Roasted pork and applesauce - a perfect fall meal.

Have I told you I love the slow cooker? I do. I think the slow cooker gives people the ability to do it all - cook a delicious dish and enjoy the day. Yesterday, I made what I am dubbing the "World's Quickest Applesauce." I literally threw this together, during the time it took Vance to shower - granted he isn't the shortest showerer, but you get the idea.

World's Quickest Slow Cooker Applesauce
-6 golden delicious apples
-1/2 cup of water
-3 tablespoons brown sugar
-1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
-1 teaspoon vanilla

Peel, core and quarter apples and put them in the slower cooker. Add remaining ingredients and cover. Cook on low for about 5 hours until apples are very tender. Mash with a fork, chill and serve!

Herb Roasted Pork Loin, Baby Red Potatoes and Basil Carrots

Pork Roast:
about a 2 pound boneless pork (perfect for two people with leftovers)
fresh herbs, I used oregano and thyme
EVOO
salt and pepper
small onion
about 6 baby red potatoes

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees
-In baking pan, drizzle EVOO all over pork
-Chop fresh herbs (needing about 3-4 tablespoons) and pack them on the pork, trying to get them to stick to the EVOO
-Salt and pepper the meat
-Peel and quarter onion and assemble on and around meat
-Clean, peel (about 3/4) of the potato skin and toss with EVOO and S&P
-Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees then lower heat to about 375 degrees. Bake for an additional 35 minutes and using a meat thermometer, test temperature. Pork should be about 160 degrees internally. It make take about 10-15 minutes. Remove pork from oven and cover with tinfoil. Allow to rest 10 minutes. Serve au jus over pork, potatoes and onions.

Carrots:
-When pork is almost done (about 15 minutes away from the end), boil chicken or vegetable stock in a small sauce pan with about a 1/2 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
-When stock is boiling, add about 2-3 cups of baby carrots or peeled cut carrots
-Boil for about 10 minutes until tender
-Drain and return to pan, toss with 1-2 tablespoons chopped basil and a bit of butter if desired

This is a great fall dinner and hit the spot after a long weekend!