Lyn's Roast Pork and Potato with Feta

Through the news feed of Facebook, I know things on a daily basis that I would never otherwise know about my friends’ lives.  Some of these revelations are amusing, or touching, or informative.  And while I have heard arguments against the constant online chatter, saying that it stops us from interacting personally with people, I would like to make the opposite argument.  It has brought me closer to friends by the ability to share in their normal everyday lives, in a way that only neighbors or close friends would be able to share.  I give you a for instance:  My sister-in-law is a good cook.  Occasionally she posts what she is making for dinner and I get to enjoy that meal vicariously because she posts the ingredients and the family reactions.  Even her next-door neighbors probably don’t know what she is having for dinner as often as her Facebook friends do!  The other night, she mentioned her dinner plan, and, as luck would have it, I had all the main ingredients in my refrigerator so she also shared the recipe.  Aside from the addition of mushrooms and fewer tomatoes, this is her meal, a family favorite, by all accounts.  And we loved it!  Thanks, Lyn!  (And thanks, Facebook.)

1 large onion or 2 shallots

500g or a little more than 1 pound potatoes

Olive oil

4 x 90 g or 3 oz pork loin medallions

100g or 3 1/2 oz cherry tomatoes

200g or 7 oz button mushrooms

Handful fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs

100ml or a little more than 1/3 cup wine (should be white, but I only had red - didn't matter in the slightest)

100ml or a little more than 1/3 cup stock

100g or 3 1/2 oz feta, crumbled

Grated zest of 1 lemon

Sea salt

Black pepper

Preheat the oven to 220°C or 430°F.

Season the pork with salt and pepper.

Thinly slice your potatoes and onions.  (If you have new potatoes, just give them a scrub and no need to peel.)

Cut smaller mushrooms in half and bigger ones in quarters.

Place the onion and potatoes slices in a roasting tin, pour over some olive oil and lots of salt and pepper, and then toss to coat.

Roast in the hot oven for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a little olive oil in a frying pan over high heat and brown the pork loin chops for a couple of minutes on each side.  Remove the pork to a plate.

Scatter the cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and thyme leaves over the potato and return to the oven for 10 minutes more.

Lay the pork on top and pour over the wine and stock.

Half stock, half wine. 

Roast further until the pork is cooked and the vegetables are tender.

Serve scattered with the feta, lemon zest and another good drizzle of olive oil.

 Enjoy!