Dinner at Dad's

Occasionally, I like to challenge myself by creating a meal solely from ingredients already in the house.  I see it as a way of boosting my culinary creativity but, more so, as a way to clean out my ever-cluttered pantry.  While making dinner at my Dad's house over the weekend,  most of the components we used were already found in his surprisingly well-stocked kitchen.  What could have been a very simple dinner, ended up being quite a flavorful and exciting one.  The only items I purchased from the store were fresh pork tenderloin and buffalo mozzarella.  The rest was found in the pantry, garden or refrigerator.  We all chipped in and helped with the preparations. It felt good knowing that such a delicious meal could be made off-the-cuff and from items right there in the kitchen.

Dad started the charcoal grill.

I rubbed tender pork tenderloins with some basic pantry staples:  chipotle pepper, dijon mustard and coarse salt.

Reduce some apple juice to baste the pork with during grilling.  Warmed fruit preserves would be equally delicious.

A few snacks while we prepare dinner.  Crackers from the pantry.  Salami and cheese from the refrigerator.

A beautifully stacked tomato and mozzarella  salad ready to be sprinkled with some basil from the garden and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette.

Red potatoes from the pantry got roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper.  A few snips of fresh, flat-leaf parsley from the garden and they're ready for the table.

Let's eat.