So life in general is pretty crazy, right? We are all busy beyond belief, pulled in a million directions, overwhelmed, overworked, and the list goes on and on. Currently, my family is on a mission to figure out how to slow down a bit. We have done some serious rearranging of our lives to hopefully conquer this goal. One big change we made recently; we got rid of the television. Not just canceled the cable, not just unplugged it, but it’s gone, adios, sayonara, out of here. I will admit, Rowan facilitated the lingering idea by breaking our flat screen during a passionate imaginary sword fight, but it was meant to be and a sign to go ahead with what we had been discussing. We didn’t watch a lot of tv before we tossed the box, but it was enough to kind of nag at me that there were other more productive or connective things we all could be doing besides being inundated with cereal commercials or reality shows. Was our decision extreme? Maybe, but I don’t care. It’s been almost two weeks with no TV and I LOVE IT. I can’t quite explain exactly what I love about it, but I love it. As far as the other changes we are making? Let’s just say that downsizing is a good thing. Our house is much smaller but our dining table is larger which means it’s less space to clean and more room at the table for the ones that I love.
Now, here’s a recipe to share with you all. I made this a couple of days ago when I knew my evening would not allow for any time to cook so in the morning, I went to my trusty slow cooker for some help and came up with what I’m sure will now be a staple at our house!
Cumin Spiced Slow Cooked Pork
2 lbs of Pork Loin (I used 2 – 1 pound loins)
Cumin, Sea Salt, Pepper
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 yellow onion, sliced
2 cups sliced mushrooms
Sauce
1 1/2 cups green or red salsa (I used the salsa verde from Trader Joe’s)
1 1/2 cups strained tomatoes
1 tablespoon Cumin
3 garlic cloves, minced
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium to medium high heat. Sprinkle the pork on all sides generously with salt and pepper and then with the cumin powder. Use your fingers to rub the cumin into the pork loin. Sear the cumin spiced pork in the hot coconut oil for about 3 minutes per side or until the pork is nice and brown all the way around. Move the pork from the skillet to the slow cooker and top with the sliced onions and mushrooms. In the same pan that you seared the pork in, add the salsa, strained tomatoes, the 1 tablespoon of cumin, and garlic, and whisk together until bubbly. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired. Pour the sauce over the pork, onions, and mushrooms in the slow cooker and cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.
Enjoy!
Amy says
February 29, 2012 at 10:40 pmYummmmm…this one’s going on the meal plan!
Lisa says
March 1, 2012 at 3:50 amWay to go Sarah, so glad you are enjoying the no tv option. We made the decision to have no tv in our home 6 months ago and while it did take some adjusting and occasionally still miss it ( especially any real housewives series) overall it has not been that big a deal. We find we talk more, laugh more and get out doors more…..great decision, enjoy!!
Danielle says
March 1, 2012 at 4:19 amWe are tv free too!! I don’t miss it at all! Great recipe- going to try it today.
Janis says
March 1, 2012 at 5:58 amHow did you strain your tomatoes? Did you use canned and drained the juice? Or did you use fresh? I am big on using a crockpot and cumin so I am very interested in trying this recipe!!
Sarah says
March 1, 2012 at 9:20 amI use Bionaturae brand strained tomatoes and order from Tropical Traditions. http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/organic_tomato.htm
B says
March 1, 2012 at 6:44 amPork loin instead of shoulder? Interesting, I always thought the loin was too lean for slow cooking, and would end up dry.
Sarah says
March 1, 2012 at 9:19 amNope, it was not dry at all! Cooking in all the sauce and searing it before hand in coconut oil helps. : )
Renee says
March 6, 2012 at 10:25 amI had picked up a couple of the new boxed tomatoes a few weeks ago and realized I had picked up a strained tomatoe by mistake. Thought well what the heck am I going to do with this one and now I know!
Teri M. says
March 1, 2012 at 7:51 amThis sounds great – I will try it next time I am making pulled pork. Likely next week. 🙂
Jens says
March 1, 2012 at 1:32 pmGood for you on giving up the TV! My husband and I have not had a television since 1982, and our lives are richer for it. We do far more interesting things than many people we know, and we don’t miss it one tiny bit. We read, we actually TALK to each other, we grow a garden and work in our big yard, walk, work out together, do yoga, build stone walls and walks, cook together, travel as much as we can–you name it. TV is a big tacky commercial tasteless time-waster.
Love your blog, by the way. I bought your Everyday Paleo cookbook, and my husband is in love with your Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Slaw. Yum! Keep up the good work!!
Erin says
March 1, 2012 at 2:27 pmCan’t wait to try this recipe. My husband loves TJ’s green salsa and I tend to buy pork loin often.
Downsizing in somes parts of life usually makes way for upsizing in other parts.
Chantel says
March 1, 2012 at 2:27 pmWay to get rid of tv! We got rid of cable well over a year ago and I don’t miss it at all. I started reading more. My husband and I started talking more and playing cards together. We didn’t actually get rid of the tv because we enjoy a redbox every now and again, but it certainly doesn’t rule our lives anymore!
Kimberly says
March 1, 2012 at 6:38 pmLooks soooo good! Definitely making this soon. And good for you for simplifying! Way to get back to enjoying the important things. Like food. And family. Of course.
jojo1490 says
March 1, 2012 at 11:54 pmThank you for this tasty recipe, Sarah!!! Keeps the diet plan exciting! You share a lot of interesting topics. Will definitely share this to my friends!
SusanKD says
March 2, 2012 at 8:33 amDo you think I would be able to freeze this?
Audrey says
March 2, 2012 at 10:02 amHi Sarah,
I love your blog and I am LOVING your cookbook, some of the best recipes EVER! My husband and I went TV free before we had kids. We have a TV but no reception. Our kids sometimes watch a DVD and we watch 1 Netflix/week as a family. I think it gives us a lot more time. And on a winter’s evening you might find all of us reading a book! I have two teenage boys, one likes to read, the other is a reluctant reader, but lately the peer pressure is just too much and he is reading a book too!
melissa says
March 2, 2012 at 2:09 pmI was looking for inspiration for my bison roast and then I remembered this. I may have to change a couple of ingredients, but it is definitely on!
melissa says
March 9, 2012 at 8:22 pmMade it with the bison, used portobello mushrooms and my homemade salsa. Delish! Used the leftovers to make stew.
donna says
March 4, 2012 at 8:55 pmdoes the Trader Joe’s salsa verde have sugar in it ?
Sarah says
March 4, 2012 at 10:26 pmNope!
Eliza says
March 5, 2012 at 9:52 amHi Sarah,
Do you have a suggestion for making this with a different kind of meat? My husband is not a fan of pork.
I am a huge fan of yours, by the way. And because of Paleo Pals my two kids a trying for 2 weeks of strict Paleo (even away from home)! I told them I’d buy them a Paleo Pals t-shirt when they succeed! Thanks for your ideas, support, and motivation!
Eliza
Sarah says
March 5, 2012 at 7:26 pmHi Eliza!
You can always use a beef roast or even better I would suggest some chicken thighs. So cool to hear about your kids, keep me posted on how it goes!
Christine says
March 5, 2012 at 5:57 pmThis smelled fantastic while it was cooking and it tasted even better! I am not a huge fan of pork normally, but I am so glad I gave this recipe a try. Cumin and salsa verde, what’s not to love? Thanks for sharing this!
Renee says
March 6, 2012 at 10:23 amThis was so good! My husband devoured it! We put it over mashed cauliflower. Definately in the recipe rotation at our house!
tree peters says
March 6, 2012 at 7:14 pmI just read my husband the title of this post and he said, “when can we have that?”
Thanks for the recipe. It looks like something that even I can do.
Savvy Scot says
March 9, 2012 at 5:31 amWhat a great site. Will definitely be checking out some of these recipes! 🙂
Aspen says
March 9, 2012 at 10:43 amJust wanted to say “Thanks!” Everyone in our house LOVED this recipe, even the little ones and our picky eater friends that stopped by without warning! We squeezed a little lime over the meat once it was plated which brought out the flavors and gave it a little kick. Delish!! Thanks again!
Tara says
March 11, 2012 at 8:30 amI made this last week…
Phenomenal!
Tabitha says
March 11, 2012 at 10:04 amMade this to have over the weekend…it turned out SOOOO good. So far have eaten it with roasted sweet potatoes & sauteed turnip greens and then with sliced avocado & salad. Tonight I’ll have it with roasted cauliflower & salad. Have shared the recipe with a bunch of other people- I just love it, thanks for sharing!
Rey says
March 17, 2012 at 2:21 pmIt’s slow cooking as I type! 😀
I just discovered this website and I’m obsessed! This is my first intentional “Paleo” recipe to cook and it smells incredible. I’m going to have to pick up the Everyday Paleo cook book if this tastes half as good as it smells (And I’m sure it will)
Jeannette says
March 19, 2012 at 4:33 pmWe also went “TV free” years ago when our children were younger, then we went house free ( bought a motorhome) & job free ( traveled in the motorhome through out the US). Our kids were 13 & 16–the best decision we could have made at the time. Now we are back in Chico with a house, job, & TV . Our “kids” are in their 40’s now but have wonderful memories of that time. I am once again thinking we should get rid of TV. I don’t think you will ever regret whatever you do to bring your family closer together!
Sarah says
March 19, 2012 at 5:51 pmI LOVE it Jeanette! We have dreams of traveling the world with our kids, we’ll see if we can make it happen! Wish us luck!
Erin says
March 26, 2012 at 7:24 amHi there!
Tried this recipe but with chicken (I deconstructed my whole chicken carcass a litte early so it had plenty of meat).
AMAzing with chicken and some spaghetti squash!
Mandy says
May 29, 2012 at 10:38 amHi Sarah,
Is there an alernative for the slow cooker? I have a dutch oven, but not sure what temp in the oven and for how long.
Thanks!! Love the site.
Melanie says
June 26, 2012 at 7:11 pmIf I don’t have a slow cooker, what kind of cooking method do you recommend after seasoning the pork?
Sarah says
June 26, 2012 at 7:46 pmI would cook it low and slow in the oven. 225 and cook for 1 to 1.5 hours per pound. Long process but well worth it!!
Ginger says
September 19, 2012 at 3:32 pmDelicious! Worth waiting 8 hours for! 🙂
Wendie says
February 5, 2013 at 4:02 pmMade this for dinner tonight! It was so good. Can’t wait for breakfast to have leftovers! Served it over a raw cabbage mix and it was a huge hit with the kids.
Becky says
April 14, 2013 at 5:24 pmMade this for dinner tonight and it was amazing!! Can’t wait for lunch tomorrow!!!
Heather says
June 18, 2013 at 9:43 amI am trying this out now. I love easy but flavorful dinners. We have Twin Girls that are about to turn 2, they love spicy foods. Cant wait to taste it. I think I will serve with Rice and Corn on the side.
AJ says
April 5, 2014 at 9:09 pmHey can i try this without the sauce? It sounds great, i just don’t have.the.ingredients for the sauce, but i do for cooking the pork loin in the crocker. Suggestions/tips?
Sarah says
April 7, 2014 at 7:42 amBecause pork loin is a leaner cut of meat, you’ll want to put some sort of liquid in with the pork or it will get pretty gosh darn dry. If you have the right spices, follow the directions to sear the pork and than at the very least pour in about 1/2 a cup to a cup of water but preferably some chicken broth over the pork loin before you cook it and that should do the trick! Enjoy!