Did I really say the other day that I was so glad that Christmas was over? I can’t believe I said that, but I trust that you understood my excitement with the Coaster project, right? LOL!

Truth be told, I love Christmas…..it is my favorite holiday…… behind Thanksgiving that is! It truly is magical, and definitely brings my inner child out……as long as I can get shed the skin of being the “adult” and the responsibilities that tag along with it! LOL!

{This is a picture of the pork BEFORE it went into the oven. Sometimes there isn’t much fat on pork loin….the bacon adds the necessary fat to keep the pork moist and tender during roasting}

Speaking of Christmas, I made the most wonderful Pork Loin with Maple Glaze on Christmas Eve. I mean it! It was A M A Z I N G!! We totally bucked tradition this year, as our normal fare is lasagna! I am Italian….. lasagna is a must! But if you asked B and K (okay, okay….even PT) what they thought of our Christmas Eve tradition, you would see them roll their eyes, shake their heads and say “not lasagna again”!! I swear…..so true! As we were going to go to some friends house for Christmas dinner, I thought I would switch up the norm, make my family happy and fix a pork loin. Tradition calls for some kind of stuffed pork {spinach, garlic, and feta cheese……roasted and served with a creamy horseradish sauce} as our Christmas dinner, but we are all allowed to buck, or alter our traditions every once in a while. Maybe every 5 years or so, right? What do they call it……”going against the grain”!

Anyway……..

This Pork Loin with Maple Glaze is amazing folks, utterly scrumptious! Make it quickly…..your taste buds will thank you! This is definitely kid and husband approved!

What are some of your favorite traditions?

Shaunna

Pork Loin with Maple Glaze

Printable Recipe

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

1 pork loin (boneless) about 3 – 4 pounds
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
Salt and Pepper
4 slices of bacon, optional
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Place the pork loin, fat side up, in a roasting pan. Rub the garlic all over the pork loin and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If there is very little fat on top, lay up to 4 slices of bacon across the top.
Roast the pork, uncovered 1 ½ hours.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Brush the glaze over the roast and continue baking for 30-45 minutes, or until pork registers 155-160 on a meat thermometer (inserted into the middle of the loin). Remove from oven and let pork loin rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Source: Diana Rattray @ Diana’s Kitchen/Southern Food