What To Make For Dinner: Pork Loin And Linzer Cookies - Recipes |

Not feeling inspired by your usual dishes? Here's what's for dinner.

Braising is one of our favorite tricks in the cooking playbook. Once you create a crisp, golden sear on the stovetop, the hands-on work is done while you wait for the meat to soak up whatever liquid it's cooking in. Braising works by breaking down collagen in the meat, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Plus, the extra liquid turns itself into a sauce with no added effort required, which—especially on a weeknight—is something to celebrate.

① Main Course: Five-Spice Pork Loin Braised with Oranges and Dried Plums

For this flavorful braise, rice vinegar and fresh orange juice make their way into a lean cut of pork loin. A fragrant five-spice rub and sweet onions round out the nuanced, Asian-inspired pork loin—and make your kitchen smell irresistible.

② Side Dish: Garlic Rice

A bed of rice absorbs every last bit of sauce. If you don't happen to have leftover rice around (double-check the refrigerator for take-out containers—you never know), cook up a batch of your favorite grain for equal results.

③ Dessert: Linzer Piggy Cookies

You had pork for dinner, so why not sneak some into dessert as well? Cookies are always the answer, especially when two buttery cookies sandwich bites of spiced bacon jam. If you have a pig-shaped cookie cutter, use it to cut the rolled dough for a helluva good swine.