Tuna Puff and Roasted Pork Loin with Onions and Apples in Apple Cider Braise

I am in the thick of canning.  It seems that it all comes at once.  To slow me down further, we spent all weekend on the mountain getting firewood, and hunting.  Not that I'm complaining mind you, I had a wonderful weekend, but it put me in a canning crunch. 

When it gets crazy like this, I am not terribly motivated to cook meals.  I mean, I am already in the kitchen from daylight to dark as it is, I don't really want to be pushing things aside to prep and cook a meal.  The counter today was full as it was with jars of pickled vegetables, and spicy peach pickles.  

These two recipes are minimal prep, minimal dirty dishes meals.  The Tuna Puff are my husbands particular favorite.  He remembers his Aunt Loretta serving them when he was little, and it is a perfect time of year to have them, as the fresh tomatoes are in season.

I had a pork loin thawed out for this week's menu.  I like to braise them, since they are very low in fat. They come out moist and delicious cooked that way.  It takes only a few minutes to get it ready for the oven, and then it takes care of itself for the hour and a half it cooks in the oven. 

Tuna Puff

2 cans tuna drained

1/2 C mayo

1 C shredded cheese

2 T pickle relish (I used a dill one, but you could use sweet)

Sliced fresh tomatoes

6 pieces of bread

On a baking sheet, place bread and add a couple slices of tomatoe to each slice of bread.  In a bowl, mix tuna with mayo, cheese and pickle relish.  Divide up tuna mixture on top of the sliced tomatoes.  Broil in the oven until the puff is golden brown on top and puffy.  We had these yummy sandwiches with canned green beans, and bartlett pear slices. 

Pork Loin with Onions and Apples in Cider Braise

Pork Loin Roast

1 large onion cut in wedges

2 tart baking apples cored and cut in wedges

4 large carrots peeled and cut in chunks

1 clove minced garlic

1 tsp herbs de province

salt and pepper to taste

1/3 C soy sauce combined with enough cider to come half way up the roast's side.

In a large roasting pan, place vegetables and pork roast.  Top the roast with minced garlic and herbs de province, salt and pepper.  Pour in the liquid, and carefully baste roast in liquid, so as to not wash off all the garlic and herbs.  Cover and bake at 350*F for an hour and a half, basting a couple of times.  

Day Before Payday Casserole

Sometimes, there is just too much month at the end of the money.  It is good to know how to use a well stocked pantry to "get you over the hump" to the next payday.
Today's pantry star is canned tuna.  I always keep at least a dozen cans in my little pantry under the stairs to use for lunch meals.  I can whip up some grilled tuna and cheese on an english muffin, or fix any number of casseroles and noodle dishes, or creamed tuna on toast, plus the old standby tuna salad sandwiches.
This recipe pairs tuna with tomatoes and rice.  Try it, I think your family will like it!

2  5 oz. cans tuna packed in water
1 small can tomato paste
1 can green beans and their liquid
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 C uncooked rice
2 T Worcestershire Sauce
4 T Franks hot sauce
salt and pepper to taste

In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients, including the liquid from the tuna and the beans.  Mix well and spoon into a greased casserole dish.  Bake at 375 F for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the rice is done.