Pork Loin and Bacon

Pork loin and bacon, are a combination to love. What more needs to be said?

Pork Loin and Bacon

Here is an easy-to-prepare dinner that is fast to make and mostly light on your budget. I say mostly light because bacon can be very expensive. I made this one evening a few days after visiting a local restaurant. They had on their menu a pork chop dinner for about $18 and a Filet Mignon for about $28. I stayed with a nice sirloin steak, but it did get me thinking.

One of my staples is a boneless center-cut pork loin chop. My local grocery store sells a package of two for about $4.49 a pound, so the average price is about $3.86. However, they also sell a family package of 8 pieces for $2.49 a pound. The package is around $8.27, so just over a dollar for a 6 oz boneless pork loin chop. Each one is individually wrapped, so I placed the ones I plan on using in the next week in the refrigerator and the rest in the freezer.

Is a Pork Loin and a Pork Tenderloin the same?

There is sometimes confusion between pork loin and pork tenderloin. You may even see the terms pork loin tenderloin on a meat package. I saw a piece of tenderloin in the supermarket the other day marked that way. A pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of meat that comes from the muscle that runs along the backbone. While it is a muscle, it is not used very much. The USDA classifies it as very lean, and it is the most tender cut of pork. A pork Filet Mignon is cut from the ends of a tenderloin.

The pork loin also comes from near the back and is between the front and rear legs. The pork loin is wider and flatter and can be a boneless or bone-in cut of meat. It is the second most tender cut of pork after the tenderloin. Center-cut pork chops are cut from this portion as well. The difference is the thickness of the cut. Pork chops are a thinner cut.

There can also be some confusion between pork loin and lion. Well, it can be if you are 9 years old and excited to have a lion TV dinner with baked apples. Was a bit disappointed when it was pointed out how it was spelled, and I did not get to try a lion.

Pork Loin and Bacon

Recipe by CharlesCourse: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories

250

kcal

Ingredients

• Pork Loin Center Cut

• Bacon

• Creole Seasoning

Directions

• Preheat the grill or oven
• Lightly season the Pork with the Creole Seasoning
• Wrap the pork with two strips of bacon, do not overlap
• Place on the grill (or oven)
• Remove from heat when the internal temperature is 145 degrees

Notes

• There are a few different ways to use the bacon with the pork loin. Cooking it partially before wrapping it will allow the bacon to become crisper and not overcook the pork itself. You can also wrap the bacon around the pork loin. Cooking this in the oven is also great, bake some apples along side it.

Instant Mashed Potatoes Hack

Yes, making your mashed potatoes from scratch is great, but it takes time. A good quality instant mashed potato can bring a nice balance to your meal. I use Idahoan instant, which has a variety of different combinations. Personally, I like their loaded baked mashed potatoes the best. Still, I sometimes lift the taste up a bit. After measuring the amount of water I will use, I add a package of Arby’s horsey sauce. One package per serving. The creamy horseradish adds a little something extra that works great with the pork.

The Budget for this Pork Loin and Bacon Dinner?

This Pork Loin and Bacon dinner fits into my budget meal category. 

Pork  $1.00

Bacon $.75

Mashed Potatoes $.25

Vegetables $.50

Rolls $.50

So in total, about $3.00 per person for the meal.

How Much Should You Budget To Spend On Food