We had our first snow last Thursday and I don't think there's anything to get you more in the mood for Christmas than snow. Besides some shopping at the local outdoor market yesterday morning, Dave and I have been cooped up all weekend, last night celebrating our own Christmas and today relaxing and packing for the big trip coming up next week.


Since we don't want to bring our presents for each other to the US, we exchanged gifts on Saturday night after a bottle of Champagne and before a steak dinner. But I've featured steak on here before and realized I hadn't yet recapped this delicious dinner I made a while back, which would have been perfect for a pre-Christmas dinner.

White beans are such an elegant side dish and when braised or even just seasoned properly, they're divine. And anything bacon-wrapped is always going to be good, but this was a great combination and something a bit more classy for a Sunday roast.

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Stewed White Beans

1 tsp fennel seed
salt and pepper
1 pork tenderloin, about 1 lb

Beans:
4 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2c finely diced yellow onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 cans white beans

fresh basil

In a dry skillet, toast the fennel seed until fragrant, several minutes. Crush the fennel with a mortar and pestle, then add salt and pepper to the mixture.

Trim any excess fat and silver skin from the tenderloin and cut into pieces about 1 1/2 inches long. Season then with the fennel mixture and press the mixture into the meat. Wrap a piece of bacon around each piece of pork and secure with a toothpick going all the way through.

In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the oil, then add the onion and garlic and pepper flakes; cook until softened, then add the tomatoes and beans. Season with salt and pepper and simmer for 15 minutes.

Grill the pork over direct medium heat until the pork is barely pink in the center and the bacon is fully cooked, 12 to 15 minutes, turning once.

Stir torn fresh basil into the beans and serve with the pork.

Results: It's photos like the one above that make me realize how difficult it is to capture food on an average digital camera. I can't wait to get a better one because meals that were delicious barely translate through a photo. Regardless, the pork was great and this dish especially helped me discover my new-found love of fennel seed.

From Weber's Real Grilling cookbook.