Good morning! Today I’ve got a delicious winter comfort food recipe to share that you can make in the slow cooker. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight or a lazy Sunday and will warm you right.
In my Shape article about seasonal affective disorder (SAD), I spoke briefly about wintertime carb cravings. Seasonal changes in light can lead to a dip in mood-regulating neurotransmitter serotonin, and because carbohydrates are an important component in serotonin production, the body often responds by begging for carbs. Clients who normally don’t give a rat’s a$$ about potatoes tell me they suddenly can’t stop thinking about them. Diehard omelet lovers switch to oatmeal for breakfast.
I don’t know if anyone else goes through this, but I’ve noticed that I crave meat and poultry a lot more in the wintertime. How come? My best guess is that it has something to do with the fact that amino acid tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, so getting enough tryptophan is crucial to effective serotonin production. Where do you find it? Tryptophan is found mainly in animal proteins like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and cheese, but you can also find it in tofu as well as in many nuts and seeds.
I’ve been making variations on this recipe for months and thought it was high time I shared it with you guys. It’s sort of an update of this black garlic pork recipe, but with wine. I’ll add liquor to almost anything. I love that subtle brightness you get when you add a hit of something acidic to a savory dish—if wine isn’t your thing, you could use your favorite vinegar or some citrus.
My favorite way to enjoy this is with some green veggies and roasted sweet potatoes. You might also love it with my Skinny Parsnip Puree—a bit lighter and way less predictable than mashed potatoes.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients:
- 1 lb pork tenderloin
- 1 large carrot, dices
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 head’s worth of black garlic
cloves (optional)
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons Herbes de Provence
- ~2 c water
cloves (optional)
Directions:
- Place pork tenderloin in slow cooker
- Mix together remaining ingredients and pour over pork. Cook on high for 4 -5 hours.
To serve, plate more attractively than I did and pair with your favorite root veggies for a comforting cold weather meal.
*Want a quicker version? My black garlic miso pork tenderloin is my other favorite right now. You can make in a skillet or grill pan if the weather has you stuck indoors. I have this one
What’s your favorite thing to eat in the wintertime?
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