Cook for a Cause – Ways to Give Back as a Family

Don’t forget tonight’s twitter party!!! Download your recipes to enter to win $10o giftcard to your grocery store or some adorable lunch kits!

Make Monday night Grilling Night! Pork cuts like chops or pork tenderloin are easy to fire up and can go from grate-to-table in less than 30 minutes. Try America’s Favorite Pork Chops tonight. Marinate pork chops with Italian dressing and a dash of Worcestershire sauce for about 20 minutes (or start them the night before when you have more time). Then, toss the chops on the grill and enjoy with sliced tomatoes in vinaigrette, broccoli spears and garlic mashed potatoes.
Once dinner’s served, use the table time to talk to kids about what it means to “give back.” Below are some dinnertime talking points to get the conversation started.

• Support Food Banks: There’s no better time than mealtime to talk about how to help the hungry. For an easy start, visit TheOtherWhiteMeat.com to “click for a cause”. Starting September 20-26, for each recipe printed or shared within the special National Eat Together Week section of the Web site, America’s pork producers will donate five pounds of pork to a food bank in need.

• Volunteer to Help Those in Need: Identify a local soup kitchen in the area where the family can volunteer. Ask the kids why serving food to those in need is important to trigger their desire to get involved.

• Kid-friendly Kindness: Ask each child to list a task they can easily complete – raking leaves, visiting with an older neighbor, helping a sibling – and challenge them to complete it as a kindess for someone else by the end of National Eat Together Week.

Cook Once, Eat Twice

Today kicks off National Eat Together Week and we are getting so excited about our twitter party on Monday night! Today is the first day that you can start downloading recipes to donate five pounds of pork (or about 25 meals) to a food bank in need which also gets you qualified to enter to win a $100 giftcard!

Here is a great Sunday meal to get you started! You have to go to TheOtherWhiteMeat.com to download the recipe!

Cook Once, Eat Twice

Planning a Sunday dinner that provides enough leftovers for a second meal on Monday saves time for any busy family. Purchasing larger cuts of pork, such as pork shoulder or a roast, can be a cost-saver too.

Recipe #1
Peppered Pork Roast: When looking for a quick and easy recipe, dry rubs are a convenient way to add flavor fast. A seasoned pepper rub on pork loin roasts packs a punch. Serve with mashed potatoes and buttered corn to complete the meal.

Recipe #2
Caribbean Pork and Mango Salad: Slice yesterday’s leftover roast and toss with mixed greens, black beans, red onion, mango and fruit-flavored vinaigrette dressing. It’s a delicious lunch, or for a dinner, pair it with cornbread muffins.