BaffinPaddler Easy Make Pork Tenderloin Stew Recipe

OK, the time has come to feed the hungry paddler who needs to warm the belly and likely other parts after a spring paddle in the North. Maybe the gear got wet one way or another, the wind picked up, and it was a rigorous paddle. Back home, or resting on a shoreline for a break, a hot and hearty meal is gonna feel good.

When I first started the BaffinPaddler blog two years ago, a paddler/kayak instructor asked me, "What's your blog about? Recipes?"

I thought that was a funny remark coming from a guy to a girl paddler with a paddle blog!

I like spending as little time in the kitchen as possible and even less time doing dishes. The BaffinPaddler outdoor, paddle, and travel blog is not about recipes, but what the heck, maybe we can throw in a few once in a while.

Paddlers need to eat. Paddlers love to eat. Some even like to cook.

So here goes, a simple, easy to make hearty pork tenderloin stew with veggies and potatoes to pop into your wide-mouth thermos for a great hot lunch on those chilly spring paddles, or to enjoy at home!

You'll have to judge quantities of ingredients depending on how many people you want to feed or how many days you want to eat leftovers. I just made this recipe up one day with what I found in my kitchen. It's the best way to cook sometimes! And it was great. 

Easy Make Pork Tenderloin Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

Pork tenderloin (or substitute with chicken or your favourite tofu brand)
Chicken broth (organic, low sodium or homemade stock is best)
Carrots
Broccoli
Mushrooms
Yellow potatoes (peeled)
Corn starch (to thicken the gravy)
Garlic (optional)
Soy sauce (optional)
Pepper (to your taste)

• Wash and cut all of the veggies and potatoes into bite size chunks.
• Cut pork tenderloin into bite size pieces and stir fry the meat at a high enough heat to brown it in olive oil or a cooking oil of your choice.
• Add some chopped garlic if you like and sautee gently with the meat. Don't burn.
• Add the chopped carrots and potatoes.
• Add enough chicken broth so half of the mixture is gently swimming in the broth, cover and simmer this mixture at a low to medium heat until the carrots and potatoes are tender. Don't boil.
• Add the broccoli and mushrooms last. Simmer for a few minutes until they soften.
• Take a cup or a small bowl and add one teaspoon of corn starch to a small amout of cool water, soy sauce or chicken or vegetable stock and mix well. No lumps.
• Slowly add and stir in the corn starch mixture to create a light gravy and glaze in the stew.
• Stir gently and wait a few minutes to see how the gravy thickens. 
• If you like the consistency of the gravy, serve. The trick is to make a light gravy that is brothy, not thick and pasty. If you want a thicker gravy, go slowly to add more corn starch mixture to the pot. 
• Salt and pepper to taste. You can even add a splash or two of Soy Sauce for more colour and taste.

Just a note. When I cook I do tie up my hair. It's never out and about like it is at the top of this blog post photo. And I usually don't have a cameraman on hand whose reflection shows up in the shiny toaster behind me. But I do smile when all the work is done and it's time to eat or fill up the thermos and head out to paddle! 

March in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec) has been prone to extremes. We had a few days of beautiful summer-like weather in the 20's Celsius (70's Fahrenheit) last week and a quick spring thaw. We thought winter was over, but the North winds picked up last night and we are suddenly back to below zero temperatures.

Happy spring paddles!
Stay warm and safe.
The BaffinPaddler

Camelot Island Neighbors

Valley Sea Kayaks on Camelot Island, 1000 Islands, Ontario. Canada

Here's a little exploration of neighbors. Having neighbors and being a neighbor. Don't you just love it . . . ?

Camelot Island Neighbors is a story from the perspective of a sea kayaker (me) on an island in the 1000 Islands off Gananoque, Ontario, Canada, kayak camping for the first time with the Boreal Baffin sea kayak last August with a group of paddlers from Ottawa, Ontario.

This trip really made me start to think about neighbors and the neighborhood. You can relate I'm sure. You have neighbors and you are a neighbor too.

My next story about kayak camping on Camelot Island in the 1000 Islands is up on The Great Waterway, a cool new Ontario Tourism website where I'm a regular blogger.

You can check it out if you like:
Camelot Island Neighbors: My first kayak camping trip with the Boreal Baffin. Awesome!

For more about the Camelot Island neighborhood visit:

Setting up Camp on Camelot

What's this all about?
Read about the BaffinPaddler on The Great Waterway

It's spring thaw around here in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario/Gatineau, Quebec). Time to get out and paddle soon and plan a few trips to somewhere new!

Enjoy your trip planning.
Happy paddles!
(C) The BaffinPaddler

Maine Events: Giving Berth

“OK, you go first. I’ll wait.” I give wide berth to the tall ships.

Sometimes I find this a tricky call in wide open spaces when a big boat looks far away, and I can’t judge its speed or set path.

“Can we make it?”

When paddle buddies and guides respond, “I think so . . .”, it gives me an adrenalin rush of the worst kind!

Crossing boat channels and wide open spaces when you’re the littlest guy makes me feel better when we travel in bright coloured pods.

When in doubt, we wait and take a pic instead. Notice all the pics? There's a lot of waiting and wondering what to do sometimes.

Sitting still isn't always the best option either. You're harder to see. The movement of the paddle blade is often the first thing people spot on a moving kayak in the distance.

But a barrage of fast moving lobster boats going this way and that are another story. How do you figure out this crossing now?

Look at all the lobster buoys scattered everywhere in the Deer Isle Archipelago off Stonington, Maine.

Last August while on an ocean front camping trip at Old Quarry Adventures to paddle with Maine paddle buddies, I bumped into so many lobster buoys in spots where they were unreasonably dense. They litter the water in so many places.

Sounds funny not to be able to avoid lobster buoys easily when you have good boat control and know strokes. I couldn't believe it myself. Add a little wind and waves, and you may misjudge how to dodge them too. "Geez! I hit another one!"

It doesn't cause any harm or damage if you gently bump into them with a kayak, yet I became annoyed with the exercise and the bumps. But, I noticed I got better at dodging them on my second day out. How do the big boats navigate through all that clutter?

A parked boat is a happy boat! I love it when they aren’t moving!

What’s this all about?
See the first Maine Events

Or check out the series of Maine Events in the February 2012 Archive of this blog. Find the Archive in the right column.

Happy and safe paddles!
(c) The BaffinPaddler
http://baffinpaddler.blogspot.com

Maine Events: Beautiful Crossroads

 Spending time at a beautiful crossroads on the way to Stonington, Maine, USA in August with the Maelstrom Vital 166 and Maelstrom Vaag 174 sea kayaks. Have you ever been there?

Ever wonder how you get where you’re going sometimes . . .

Paddle Partner:  “Now what? Which way is the right way?”

Me: “Left is right.”

Paddle Partner: “What!”

Me: “The right way is left.”

Paddle Partner: “Are you sure?”

Me: “Yes.”

Paddle Partner: “How do you know?”

Me: “I’m navigator! I’m looking at a MAP! Turn LEFT!”

Paddle Partner: “Yeah, but . . . what if you’re wrong?”

Me: “Then go any way you wish. We’ll end up somewhere, just maybe not STONINGTON!”

Paddle Partner: “I think I’ll go left.”

When you spend a lot of time in the same place, there must be a reason

This was a beautiful crossroads en route to Stonington, Maine to paddle the Deer Isle Archipelago last summer with Maine paddle buddies.

Worth spending a little extra time to linger there using whatever excuse you need to savour it longer.

If you find yourself at this beautiful crossroads with two awesome sea kayaks strapped on top of the car – you’re going the RIGHT way.

The right way is LEFT! You’re on your way to Stonington!

What’s this all about?
See the first Maine Events

Or check out the series of Maine Events in the February 2012 Archive of this blog. Find the Archive in the right column. And more to come in March. I "ain't" done yet!

After Maine Events are finished, I may start having a few "Dack Attacks". What are they? Stick around to find out sooner than later.

Enjoy the ride!
The BaffinPaddler