Balsamic and onion pork medallions with garlic green beans
And a meal plan that's doable during the holidays
Hello and happy almost-mid-December! We have been mostly cooped-up this past week with sick kiddos (my daughter said half of her second-grade class was absent at one point!) and we’re just now coming out of the what-day-is-it-again fog.
Needless to say, I’ve been really leaning on homemade bone broth, these homemade wellness shots, and lots of soup to stay healthy through this most wonderful time of the year!
Baking is in full swing, too. If you’re craving some blood sugar friendly and low-carb recipes during the holidays, I recommend these keto peanut butter blossoms, low-carb gingerbread cookies, and this gingerbread loaf with cream cheese frosting.
This week’s recipe is of the comfort food sort, and it combines two of my favorite flavor elements: caramelized onions and balsamic vinegar. I’ve made it with chicken and pork tenderloin, and both are equally good, but I went with the pork for this recipe to change things up.
Recipe testing this week made me realize that I should be making pork tenderloin more often! It costs slightly more than other pork cuts but it’s completely worth it. Pork tenderloin is lean, extra tender, and so quick and easy to prepare.
You’ll slice the pork tenderloin to create the pork medallions, then pan-fry them for a couple of minutes per side before making the onion and balsamic sauce in the same skillet. The end result is really tender cuts of pork smothered in creamy onion and balsamic sauce goodness.
Enjoy it with a side of garlic green beans or a different vegetable (sauteed mushrooms or roasted sriracha Brussels sprouts are also great with this!), or serve the pork medallions on top of a base like roasted cauliflower mash or mashed butternut squash and sweet potato.
Along with the recipe, I also put together another really simple meal plan (with shopping list!) to help you out this holiday season.
It contains five simple dinners and one breakfast/snack recipe, plus a shopping list grouped by category to help you make the most of your time and grocery budget.
Use it to plan healthy, low-carb meals during a really busy week this month! December is a great time for extra indulgences (if you’re able to and/or if you choose to), but it doesn’t have to be. Healthy meals made at home can keep you well and save you money, too (that’s essentially the Cliffsnotes version of last week’s newsletter, in case you missed it. 😜)
The meal plan— along with the recipe for the balsamic and onion pork medallions— are both below for paid subscribers.
Free subscribers— there’s no paywall on the below meal plan I shared back in September!
If you would like access to every low-carb, gluten and grain-free recipe in the archive, plus extra content like meal plans, bonus recipes, and holiday menus, I hope you consider a paid subscription! It’s just $5/month or $50/year (and makes a wonderful gift, too!).
I spend hours testing, photographing, and writing recipes for this newsletter every week and I am immensely grateful for your support in making this a valuable recipe resource! ♥️
A meal plan for the holidays
This meal plan is packed with cozy, comfort food meals like hearty soups and seasonal squash and delicious sauces. It has the potential to leave you with lots of leftovers, which are ideal for next-day lunch or dinner, or storing in the freezer for extra convenience.
It’s a flexible meal plan, too, and any fresh herbs you’re left with are wonderful to have on-hand for this time of year.
Here’s what we’re making!
If five dinners is too much, pick and choose whichever recipes you like! Any questions? Feel free to leave them in the subscriber chat or message me directly!
I hope you love these recipes and find the meal plan to be doable and helpful during this holiday season. ♥️
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