Food - Or What We Do While We Wait (Patiently)

One of my most favorite things to do is to cook.  And eat.  Having a large family drives me to come up with good food that doesn't cost a fortune.  It's a challenge to try to make really yummy meals that are budget friendly but not made of 'cheap' food.

On the menu tonight?   Bacon wrapped pork tenderloins marinated in teriyaki sauce and then roasted to a crisp, caramelly, bacony deliciousness.  I can buy four nice sized tenderloins from Costco for around $14.00.  Bacon, about $4.00 and the teriyaki sauce varies depending on whether it's store bought or homemade.  (If you have the time, homemade is infinitely better and soooo worth it.) 

Bacon-Wrapped Roasted Pork Tenderloin in Teriyaki Marinade

2 Pork Tenderloins
Bacon (1 package or 6 slices for 2 tenderloins)
Teriyaki Sauce

Take tenderloins and place into a large shallow bow.  Cover with 1 2/3 cups of teriyaki sauce OR if time is short, you can use 1 bottle of store bought teriyaki marinade.  (I prefer Ken's Steakhouse Teriyaki Marinade because it does not have high fructose corn syrup.)  Marinate for a few hours or overnight.

When you're ready to prepare, preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Take the tenderloins out of the marinade and place on rack in roasting pan OR 9 x 13 baking dish. I prefer the baking dish because the meat seams to 'soak in' more of the teriyaki flavor as it cooks.


Taking 3 slices of bacon per tenderloin - gently stretch each slice, one at a time and wrap around the first tenderloin.  Tuck ends under so they do not shrink and curl while roasting.  Follow with second tenderloin.  Pour reserved marinade evenly over wrapped tenderloins. 
 
Place in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until meat reaches and internal temperature of 160 degrees.  When done, remove from oven and tent loosely with foil for about 10 mintes.  Slice and enjoy!


Homemade Teriyaki Sauce or Marinade

2/3 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
1 cup soy sauce
4 1/2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/3 cup white sugar
7 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 dash red pepper flakes (if you like more heat, you can kick it up a little!)
black pepper to taste

Directions

Bring mirin to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour in soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar. Season with garlic, ginger, pepper flakes, and black pepper; simmer an additional 5 minutes. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.