Tagine Spice-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin w/Cinnamon-Bacon Pears

Ingredients:

12oz Pork Tenderloin (I tie up the little ends, to make the tenderloin the same size throughout)

3 Carrots, peeled and sliced 1" thick

1T. Coconut Oil

1T. Tangine Spice (recipe follows)

1/4 tsp. Sea Salt

1/2 Pear, sliced into small pieces lengthwise and then horizontally 

1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

3T. Bacon Slices*

Squeeze of Fresh Orange (about 1T.), optional
Fresh Parsley (for garnish), optional

*Remember those bacon pieces you cooked up and have sitting on your counter? You didn't eat them...did you!?

1. Preheat oven to 415F.
2. Heat an oven-proof saute pan over medium-high heat. Add coconut oil to heated pan.
3. Add carrots and toss to coat. Sprinkle with seasoning.
4. Season the pork tenderloin with spice rub and sea salt and transfer to heated pan. You'll need to move the carrots to the side of the pan, to make space in the middle for the pork.
5. Brown the pork on one side, about 5 minutes, and then flip. Transfer the pan to the preheated oven.
6. Cook the pork and carrots until done (remember that it will continue to cook once you take it out of the oven to rest), about 20 minutes. 
7. Remove the pork and carrots from the pan and set aside to rest. 
8. Move the pan to a burner and turn on the heat to medium (be careful...the pan and handle will be HOT!). Add the sliced pears and bacon pieces to the pan and sprinkle with cinnamon. If your pears aren't very sweet, add a squeeze of fresh orange juice to the pan. Cook until tender, about 7 minutes.
9. Slice the pork and serve topped with the pears. If the carrots aren't hot enough, at this point, add them to the pan, toss, and reheat, about 1 minute. 

This another recipe that I created using ingredients that I had on-hand. I think that this would be really good with yams. I'd also like to try it with blueberries, instead of pears, as was recommended by my friend, Juli. And, really...you could just use cinnamon and cayenne in place of the Tangine Spice or a little cocoa powder, cinnamon, and ancho chili powder...I just love the combination of salty bacon with the spicy-sweetness of the cinnamon and the sweetness of the fruit (in this case, pears). So, get creative. 

Tagine Spice Rub:

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons paprika 

1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric 

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom 

1 teaspoon kosher salt 

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

3/4 teaspoon ground coriander

I didn't want to fork over the money to buy a pre-made spice mix, knowing that I had all of the ingredients in my cupboard to make my own. So, I found a mix that I wanted to buy and then searched the internet for one that sounded pretty close. This is the one I found...adjust to your taste or just trust me when I say this is really good! :)