Good Luck Dinner for 2015

My Irish mother was always full of superstitions and New Year's Day was one of them. Although it was her birthday, she always cooked her "brings good luck for the year" dinner on that day.  I don't think this meal is an Irish traditional New Year's Day meal, but it was hers.  I always looked forward to this meal and the aroma of it cooking.  I carry on this tradition in my house and my family looks forward to it every January 1st.  I've added a few twists to this meal over the years, but the memories are still there.  Recipes below, to print recipes click, highlight and print.

 Homemade Baked Lima Beans, this recipe beats soaking beans overnight!

 Sauerkraut with Apples

 I cook everything separately because I have a vegan in the house, otherwise the sauerkraut and the pork would be cooked together.

 Roasted Pork and the Pan Gravy. This gravy is sweet and flavorful.

 Roasted Green Beans with Cranberries

With another side of mashed potatoes, dinner is served........

 Now, sit down and eat! Enjoy and Good Luck in 2015.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Pan Gravy

Ingredients
2 - Pork tenderloins
2 teaspoons of minced rosemary
2 teaspoons of minced parsley
salt and pepper
2 medium size apples peeled, cored and quartered
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons of Wondra (for the gravy)
1/2 cup of water (for the gravy)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium size roasting pan, line the tenderloins side by side leaving room between the two of them. Season with rosemary, parsley, salt and pepper. Arrange the apples around and in between the two tenderloins, add the 1 cup of water and cover with foil.

Bake for 1 hour or until center is no longer pink.  Remove from oven.

For the Pan Gravy
Ladle the juices into a medium size saucepan and mash up the apples with a fork.  Heat on medium high heat until it starts to boil.  In the meantime, mix the Wondra with the 1/2 cup of water.  Reduce the heat under the saucepan to medium and pour in the Wondra mixture. Stir until thickend. Serve over the pork tenderloin.

                                                                                                                            

Sauerkraut with Apples

Ingredients

1 - 1 lb. bag of sauerkraut

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/8 teaspoon of black pepper

1/2 apple peeled, cored and diced

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a medium size saucepan and cook for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

                                                                                                                           

Baked Lima Beans

Ingredients

2 - 15 oz cans of Butter Beans, drained

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons of yellow mustard

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium size baking dish stir all the ingredients together until well combined.  Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally until  sauce thickens.