Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Stuffed Pork over Pasta with Saute Spinach

Sun dried tomatoes are not a new ingredient for me. I love using them to brighten dishes and salads. I have recently started buying them without the oil. I can definitely tell the difference in color, texture and freshness. I remove them from the package and reconstitute them in olive oil, I prefer the Spanish Olive Oil from Krogers. Then store them in an air tight jar in the pantry. They will then last for up to six months, if you don't use them before then. 
I love to experiment with different ingredients for the thick cut pork chops. We have tried anything from sweet (apples and raisins) to savory (spinach and mozzarella). This dish is, hands down, my favorite. I paired it with sauteed onions, pine nuts, sun dried tomato and spinach pasta. I hope you will enjoy this as much as we did. 

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

2 cups fresh basil
2 cups fresh parsley
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
1 garlic clove
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp kosher salt
Oil from the sun dried tomatoes



-->Puree all ingredients in a food processor except the oil. 
-->While machine is running, slowly drizzle the oil from the sun dried tomatoes to create constancy desired. 

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Stuffed Pork over Pasta with Saute Spinach

1lb Pork Roast, fileted
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
Gluten Free Pasta, cooked per package
1 Container Baby Spinach
1/2 cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
1/4 cup Pine Nuts
1/2 cup Yellow Onions, sliced
2 Slices Bacon, diced
Juice of 1 Lemon
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1/2 Parmesan Cheese



-->Preheat oven to 375*, line baking pan with parchment paper. 
-->Spread sun dried tomato pesto on filet pork roast, roll and secure with bakers twine. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice (reserve half the lemon for the pasta.) Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 145*F.
-->While the pork roast is baking, render the bacon in a large skillet over med-hi heat. Remove bacon from pan.
-->Saute onions, pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes until onions soft. Add cooked pasta, spinach, and lemon juice to pan. Mix together with salt and pepper until spinach starts to wilt. Remove from heat and add cheese. 
-->Remove pork from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. 
-->Enjoy with a glass of white wine. Happy Eating!