up the shredded pork, I mixed it with some salsa and extra cumin (we love the stuff) and heated it in a small saucepan. I wrapped the tortillas in foil and warmed them in the oven, and put out diced red onion and red pepper, shredded pepperjack cheese, and salsa. You could saute the onion and pepper, but Todd and I liked the crunch of the raw stuff. If red onion's too hot, you could use scallion tops, avocado and limejuice, tomato, or whatever your favorite toppings are.

This is my favorite brunch spot, when we're treating ourselves. It's in the basement of the Whitney, but the front of the 1st floor of the museum is open and large windows make the restaurant a bright, airy space. White tablecloths, good coffee. I always have cornmeal pancakes topped with honey, sour cream, pumpkin seeds, and raisins. Yum. Todd's had omelets, and they're fat, neat, and filled with traditional ingredients well-prepared like thick tomato-saucy salsa. The omelets and eggs come with baked goods and Sarabeth's own jam. I'm planning to celebrate my birthday breakfast there!

At the Whitney Museum of American Art