Roy’s Light and Versatile Slow Cooker Cubano Pork Tenderloin (and 4 Meals You Can Make with It!)

Yield: 8 servings 2 Better Balance Bites/Blue Points

Calories 140 Fat 3.3g Carbs 3.1g Fiber 0.4g Protein 23.4g

I made this one base dish and created 4 different meals from it: a dinner, a lunch, a soup, and a breakfast! Those recipes will follow this one. I was cooking for 2, so this base recipe covered all 4 meals. You can easily cut this recipe in half or double it based on the servings you need, the size of your slow cooker, and which (if any) of the following recipes you would like to try.

Ingredients

· 2 pounds pork tenderloin (NOT loin!)

· Cooking spray, optional

· 1 Tbsp Kosher salt OR 1 1/2 tsp table salt

· 2 tsp ground cumin

· 2 tsp dried oregano

· 1 tsp ground black pepper

· 1 tsp onion powder

· 1 tsp garlic powder

· 1/4 teaspoon dried red chili flakes, optional

· 1 cup light orange juice (I used Trop 50 for 3 bites/points)

· 1 Tbsp lime juice

· 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

· 2 bay leaves

Directions

1. Trim any excess fat or silver skin from the tenderloin(s). Spray the interior of your slow cooker with cooking spray OR use a liner for easier clean-up.

2. In a small bowl, mix the salt, cumin, oregano, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili flakes, if using. Coat the tenderloin(s) with the seasoning until it is well coated. If there is any leftover, set it aside to add in with the liquids. Set the tenderloin(s) into the bottom of your slow cooker.

3. Mix together the orange juice, the lime juice, and the broth. Pour it over the pork and sprinkle over the rest of the spice mix, if there was any. Add in the bay leaves and put the lid on the slow cooker.

4. Cook on High for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or Low for 4 hours, until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.

5. Remove from the slow cooker and rest 10 minutes before slicing and using in any of the following recipes or serving as is.

6. Reserve the liquid for use in some of the recipes that follow!

Notes

· You can braise the pork on the stovetop if you prefer. Just prepare the pork and braising liquid as stated above but put everything into a large pot or Dutch oven, covered, over medium heat for about 1 1/2 hours or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.

Roy’s Light Cubano Pasta

Yield: 2 servings 5 Better Balance Bites/Blue Points

Calories 351 Fat 8g Carbs 55.6g Fiber 24.7g Protein 37.1g

Ingredients

· 4 oz of Fiber Gourmet pasta (others will alter bites/points)

· 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

· Cooking spray

· 2 servings of the Light and Versatile Slow Cooker Cubano Pork Tenderloin, diced

· 2 thin slices of low-bite/low-point ham, chopped

· 1 cup of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker

· 2 tsp Dijon mustard

· 2 wedges of Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese

· 1/3 cup of sugar-free bread & butter pickles, diced

Directions

1. Cook the pasta as directed. After 3 minutes of the pasta cooking, throw in the frozen mixed vegetables for the remainder of the cooking time. Drain the pasta and vegetables and, if not using immediately (I used the same pot to cook the rest of the dish), spray with cooking spray and toss.

2. Spray a large skillet (or use the pasta-cooking pan) with cooking spray and set over medium heat. Once the pan is heated, add in the pork, ham, cooking liquid, mustard, and cheese wedges. Heat until the cheese has melted into the liquid and it is starting to bubble. Turn off the heat.

3. Add in the pickles and the pasta/veggie mix and stir to coat everything in the sauce. Let it sit, covered, for a few minutes to warm the additions, then serve.

Roy’s Light Cubano Sandwich

Yield: 2 servings 5 Better Balance Bites/Blue Points

Calories 241 Fat 5.8g Carbs 17g Fiber 2.5g Protein 31.1g

Ingredients

· 4 slices low-bite/low-point bread (I used Sara Lee 45)

· 2 tsp Dijon mustard

· 2 wedges of Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese

· 2 servings of the Light and Versatile Slow Cooker Cubano Pork Tenderloin, sliced

· 12 sugar-free bread & butter pickles, diced

· 2 thin slices of low-bite/low-point ham

· Black pepper, to taste

· Cooking spray

Directions

1. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat while you assemble the sandwiches.

2. To assemble the sandwiches, spread 1/2 a wedge of cheese one each slice of bread. Add 1/2 tsp mustard to each slice and spread it all over the cheese. Set two slices of bread aside. On each of the other two slices, lay out half the pork, 6 pickles, and a slice of ham. Add pepper, if using. Lay the other slice of bread on top and press down to compact them.

3. Spray the hot pan with cooking spray and carefully add the sandwiches. With your spatula, frequently press down on the sandwich as it cooks. Once the first side has browned, about 2-3 minutes, carefully flip the sandwich and press down on the sandwich frequently with the spatula as it cooks to compact it. Once browned, about another 2-3 minutes, remove from the pan, cut in half, and enjoy!

Roy’s Light Cubano Soup

Yield: 2 servings 3 Better Balance Bites/Blue Points

Calories 224 Fat 6.2g Carbs 4g Fiber 1.6g Protein 37g

Ingredients

· Cooking spray

· 2 servings of the Light and Versatile Slow Cooker Cubano Pork Tenderloin, diced

· 2 thin slices of low-bite/low-point ham, chopped

· 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

· 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker

· 1 tsp Dijon mustard

· 2 wedges of Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese

· 12 sugar-free bread & butter pickles, diced

· 4-5 oz. pkg. of Konjac rice, drained and rinsed (regular rice will alter the points)

Directions

1. Spray a medium pot with cooking spray and set it over medium heat. Once heated, add the pork and ham, stirring frequently to warm the meat, about 3 minutes.

2. Add the broth, cooking liquid, mustard, cheese, and pickles. Heat through, stirring frequently, until the cheese wedges have melted into the soup, about 5 minutes.

3. Add in Konjac (or regular) rice, cook another 3-4 minutes, then serve.

Roy’s Light Cubano Omelet

Yield: 2 servings 3 Better Balance Bites/Blue Points

Calories 354 Fat 17.3g Carbs 3.4g Fiber 0g Protein 42.2g

Ingredients

· Cooking spray

· 2 servings of the Light and Versatile Slow Cooker Cubano Pork Tenderloin, diced or shredded

· 2 thin slices of low-bite/low-point ham, chopped

· 2 tsp Dijon mustard

· 2 wedges of Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese

· 12 sugar-free bread & butter pickles, diced

· 5 large eggs, room temperature

· 2 Tbsp of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Spray a small frying pan with cooking spray and set it over medium heat. Once heated, add the pork, ham, mustard, and cheese. Heat through, stirring frequently, until the cheese is melted. Turn off the heat, add the pickles, and leave the pan on the hot burner to keep warm.

3. Add eggs and cooking liquid to a bowl. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat on high speed until frothy and eggs have tripled in size, about 2 minutes.

4. Spray a 10-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over medium heat. Once heated, add egg mixture and cook without disturbing it just until edges are nearly set, about 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle half of the pork mixture on top and transfer to oven. Bake until eggs are set and edges are beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes.

5. Carefully remove the pan from oven (handle will be very hot). Sprinkle the remaining filling on top, then tilt the pan, and, with a rubber spatula, push half of the omelet onto a cutting board. Tilt skillet so the omelet folds over itself to form a half-moon. Cut the omelet in half and serve.