PORK TENDERLOIN WITH SLOW-COOKED APPLESAUCE

I grew up eating homemade applesauce that my grandmother Burrell made from the apple trees growing in her yard. When I became a mother, I started making it, too. While this applesauce is cooking down, the house fills with what I think heaven must smell like.

My brother-in-law Brian, preacher and father of four girls, taught me how to prepare these fast, flavorful pork tenderloins. It’s his job at all family gatherings to make up his perfect pork tenderloins. He never disappoints! Children love this dish.

Makes 6 servings

APPLESAUCE

8 ASSORTED MEDIUM APPLES (SUCH AS FUJI, GALA, AND GOLDEN DELICIOUS), PEELED AND CUT INTO CHUNKS

1 CUP PACKED LIGHT BROWN SUGAR

1 CINNAMON STICK

GRATED ZEST AND JUICE OF 1 LEMON

¼ CUP APPLE CIDER

1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT

PORK TENDERLOIN

2 TABLESPOONS CHOPPED FRESH PARSLEY

2 TABLESPOONS CHOPPED FRESH THYME

2 TABLESPOONS CHOPPED FRESH ROSEMARY

GRATED ZEST AND JUICE OF 2 LEMONS

¼ CUP OLIVE OIL

2 TEASPOONS SALT

1 TEASPOON FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

TWO 1-POUND PORK TENDERLOINS, FAT AND SILVER SKIN REMOVED

1. Make the applesauce. Dump all the ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally. Use a potato masher to mash the applesauce to a thick, chunky consistency.

2. For the pork tenderloin: Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

3. In a bowl, mix together the parsley, thyme, rosemary, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Rub the herb mixture all over the pork tenderloins. Place them in the prepared pan and roast until a meat thermometer reads 150˚F, 20 to 25 minutes. Tent the pork with foil and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

4. Serve with warm slow-cooked applesauce.

SOUTHERN SIMPLE: This is a great dish to make when company is coming over because it makes the house smell so good. Just set the sauce to cooking in the morning; you can also coat the pork with the olive oil and herb mixture and keep it wrapped in the fridge. Then all you have to do is roast the pork and dinner is served.

SOUTHERN MOTHER: My daughter, Daisy, loves this applesauce. It will keep well in the refrigerator, or you can put it up proper in jars if you’re up to a canning project. If your slow cooker can hold it, go on and double the batch—it’s always nice to have on hand for playdates.