When The Motherhood and The National Pork Board asked me to develop a recipe featuring rack of pork which is on special this week at Costco, I was pretty darn excited. I love pig. Bacon, pork chops, pork loin, ribs…. if it oinks, I’ll eat it. However, rack of pork is not something I whip up very often, so this was a challenge that I was happy to take on.
This recipe that I’m about to share with you features the rack of pork, but this recipe lends itself nicely to other less expensive cuts of meat such as pork chops. The rack of pork is quite impressive and perfect for the holidays, but feel free to use this same recipe for pork chops or pork loin.
My vision for this recipe (listed at the end) was a savory crunchy exterior and a flavorful moist interior. To accomplish this, I decided on a crust made of pecans, orange zest, and rosemary. There’s something about the combination of crunchy and tangy that makes my taste buds dance. And yes, taste buds can dance. Mine do anyway….
After the pork was in the oven, I got started on the cranberry coulis. A coulis is a fancy term for any pureed fruit sauce. In this instance, we are creating an orange cranberry coulis. Basically, it’s just like making cranberry sauce but with orange added.
I poured it into a squeezy bottle which makes it easier to decorate the plates. Spellcheck is telling me that squeezy isn’t a word. It is now…..
After allowing the pork to rest a bit, I squeezed out a pool of cranberry coulis and placed the meat on top of it. Doesn’t that present nicely? I can totally see making this for Christmas. The colors alone make it look so darn festive. And the taste? Phenomenal. I hate to toot my own horn, but this is incredible. If you like oranges and rosemary, then you are in for a real treat.
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Jacklyn C, IL
Pork ribs are my favorite!!!
I like to buy a whole, vacuum sealed loin of pork which becomes chops and roasts with stew meat as an added bonus. I used to set a ruler next to the cutting board to insure that all the chops ended up being the same thickness. Now I can just eye ‘em. That old saying about practice is true, after all.
Ranger S. from Florida
Lisa B., FL
Barbecued Spare Ribs…YUM!
Stephanie C, PA, My favorite is pork loin, yummy!!
Erica M.
Massachusetts
I love bacon!
Christie S.
Virginia
Pork loin….yum!
I would love to cook a rack of pork for the Christmas. Felicia J.
Nebraska
I love an old fashioned pork roast with lots of gravy!
Faye S, HI
I love a pork roast (with lots of gravy).
Pam S. Michigan
I’m with you ALL pork is fabulous but if forced to choose I’d choose bacon.
But that roast looks devine!!! and it’s great to see you standing making it…
Katherine M. NC
Bacon makes me weak-kneed. I have no restraint at all when it comes to eating it.
Hope L
Ohio
I am a fan of the pork tenderloin. Oh, and bacon is always a hit with me!
Not entering the contest because we dont’ have a Costco, but wanted to tell you that looks AMAZING!!!
Melanie, have you see the “just a pinch” cooking club??? It’s amazing, I am a member, and won my first blue ribbon!! They literally send you a blue ribbon!!!
You’ll have mre blue ribbons than I can blink at!!!!
Michelle L. from Ohio
Luv me some BACON! Xtra Crispy!
Standing on your own two feet is such a treat.
Now let’s get some pork meat
and make us something to eat.
cara p. from tn
my favorite part of the pig is the loin!
Kathy M. Arizona
Love a whole pork loin that we cut up for chops & roasts.
Your recipe & color looked great. Glad you are back in the kitchen.
Holy Moly! I would like to eat that RIGHT NOW! I have to admit, I would’ve seen that finished product photo and totally written it off as WAY too complicated and hard. But you make it look so easy!! I just might give it a go!
Umm, favorite pork product: BACON (super crispy, please!)
Kathy C., TN
I was tickled to see you on your feet as well!
Patti S. MS
A good tender pork loin with yeast rolls is our fav.
Cathy S
CA
Pork Ribs!
catsch1 (at) yahoo (dot ) com
Haha! I’d say the exact same thing as Pam. I love everything about pork (um, except pickled pigs feet), but could not live without BACON! (Including Mo’s Dark Bacon Chocolate.)
Thanks so much for the chance. If my family wasn’t so rosemary adverse, this would definitely be on my Christmas menu!
Britt D
SD
ah I could use some cooking tips
Teresa P AZ
Jennifer B.
WA
Ribs!!
Nicole b, arizona.
I love pork ribs, one of my favorite meals!
Pork loin, the seasoned cut found only at costco. so delicious with carrots and potatoes sitting in the pan, mmm drooling while thinking about that.
angeline b
arizona
Laurie W. MA
Don’t have a Costco nearby in Central MA. but my husband travels to Nashua, NH and Dedham and that pork rib recipe has Christmas dinner written all over it. Dug up my rosemary last year and nursed it along inside (it wasn’t pretty but it survived!) and replanted it in the garden this year. Didn’t know if I would go through the bother of digging it up again, but this recipe convinced me (if it survives this snowstorm:))
I would love to cook a pork roast for Christmas! My favorite pork product of all time is prosciutto.
Thanks for creating this yummy looking recipe and hosting this giveaway.
JoAnn V in snowy NJ
A leg of Pork – with a glaze made of Apricot jam!
Isabel M of Ohio
No Costco near me, so I’m not entering, just commenting…between the couponing and cooking you are lookin’ like your old self!! I love it. I know you aren’t 100% but by the looks of this blog, you are back, baby! If you weren’t so far away and covered with snow, I’d be knocking on your door for some dinner right now! That was the best darn dinner I’ve seen in a long time!!
Tammy D., DE
Lorna P, AZ
Pork loin has to be my favorite, because of the versatility. Great to see you standing, Melanie!
MMMmmmmm pork!!! licking computer screenmmmmmmm.
I vote that squeezy be added to the dictonary as a word
Pork Shoulder. I heart pulled pork sandwiches any time of the year!
Elizabeth W, Columbus, Ohio
I love pork loin! I just found this after many years!
Donna L.
Hampton, VA
Melissa W, St Paul MN…and choosing a part of the pig to be my favorite is really hard. I consider myself an equal opportunity pork eater. I’ll have to go with pork chops (prepared with my pork milenese recipe) followed closely by ham (so easy to just rub them with brown sugar and cook them all day in the slow cooker!)
Rita S – VA
Hmmm… pick just one part I like the best – that’s hard to do. I like ham, bacon, loin, ribs, pork belly, shoulder, chops… with Thanksgiving just around the corner I’m going to go with ham.
It is so nice to see you ‘up’ yea!
I love ribs and bacon!
Andrea A.
Oklahoma
Angie S. from Missouri you make food on your blog look amazingly delicious
Beautiful looking meal! I was drooling by the end (I refrained from licking the laptop screen!) Once again you wrote a marvelous post and have me LoL! I love pig! If it oinks, I’ll eat it! You made my taste buds dance and yes, squeezy bottle should be a word! You look great and it is wonderful to see you standing on your own in your kitchen. You have inspired me with this recipe and the great pix. If I’m brave maybe I’ll stand back and admire this very porkalicious dinner myself!!
And I just added squeezy and porkalicious to my Word dictionary!
Merideth P, SC
My daddy’s pork ribs are my summertime favorite.
Your recipe looks so yummy. I can’t wait for our Costco to open so I can try it out. 18 days ’til opening!
Becky from TN
My favorite part of the pig would be bacon!
Thanks for a wonderful giveaway.
Char L. Holland, MI
Love the whole pork loin. The cranberry and orange combination is to die for will have to try adding the rosemary and pecans.
Ribs, Ribs, Ribs, Did i mention ribs.LOL
Sara L – DE
Ribs are my favorite – hubby has perfected his rib recipe, super yummy!
My favorite is pork tenderloin!!
Marcia M. OH
I like prosciutto and bacon but I am willing to learn more about pork.
Marianne Y.
Colorado
Pork loin and tenderloin are my favorites.
Darry S
Florida
Kimberly B.
WA
Pork Ribs are my favorite.
Diane M – North California
Bacon
Ribs
Pork Roast and Sauerkraut
Pork Chops
What part of a pig don’t I like — oh yeah, feet.
Meghan P.
Utah
Where does bacon come from? That’s my favorite part!
(But I’d be willing to consider other parts in exchange for that beautiful pork you made!).
I like pork loin.
Jessie C. MN
Mel J. from Pa.
We love bacon, ribs, pork chops—all pork!
Bacon, bacon, bacon!
Cheryl l., IL.
Wow! Your finished dish looks wonderful!
My favorites are bacon and pork chops.
Knesha B. – TX
Your recipe looks yummy
Lena S
FL
I am definitely going to have to say bacon!
Christina A.
Missouri
Pork roast is my favorite.
Valerie S
CT
Missy C., North Carolina.
My favorite part of the pig is the boston butt.
Andrea B. – Michigan
Sigh. Do I have to pick just one?
Bacon (specifically Nueske’s… yum!)
Emily B. in MN
Bacon… no wait…. BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. Can I choose both?
I’m a rookie at cooking pork and would love to win this to hone my skills!
My fav pig part are pork chops.
Thanks!
Jessica D, CT
Andrea C.
California
Bacon of course. Who doesn’t love the most unhealthy pig product?
Leah T.
Utah
Bacon. Bacon. Bacon!
SO glad to see you standing up! Go mel!
Carolin C
Florida
bacon
Wai L, in NY
Happy Halloween! I’d have to go with ribs. Thanks for the recipe!
Seana M.
NY
Love a tender pork loin with cracked peppercorns!
Christy Hitchcock
Bremen, GA
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Love the whole hog
but cook pork tenderloin the most because it’s versatile, lean, and cooks quickly.
Congrats on winning – love the crunchy pecan crust and can totally see making this for the holidays. Great job!
I’m a pork tenderloin girl myself…
Johanna H. from MA
erica b. i love ribs
purple_lover_04 at msn dot com
Alycia R
NH
I tried to make a post here earlier this week, but Oops I must have gofed… I’m so computer illiterate.
Anyhow, the rack or ribs look amzing and we definately love us some pork in this house, would love to try my hand at a rack or pork Ribs, YUMMY!!!
Glad your back up and around Melanie.
Love Pork Ribs.
Brenda J
CA
i like pork loin.
irina g., ct
Chris G, MA
mmm, bacon