Inspiration Is The Key Ingredient For Easy Entertaining

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- There are millions of recipes available on the Internet and, with just as many home cooks scouring for menu ideas this holiday season, it would be a great gift for all if helpful information was accessible in just one place. That's why the National Pork Board is making holiday entertaining easier – and more delicious – by teaming up with top food bloggers to offer endless inspiration and showcase how pork helps "make" any party.

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"I'm constantly on the hunt for new recipes or inspiration to create my own, and have been cooking with pork loin a lot recently. It's bursting with flavor, can be roasted whole, cut into chops or stuffed with festive ingredients," said Jaden Hair from SteamyKitchen.com. "From preparing to host at home to attending multiple parties, I know I'm not the only one whose calendar and to-do list is filling up, and it's a great help to have delicious pork recipes and ideas all in one, easily accessible place."

Facebook.com/PorkBeInspired has been transformed into a one-stop holiday planning destination, helping home cooks and entertainers save time and plan their party with ease. This hub features party-perfect recipes, videos starring top food bloggers that demo delicious dishes and a daily chance to win coupons for free pork throughout the month of November. Fans will also have the chance to submit their entertaining questions to Jaden Hair, who will share video tips and expert suggestions for how to make any celebration a success. The National Pork Board wants to hear ideas from home cooks and entertainers too, asking them to submit photos of their pork-inspired party to the brand's Pinterest page and sharing photos via Instagram. The National Pork Board will highlight some of the most inspiring and unique photos by showcasing them as its Facebook page cover photo throughout December.  

Pork Makes the Party

Quick-cooking, flavorful pork cuts are the perfect fit for holiday entertaining. The juicy tenderloin is a crowd-pleasing party food and, as an added bonus, home cooks can feel great about serving it: ounce for ounce, it's as lean as a boneless, skinless chicken breast. Or go the route of the versatile boneless pork loin, which can be roasted and served whole or cut and used in sliders and kebabs. With pork, the possibilities are truly endless.

"Great food is the key to any party. Pork dishes are so flavorful and easy to prepare, you'll impress your guest without having spent all day preparing in the kitchen," says Traci Rodemeyer, Director of Pork Information for the National Pork Board. "Our robust online offering of recipe inspiration will provide easy entertaining ideas and time-saving techniques that will allow you to enjoy the holidays with the most important people in your life."  

For any occasion, from casual get-togethers with friends to full-blown, formal feasts with the entire family, there's a pork recipe that will "make" the party:

• Fun with Finger Food: Jaden Hair suggests starting off the party with an appetizer that encourages mingling. Try her Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Slow-Cooked Pork, featuring an orange and coriander-spiced sirloin tip roast with a sweet plum dipping sauce.
• Elevate the Expected: Jenny Flake of Picky-Palate.com used premium ingredients in her Spice-Rubbed Pork Loin BLT Sliders with Dijon Remoulade that feature thin slices of boneless pork loin, arugula, plum tomatoes, bacon and the flavorful kick of Dijon mustard.
• Cozy Up with Comfort Food: Lauren Brennan of LaurensLatest.com created Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Maple Gravy & Apple Bacon Hash, using warm flavors and hearty ingredients like potatoes, apples, thick-cut bacon, maple seasoning and cinnamon. Perfect for brunch!
• Show-Stopping Centerpiece: Sandy Coughlin of ReluctantEntertainer.com created a Pork Tenderloin with Goat Cheese-Stuffed Dates and Raspberry Chipotle Sauce. Served with a warm, sweet and spicy sauce, this dish brings bold, elegant flavors to the table.

To further help home cooks prepare for the busy holiday season, the National Pork Board has created the hashtag #PorkParty, which home cooks can use to easily find holiday entertaining ideas and resources on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. For more delicious inspiration, including additional mouthwatering recipes, tips and more, visit www.PorkBeInspired.com. "Like" the National Pork Board on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PorkBeInspired, follow us on Twitter @allaboutpork, on Pinterest at www.Pinterest.com/PorkBeInspired and share photos on Instagram @PorkBeInspired.

About the National Pork Board

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. Importers of pork products contribute a like amount, based on a formula. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or check the Internet at www.pork.org.

SOURCE The National Pork Board