What to do on a sunny yet temperate Sunday halfway up the eastern seaboard? Cook out of course! Andrea, Kirsten and Christopher planned up an afternoon cook out to celebrate their parents’ birthdays. I didn’t do any of the planning or much of the preparation, but I usually end up either smoking or grilling something, and this wasn’t going to be the exception.
The main course was to be four pork tenderloins, rubbed, marinated, and smoked. Andrea made it easy on me by doing all the preparation, including the rub and the marinade, so all I did was set up and operate the smoker. I was concerned such a lean cut as a pork tenderloin would dry out, so I smoked it much faster than I would have done with meat with more connective tissue and fat, for example ribs. I also liberally basted the tenderloins about every half hour throughout. It turned out pretty well, with a spicy rub and a sweet sauce to spread on top.
Christopher grilled some bratwursts which were also popular. Andrea made what’s becoming our signature sweet potato salad and two cakes, a mississippi mud cake and Fat Cyclist’s Best Cake Ever. Kirsten made a yummy cole slaw that went really well with the pork tenderloin, and her roomate brought salad. It was quite a spread and of course we had leftovers, so I’m off to eat some of them for lunch!