Pork tenderloin with grapes

Ingredients:

Pork tenderloin

Butter, softened, 2 tbsp

Flour, 3 tbsp

Coarsely ground pepper, 1 tsp

Salt, 1 tsp

Sugar, 1 tbsp

Garlic, crushed and finely chopped, 2 cloves

Fresh thyme, chopped, 1 tbsp (can substitute rosemary if preferred)

Fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped, 1 tbsp

Olive oil

Red grapes, 1 lb

White wine

Chicken broth

Butter, 2 tbsp

Directions:

1. Rub tenderloins with butter and a mixture of flour, pepper, salt, garlic, sugar, thyme and parsley. 

2. Brown in pan with olive oil and place in oven-proof pan.

3. Put red grape clusters around meat. 

4. Deglaze pan with a splash of white wine and chicken broth and set aside. 

5. Roast about 30-45 minutes depending on size of tenderloin. You can use two tenderloins if small. 6. Remove tenderloins. Place on cutting board and tent to keep warm. 

7. Pour 1/4 cup of chicken broth into roasting pan, scraping bottom of pan to get up bits. 

8. Pour this into the browning pan. Heat to boiling and whisk in butter. 

9. Slice pork tenderloin. Arrange on plate with grapes and pour juices over. Sprinkle with additional parsley or garnish with sprigs of thyme or rosemary.

The story:

Okay, there really isn't one behind the recipe itself. My mom recalls that she was initially skeptical about the suggestion to use grapes, still on their stems - but clearly we're on to something, because they are also delicious with roasted chicken. Suggested sides for this dish include sweet potato gnocchi, sweet and white potato medley, mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, or crispy brussel sprouts with pancetta. The first time I tried this recipe (with the sweet potato gnocchi), I was staying at my friend's parents' house on Lake Oconee. I was in my fourth year of medical school (sometimes also known as "the most expensive vacation you'll ever take"), had just returned to the States from Guatemala, and essentially had nothing to do for almost three months. So I hung out out at their vacation house, went running with their dog most nights, read a lot of books and took over their (seldom-used) kitchen. Anyway, after the third or fourth time I offered to cook dinner, my friend's mom quietly confided that his stepdad was starting to miss eating out - and that I shouldn't take it as a reflection of my cooking!