(Family Features) Making the most of family meals means dishing up favorites that call loved ones together while also providing wholesome, nutritional flavor.

As part of the Powerful Pairings initiative – launched by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, National Pork Board and USA Pulses – this Lemon-Garlic Tenderloin with Warm Sorghum Salad calls for pulses, which include lentils, chickpeas dry peas, and beans; sorghum, similar to rice or quinoa filled with nutrients, texture and taste; and pork, rich in flavor, versatile and sustainable with nutritious qualities.

Combined, these three ingredients can work together in sweet and savory dishes alike, and they shine with a multitude of herbs, spices and sauces from around the world. A powerhouse nutritional trio, they include foods from the protein, vegetable and grain groups outlined in MyPlate, a template for balance, variety and moderation.

Plus, the taste and versatility of these ingredients make it easier to achieve more family meals, which promotes cohesion, communication and relationships, helping loved ones celebrate simple joys together and be more prepared for uncertainty and difficult life moments.

Visit powerfulpairings.com to find more recipes that can become family favorites at your table.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Lemon-Garlic Tenderloin with Warm Sorghum Salad

Recipe courtesy of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, National Pork Board and USA Pulses
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 70 minutes
Servings: 6 (2 ounces pork, 3/4 cup sorghum salad)

• 2          cups vegetable broth
• 2          cups water
• 1          cup whole-grain sorghum
• 2          tablespoons olive oil
• 1          tablespoon minced garlic
• 1          tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 1/2    teaspoons lemon zest
• 1/2       teaspoon salt
• 1/2       teaspoon pepper
• 1          pork tenderloin (16 ounces), trimmed of fat
• 1          medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1          cup kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2       cup dried cranberries
• 1/2       cup pecan halves

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. In medium saucepan, combine vegetable broth and water. Bring to boil. Add sorghum. Reduce heat to simmer and cook, covered, 45-60 minutes, or until tender.
2. In medium bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Drizzle half oil mixture on pork; rub in with fingers. Place pork in shallow roasting pan. Add sweet potatoes to bowl with remaining oil mixture. Toss to coat and set aside.
3. Roast pork, uncovered, 10 minutes. Arrange sweet potatoes around pork and roast 15-20 minutes, or until pork reaches 145 F internal temperature and potatoes are tender. Remove pork from pan. Cover; let stand 10 minutes.
4. Stir roasted sweet potatoes, beans, cranberries and pecan halves into cooked sorghum and heat through.
5. Slice pork tenderloin and serve with warm sorghum salad.

Nutritional information per serving: 436 calories; 15 g total fat (2 g saturated fat); 55 mg cholesterol; 369 mg sodium; 55 g total carbohydrates (8 g dietary fiber, 16 g sugars); 25 g protein; 2% vitamin D; 6% calcium; 20% iron; 20% potassium; 377 mg phosphorus (30%).

Source: USA Pulses
Pork Checkoff
Sorghum Checkoff

(Family Features) Joining loved ones at the family table is an important moment for many, both as a filling way to enjoy a meal and an emotionally satisfying way to catch up on all the day’s events. Make those moments count by combining nutritious ingredients and creating recipes that can quickly become favorites.

As part of the Powerful Pairings initiative – launched by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, National Pork Board and USA Pulses – these recipes call for pulses, which include lentils, chickpeas dry peas, and beans; sorghum, similar to rice or quinoa filled with nutrients, texture and taste; and pork, rich in flavor, versatile and sustainable with nutritious qualities.

Combined, these three ingredients can work together in sweet and savory dishes alike, and they shine with a multitude of herbs, spices and sauces from around the world. A powerhouse nutritional trio, they include foods from the protein, vegetable and grain groups outlined in MyPlate, a template for balance, variety and moderation.

Plus, the taste and versatility of these ingredients make it easier to achieve more family meals, which promotes cohesion, communication and relationships, helping loved ones celebrate simple joys together and be more prepared for uncertainty and difficult life moments.

Find more information, resources and recipes at powerfulpairings.com.

Mediterranean Grain Bowl with Pork Skewers

Recipe courtesy of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, National Pork Board and USA Pulses
Prep time: 45 minutes, plus 2 hours marinate time
Cook time: 75 minutes
Servings: 6 (1 pork skewer, 2/3 cup sorghum, 2 tablespoons hummus)

Red Lentil Hummus:

• 1 1/3    cups water
• 1/3       cup dried red lentils
• 1          tablespoon olive oil
• 1          tablespoon tahini
• 1          tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2       teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2       teaspoon cumin
• 1/4       teaspoon salt
• 1/4       teaspoon black pepper

• 12        ounces pork loin roast, trimmed of fat
• 4          tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2          teaspoons minced garlic
• 1          teaspoon lemon zest
• 1          teaspoon ground cumin
• 1          teaspoon salt
• 1/2       teaspoon black pepper
• 1          sweet onion, chopped
• 3          cups no-salt-added chicken stock
• 3/4       cup whole-grain sorghum, rinsed and drained
• 1          cup canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed, drained and dried with paper towels
• 1 1/2    cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 1          cup arugula
• 1          cup chopped cucumber
• 2/3       cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2       cup kalamata olives

1. To make Red Lentil Hummus: In small saucepan, combine water and dried red lentils; bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes, or until lentils split and become soft. Cool and transfer to food processor. Add olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, salt and black pepper; process 30-60 seconds, or until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Transfer to airtight container and store in refrigerator up to 5 days until serving time.
2. Cut pork loin into 1-inch cubes. Place in re-sealable plastic bag set in shallow dish. In small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, cumin, salt and black pepper. Pour half olive oil mixture over meat, reserving remaining half. Seal bag; turn to coat meat. Marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning bag occasionally.
3. In medium saucepan, heat remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, cook and stir 6-8 minutes, or until tender. Add stock and bring to boil. Add sorghum. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 45-60 minutes, or until sorghum is tender, stirring occasionally.
4. Preheat oven to 400 F.
5. Arrange chickpeas on foil-lined 15-by-10-by-1-inch baking pan. Drizzle with reserved olive oil mixture; toss to coat. Roast 20-30 minutes, or until chickpeas are toasted and crispy, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and increase oven to 500 F.
6. Drain meat, discarding marinade. Divide among six wooden or metal skewers. Arrange skewers on wire rack on baking sheet and bake 10 minutes, or until meat is slightly pink in center, turning once halfway through.
7. To serve, divide cooked sorghum between six shallow bowls. Top with tomatoes, arugula, cucumber, feta cheese, olives, chickpeas and Red Lentil Hummus. Serve with pork skewers.

Nutritional information per serving: 505 calories; 28 g total fat (8 g saturated fat); 14 mg cholesterol; 528 mg sodium; 43 g total carbohydrates (8 g dietary fiber, 6 g sugars); 23 g protein; 1% vitamin D; 15% calcium; 19% iron; 16% potassium; 361 mg phosphorus (29%).

Sorghum Split Pea Soup

Recipe courtesy of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, National Pork Board and USA Pulses
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 60 minutes
Servings: 6 (1 1/4 cup each)

• 1 1/2    tablespoons olive oil
• 1          onion, chopped
• 3/4       cup sliced carrots
• 3/4       cup sliced celery
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1 1/2    teaspoons minced garlic
• 6          cups no-salt-added chicken stock
• 1 1/4    cups green split peas
• 1          small ham bone
• 2/3       cup chopped ham
• 2/3       cup pearled sorghum
• 4          sprigs thyme
• 2          bay leaves
• 1 1/2    tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• chopped fresh thyme (optional)
• cracked black pepper (optional)

1. In 4-quart stock pot or large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic; season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook, stirring occasionally, 10-12 minutes, or until onion is tender. Add chicken stock, split peas, ham bone, ham, sorghum, thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 45-60 minutes, or until split peas are soft and sorghum is tender.
2. Remove ham bone, thyme sprigs and bay leaves from soup. Remove ham from bone, chop ham and return to pot. Discard bone, thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Add Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Garnish with chopped fresh thyme and cracked black pepper, if desired.

Nutritional information per serving: 336 calories; 8 g total fat (2 g saturated fat); 22 mg cholesterol; 573 mg sodium; 48 g total carbohydrates (12 g dietary fiber, 7 g sugars); 20 g protein; 3% vitamin D; 5% calcium; 17% iron; 19% potassium; 227 mg phosphorus (18%).

Lemon-Garlic Tenderloin with Warm Sorghum Salad

Recipe courtesy of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, National Pork Board and USA Pulses
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 70 minutes
Servings: 6 (2 ounces pork, 3/4 cup sorghum salad)

• 2          cups vegetable broth
• 2          cups water
• 1          cup whole-grain sorghum
• 2          tablespoons olive oil
• 1          tablespoon minced garlic
• 1          tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 1/2    teaspoons lemon zest
• 1/2       teaspoon salt
• 1/2       teaspoon pepper
• 1          pork tenderloin (16 ounces), trimmed of fat
• 1          medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1          cup kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2       cup dried cranberries
• 1/2       cup pecan halves

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. In medium saucepan, combine vegetable broth and water. Bring to boil. Add sorghum. Reduce heat to simmer and cook, covered, 45-60 minutes, or until tender.
2. In medium bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Drizzle half oil mixture on pork; rub in with fingers. Place pork in shallow roasting pan. Add sweet potatoes to bowl with remaining oil mixture. Toss to coat and set aside.
3. Roast pork, uncovered, 10 minutes. Arrange sweet potatoes around pork and roast 15-20 minutes, or until pork reaches 145 F internal temperature and potatoes are tender. Remove pork from pan. Cover; let stand 10 minutes.
4. Stir roasted sweet potatoes, beans, cranberries and pecan halves into cooked sorghum and heat through.
5. Slice pork tenderloin and serve with warm sorghum salad.

Nutritional information per serving: 436 calories; 15 g total fat (2 g saturated fat); 55 mg cholesterol; 369 mg sodium; 55 g total carbohydrates (8 g dietary fiber, 16 g sugars); 25 g protein; 2% vitamin D; 6% calcium; 20% iron; 20% potassium; 377 mg phosphorus (30%).

Source: Powerful Pairings

(Family Features) Bring your family together for a tasty dessert that’s packed with whole grains, a nutrient many Americans are missing from their diets.

According to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, most Americans fail to get enough whole grains each day, opting instead for mostly refined grains. Because whole grains keep their dietary fiber, they play a key role in keeping bodies healthy.

These Power Packed Popcorn Cookies can help you make every bite count by including an easy health hack: popcorn. As a simple option for meeting dietary recommendations, 3 cups of popcorn is equal to one serving of whole grains, meaning you can snack on it throughout the day to meet your goals or enjoy it in a sharable dish.

Find more whole-grain solutions at popcorn.org.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Power Packed Popcorn Cookies

Yield: 4 dozen cookies

•             Nonstick cooking spray
• 1/4       cup whole-wheat or all-purpose flour
• 2          teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2       teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2       teaspoon salt
• 1          stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
• 1          cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1          egg
• 1          teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1          cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/2       cup oatmeal
• 1/2       cup flaked coconut
• 3          cups popped popcorn
• 1          cup raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit, chopped
• 1/2       cup sunflower seeds or chopped nuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In small bowl, stir flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. Cream butter and brown sugar together then add egg and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour mixture, wheat germ and oatmeal until well blended. Add coconut, popcorn, raisins and sunflower seeds, if desired; mix until well blended.
4. Drop rounded teaspoons onto baking sheets with 2 inches between cookies.
5. Bake 7-8 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
6. Allow cookies to cool on pan 5 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely.

Source:  Popcorn Board

(Family Features) From backyard barbecues and family picnics to a bright addition to seasonal recipes, sweet cherries not only provide a boost of flavor but also pack a punch when it comes to nutrition, helping keep you and your family healthy during busy summer months.

Cherries can help reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure as well as relieve stress and gout, and can improve sleep quality.

The perfect time to take advantage of the goodness of Northwest-grown sweet cherries is through August. Eat fresh cherries straight out of hand as a snack, bake them into a pie or pair with ice cream for a sweet summertime treat.

The rich fruitiness of sweet cherries helps blunt the sharp edge of dried fruit in a quick and easy Cherry Sauce recipe. Low in sugar and versatile, this sauce can be used as a base ingredient for cocktails, a glaze for meats, a spread for sandwiches, a topping for yogurt and more. Add some ginger or orange peel to complement your menu and you may have a new, nutritious summer favorite. Or, for a sweet, simple snack, use cherries to make an appetizer like Cherry Bruschetta.

Find more recipes and ways to use cherries at nwcherries.com.

Cherry Sauce

Servings: 16

• 3/4       cup water
• 3/4       cup maple syrup
• 4          cups fresh Northwest-grown sweet cherries
• 4          cups dried cranberries
• 4          peels (2 inches each) fresh ginger (optional)
• 3          tablespoons citrus zest (optional)
• black pepper (optional)
• fresh herbs (optional)
• raspberries (optional)

1. In medium saucepot, add water, syrup and sweet cherries. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally and more frequently as sauce begins to form.
2. Add cranberries; continue stirring. Once reduced, remove from heat and add fresh ginger, citrus zest, black pepper, fresh herbs and raspberries, if desired.
3. Cool 30 minutes-1 hour before transferring to wider, shallow pan for speed cooling.
4. Once cooled, store refrigerated in airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Cherry Bruschetta

Servings: 6

• 18        slices (1/2-inch thick) small baguette-style bread
• 1          tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2    cups pitted Northwest fresh sweet cherries, coarsely chopped
• 1/4       cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4       cup diced yellow sweet pepper
• 2          tablespoons finely chopped green onions
• 2          tablespoons lime juice
• 1          teaspoon grated lime peel
• 1/2       teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4       teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2          ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1          tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil

1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Arrange baguette slices on cookie sheet and toast one side 5 minutes. Turn slices, brush with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and bake 5 minutes.
3. Combine cherries, cilantro, sweet pepper, green onions, lime juice, lime peel, garlic salt, pepper and remaining olive oil; mix well.
4. Top each baguette with thin slice cheese, 1 tablespoon cherry mixture and sprinkle of basil. Serve warm or cold.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Cherry Sauce)
Photo courtesy of Northwest Cherry Growers (Cherry Bruschetta)

Source: Northwest Cherry Growers