Apple And Corn Bread Stuffed Pork Loin

Apple And Corn Bread Stuffed Pork Loin
Serves/Makes: 12

Cooking spray
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup diced peeled Granny Smith apple
1 1/2 cup cornbread stuffing mix
1 1/3 cup apple juice or cider
1 1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1 large egg -- lightly beaten
4 pounds whole boneless center cut pork loin roast -- trimmed
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Granny Smith apples -- peeled, cored, cut into one-inch wedges
2 teaspoons cornstarch
14 ounces defatted low-sodium chicken broth

Preheat oven to 450F.

Heat a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add onion, celery and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cover and cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add diced apple; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Place apple mixture in a large bowl, and cool slightly. Stir in the stuffing mix, 1/3 cup juice, 1/2 teaspoon sage, and egg; set aside.

Starting off-center, slice pork lengthwise, cutting to, but not through, other side. Open butterflied portions, laying pork flat. Turning knife blade parallel to surface of cutting board, slice larger portion of pork in half
horizontally, cutting to, but not through, other side; open flat. Place plastic wrap over pork; pound to 1-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Spread stuffing over pork, leaving a 1/2-inch margin around outside edges. Roll up pork, jellyroll-fashion, starting with a long side. Secure at 2-inch intervals with twine. Combine 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon sage, and 1 teaspoon salt; rub over pork.

Arrange apple wedges in a single layer in bottom of a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; place pork on apples. Bake at 450F for 20 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 325F (do not remove the pork from oven). Bake an additional 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 155F. Remove pork from pan; cover and let stand 10 minutes. Discard apple wedges.
Combine 1 cup juice, cornstarch, and broth in a small saucepan; stir with a whisk. Bring broth mixture to boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Cut pork into 1/2-inch-thick slices, and serve with sauce.

This recipe for Apple And Corn Bread Stuffed Pork Loin serves/makes 12.