Recipie of the Week: Ancho Pork and Hominy Stew

I was surprised how good this recipe was. I think we've had it every week since I found it in December. It might even replace my mom's Nine Bean soup recipe as my new favorite! (Sorry Mom). And with pork being on the cheaper side in the store, you can't go wrong!  Hmmmm...wonder if this would count as a chile recipe for an upcoming chile cook off...

Ancho Pork and Hominy Stew
(from Cooking Light Dec. 2009)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons ancho chile powder (I just used regular chile powder)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika (I just used regular paprika)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 cups chopped green bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (28-ounce) can hominy, drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained

Preparation
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; set 1 1/2 teaspoons spice mixture aside. Add pork to remaining spice mixture in bowl, tossing well to coat.

2. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture to pan; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Remove pork from pan; set aside. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to pan. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Return pork to pan. Add reserved 1 1/2 teaspoons spice mixture, broth, hominy, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Partially cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes.

Sucessful Weekend

Dispite the fact that it was another cold, rainy and gray weekend...we finished taxes and for the first time in 3 years we figured our 2009 W-2's right and didn't owe Uncle Sam any money at the end of the year!  There was much happiness in the house over that. 

Then to top it off...we paid off student loan number two! Two loans down, one left to go...and our resolution for 2010 is to get the last one paid off by the end of the year.  In the words of the little engine that could..."I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!"

New on my Blog reading list

So I confess that I've become a blog groupy of several sites.  I never thought I would...but there are a few ones out there that I've come to enjoy.  Thought I'd pass them along.

Alan Reifman's Emerging Adulthood Page: Yup...this is my nerdy one that I keep up with for work.  Alan studies emerging adulthood and posts related articles or research he comes across.  My only complaint is that he doesn't post very often.

Ed Stetzer's Life Way Research Blog:  Usualy has a few good posts each week on recent Christian research or teaching he's done. 

Copyblogger: Another nerdy one that I enjoy for work.  Has great posts on communicating via email, websites and other electronic mediums.  Not only do they post a new one each day, they can also be fairly entertaining.

Donald Miller's Blog:  So I geneally like his books...makes sense that I'd like his blog.   Best part is he sometimes will post chapters from up coming books and ask for feedback. 

So those are my favorite new ones.  Any ones you know of I should start checking out?