Bacon wrapped Apple and Caramelized Onion Stuffed Pork Loin Glazed with Real Maple Syrup

Mensch! We just got back from a LONG day trip up north for my hubby's work and boy do I so not feel like even looking at my kitchen! We have been nashing on treats all day that we were drawn to along the way (!!!) . . . gummi's, cookies, and salted black licorace from our little outing to Ikea, Ice Cream from "the Big Red Barn," and some Mexican Food at a hopping place in Linden (a little town in UT). It was fun but we are something beat! So here is dinner from a few days ago! Which has found a place on my top 10 list! I just love all of the things that you can do with pork loin . . . and don't even get me started on bacon! I rarely buy it because I know that my kitchen will be forever splattered with grease and that I will forever be found munching on it! But the wonders that it does wrapped around a stuffed pork loin are amazing! I paired the pork loin with spicy brown mustard roasted potatoes! They are awesome and too easy! Just cut up potatoes, toss them in a bag, add brown mustard, a little salt and pepper and then toss onto a HOT baking sheet (a hot pan keeps then from sticking) and roast until cooked through . . . delish!Bacon wrapped Apple and Caramelized Onion Stuffed Pork Loin Glazed with Real Maple Syrup
Recipe by: Emily

2.5 lb Pork Loin
1 Apple, cored, peeled, and diced
1 Medium Onion, sliced thin
8 strips of Bacon
1/4 Cup Panko bread crumbs
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper
Real Maple Syrup

1.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cook the sliced onions in a frying pan over medium heat for 20 minutes, allowing them to caramelize. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the apples are soft and the mixture has caramelized. (Add a little water along the way if you need to to prevent burning and sticking.) Add the bread crumbs and mix well. Remove the apple/onion mixture from the stove and set aside.
2. Butterfly the pork loin creating an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and then spoon the onion and apple mixture into the center lengthwise. Fold one side of the pork over the filling and roll up making sure that the filling is secure. Wrap the bacon strips around the pork loin and secure with toothpicks if needed. Place in a roasting pan and drizzle with maple syrup. Roast pork loin for 30-40 minutes or until pork is cooked through. For the last few minutes of cooking turn on the broiler and crisp up the bacon, turning often to crisp the bacon on all sides. Allow the meat to rest covered with foil for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!

Optimus Prime Birthday Cake . . . and some family fun!

(This little beauty = "Optimus Prime, animated Transformer Cake," kept my little sister and I up until early in the morning . . . but our cute little T-man Birthday boy was happy . . . so we were happy!)

I have been a bit of a slacker this summer about posting . . . It has been pretty busy and I have opted to spend time with my handsome husband rather than with my computer . . . Our family did have a great 24th of July celebration though!

A doughnut loving cutie looking so cute chocolate coated!

Another chocolate covered happy face that enjoyed Auntie Em's homemade doughnuts for the 24th of July Celebration!

The only evidence that I spent HOURS in the kitchen making doughnuts and pastries!

German Chocolate "Schnecke" and Cheese Danish Cups

Hooray for the 4th of July!!! I absolutely LOVE celebrating the 4th! This year we are hanging out with my younger sister, her hubs, and my delicious little niece! I caught a "holiday baking bug" today and came home and started playing around in the kitchen . . . leading to the consumption of naughty goodies! (D-lish!) I came out of the kitchen telling my husband that "thank heavens we have family, friends, and neighbors to share with!" I boxed up a load for my Mutti to take with them up the mountain and hopefully they will be shared and eaten! So some of you may know what Schneke are . . . they are snails . . . well Schneke is the German word for snails . . . so whenever we made/make anything "swirly" I remember them being called Schneke from my Mission . . . kinda cute I think! German Chocolate Schnecke
Recipe by: Emily
1 Package Puff Pastry Dough, (2 sheets) thawed according to package instructions
2 cups Coconut Pecan Frosting, you can use "canned" for a short cut
1/2 cup Mini Chocolate chips

Unfold the puff pastry dough onto a lightly floured surface, spread evenly with coconut pecan frosting, sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and roll up into a log. Cut the log into 1/2 inch pieces and place on a lined baking sheet. Bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until pastry is lightly browned. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

I have a weakness(!!!) for cheese danishes!!! I hate to say it but croissants and danishes are the two tempters for me at bakeries! I am not a doughnut girl by any means so they never worry me . . . but seeing cheese danishes is a struggle sometimes! Love' em! (Mensch!) These are great finger foods that are super fast, easy and d-lish to make!Cheese Danish Cups
Recipe by: Emily

8 oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
2 Egg Yolks, room temperature
1/3 cup Sugar
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Package Puff Pastry Dough (2 sheets)thawed according to package instructions

1. Mix the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and vanilla together until just incorporated. (ie DON'T WHIP).
2. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet of dough into 9 equal pieces. Place pieces in a muffin tip and gently press down into the muffin tin cups. Equally distribute the cream cheese mixture into each pastry dough "cup" and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven until puffed and golden brown. Remove immediately from cups onto a cooling rack and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!
You can also drizzle the cups with icing and bake them with a a little jam or preserves on top.