Herbed Pork and Apples

Directions

Ingredients :

1 teaspoon dried sage

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried marjoram

salt and pepper to taste

6 pounds pork loin roast

4 tart apples – peeled

cored

cut into 1 inch chunks

1 red onion

chopped

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup apple juice

⅔ cup real maple syrup

Methods :

In a small bowl, combine the sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, salt and pepper. Rub over roast. Cover, and refrigerate roast for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Place roast in a shallow roasting pan, and bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Drain fat.

In a medium bowl, mix apples and onion with brown sugar. Spoon around roast, and continue to cook for 1 hour more, or until the internal temperature of the roast is 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer the roast, apples and onion to a serving platter, and keep warm.

To make the gravy, skim excess fat from meat juices. Pour drippings into a medium heavy skillet. Stir in apple juice and syrup. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until liquid has been reduced by half, about 1 cup. Slice the roast, and serve with gravy.