Special Holiday Dinner: Roast Pork

My husband loves roast pork, and when I tasted this dish made by my friend Regine, I had to have the recipe. Luckily, she's the kind of cook who shares recipes! It's delicious, juicy, and tender, perfectly flavored with thyme and garlic; a great centerpiece for a holiday meal. I have written an option for roasting the pork at 350 degrees, so if you have only one oven you can bake the carrots at the same time as the pork.

I first tasted these scalloped carrots in a Wisconsin cheese recipe contest that I judged. The recipe really is perfect; the cheese sauce is smooth and beautifully seasoned, the carrots tender, and the topping browns to a crunchy finish. It's delicious served with tender roast boneless pork loin seasoned with garlic and thyme. If you've never had spinach salad before, you are in for a treat. This much-maligned green is wonderful eaten raw, with flavor and tenderness that puts plain lettuce to shame. And the dessert - well, I'll bet you've never seen a recipe made like this one! It will be the talk of the party.

The pesto torte, carrots, roast, cake, and bread can all be made ahead of time. All you have to do when it's time to eat is add the dressing to the salad and take dishes out of the oven and fridge. Enjoy this wonderful holiday menu.

Roast Pork Loin Menu

• Pesto Torte
  Serve this beautiful and delicious torte with some crisp whole wheat and water crackers along with some rose wine for a great start to your dinner.
• Regine's Roast Pork Loin
  Your grocery store should carry boneless pork loins; call a few days ahead of your party to be sure. They can order it if necessary. The roast can marinated in the fridge for 24 hours, so go ahead and make it the day before.
• Scalloped Carrots
  This beautiful recipe is a perfect complement to the roast pork. It may be more popular than scalloped potatoes!
• Spinach Salad
  I first learned to love spinach salad at a tiny restaurant near the apartment where my husband and I first lived when we were married. I had no idea that baby spinach was so tender and flavorful. Try it!
• French Bread
  You can make this delicious bread ahead of time and reheat it in a 350 degree oven, wrapped in foil, with the top open to crisp the bread, for 10-15 minutes. Cut slices, pile in a napkin-covered basket, and serve with soft sweet buttter.
• Decadent Chocolate Fudge Cake
  This cake starts with a two-layer mix, and ends up a one layer decadent, rich cake surrounded by a velvety ganache. Your guests will love it!