Old-fashioned Sunday dinner. It brings to mind thoughts of family gathered around the table and enjoying a delicious, home-cooked meal together. Sound like a nostalgia memory that doesn’t fit into the busy lifestyles of today’s families? It is easier than you think. Pork Roast Sunday Dinner cooks in the oven while you prepare the sides.

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Mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli are comforting sides to serve with pork.  Make sweet and sour sauce to spooned over the pork. It adds so much flavor!

I have listed the meal preparation in the order I follow making best use of time. The whole meal can be made from start to serving in less than two hours.

Preparing the pork roast

Roasting time depends on the size of the pork roast you are making. Mine weighed 3.65 pounds and took a total time of 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees. After resting, tented with foil, the temperature rose to 160 degrees.

Begin by lightly brushing the roast with olive oil.

Place on a roasting rack and sprinkle on seasonings. We like lemon pepper. Go light on the salt, if using, as pork is naturally high in sodium.

Roast in a hot oven for 20 minutes; then lower temp and continue roasting .

Remove from oven and allow to rest.

Making the mashed potatoes

Once the roast is in the oven, begin the potatoes.

Cook in boiling water until tender.

Add salt, pepper, butter, sour cream and milk.

Mash to desired consistency.

4 Ingredient Sweet & Sour Sauce

This simply, four-ingredient sauce, is so easy to make and is so good with pork roast. Click sweet and sour sauce for the recipe.

Steamed broccoli

Prepare the broccoli for steaming while the pork is resting.

Wash and trim the broccoli and cut into pieces. Place in a microwave-safe bowl.

Pour water into the bowl.

Cover with a plate or plastic wrap, leaving a slight opening for steam to escape.

Microwave on high 2-5 minuted depending on how tender you prefer your broccoli. We like ours pretty crisp so 2 1/2- minutes was just right.

Sunday Dinner Pork Roast Recipe

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INGREDIENTS:

3-4 pound boneless pork loin

vegetable or olive oil

seasonings like lemon pepper or seasonings of choice

DIRECTIONS:

Set the pork loin out on the counter for half an hour prior to roasting to bring to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Brush the pork loin lightly with oil. Sprinkle on lemon pepper or seasoning of choice.

Cover the bottom of a shallow pan with foil. Place a rack in the pan. Center the pork loin on the rack with the fat side facing up.

Roast in preheated oven on the center rack for 20 minutes.

Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and continue roasting until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. It should take about 20-22 minutes per pound. Check temperature toward the end of the cooking time with a meat thermometer. My 3.65-pound roast took an hour and 10 minutes after reducing the temperature to 325 degrees F. to reach 145 degrees F. After resting, the meat thermometer read 160 degrees F.

Remove roast from oven and tent with foil. Allow to rest at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Mashed Potatoes Recipe

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Servings: 4-6 servings

2 pounds of Eastern potatoes
½ to ¾ cup of milk

1/3 sour cream
2-6 tablespoons of butter
Salt and pepper (to your taste)

DIRECTIONS:

Wash and peel the potatoes. I do not remove all of the potato peel because we like it mixed through the mashed potatoes. I usually cut off the ends and peel away only sections where needed. But, if you prefer, peel them completely.

Cut the potatoes into 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch chunks. Add to pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil.

NOTE: I do not add salt to the water when boiling. I prefer to season after the potatoes are cooked because surface salt is more discernible and I think I use less salt over all. I don’t know if this is correct science but that is what I do 🙂

Place a lid, slightly ajar on the pot, reduce the heat to a gentle boil watching so it does not boil over. Cook about 20 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender.

Carefully pour the potatoes into a colander to drain and then return to the pot. Add butter, salt and pepper and begin mashing. Add sour cream and milk; continue mashing until desired consistency, adding additional milk, if desired. Our preference is for creamy mashed potatoes with small chunks throughout.

Sweet and Sour Sauce

While the potatoes are boiling, make the sweet and sour sauce. Click Sweet and Sour Sauce for recipe.

Steamed Broccoli Recipe

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The steamed broccoli takes very little time so make it while the pork is resting.

Wash and trim the broccoli. Cut into pieces and place into a microwave-safe bowl.

Add 2-3 tablespoons of water and cover bowl with a plate or plastic wrap, allowing a small opening for steam to escape.

Microwave on high 2 minutes. Test for doneness and, if needed, microwave 1-2 minutes more.

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