One of the most frequent cooking questions I answer is regarding safe meat cooking temperatures. Over the past ten years, the recommendation for pork cooking temp has changed and there’s been a bit of confusion. So, this is a great time to review – and to share one of our favorite pork roast recipes once more!

Pork Internal Temp

145°F with a 3-minute rest provides the optimal eating experience and is the minimum safe internal pork cooking temperature provided by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

I can not encourage you enough to take the time to learn how to use a meat thermometer. (This is an easy-to-use digital thermometer at a great price.) Once you’ve tried cooking pork to medium-rare or medium, the difference in taste, texture, and flavor just might blow your mind.

Pork Cook Temp

The recommended cooking temperature for pork used to be 160°F; for every cut, for every single type of pork. Now, thanks to all of the biosecurity measures and the animal health issues that are of so much importance in the pork industry, we have healthier and safer pork to eat at lower temperatures.

This means that we can safely eat pork cooked to a juicy and never dried out 145°F. And THAT, my friends, is delicious pork.

Per The National Pork Board, the recommendation for cooking pork chops, pork roasts, and tenderloin is an internal pork temp of 145° F, followed by a three-minute rest.

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Holiday Pomegranate and Asparagus Salad

This delicious asparagus salad recipe is a refreshing and healthy addition to any holiday meal. Tossed with pomegranate arils and fresh oranges, it is the perfect balance of flavors and textures.

I’m always trying to find new ways to use asparagus because it’s pretty much the best vegetable ever. Don’t you think? It tastes so good! So I experimented with some fresh holiday flavors and colors and created this festive holiday salad.

Serve this side dish alongside your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast and it will be a bright burst of fresh flavor at your holiday meal. The asparagus, orange wedges and pomegranate are such a tasty trio. You’re going to love it!

What Do I Need to Make Pomegranate Asparagus Salad

Sometimes salads have tons of different ingredients, and sometimes salads are just a few perfectly paired ingredients. This salad recipe is the latter and this is all you will need:

• Asparagus
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt and Black Pepper
• Orange
• Pomegranate Arils
• Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola Cheese
• Butter
• Panko Breadcrumbs
• Balsamic Glaze

The measurements needed of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Substitutions for Blue Cheese

I know there are strong feelings out there about blue cheese, or other strong cheeses like gorgonzola. If you are opposed, go with feta cheese or even parmesan cheese would be a great option.

How to Make Asparagus Pomegranate Salad

You’re just a few simple steps away from a bold holiday salad that will be talk of your family gathering. Here are basic steps:

1. Roast: Place the asparagus spears on a sheet pan and toss them with olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast under the broiler for a few minutes, rotating as needed.
2. Cool: Don’t overcook the asparagus. You want it to have some crispiness left to it. Remove it from the oven and let it cool.
3. Toast: Melt a tablespoon of butter in a small sauté pan and then add the Panko bread crumb. Let them get toasty brown stirring as needed. Then let it cool completely.
4. Toss: Slice the asparagus into bite-sized pieces and toss with the orange segments, orange zest, blue cheese and pomegranate seeds in a large bowl.
5. Drizzle: Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze and top with the toasted Panko. Serve and enjoy!

These instructions can also be found in the recipe card down below so keep scrolling for all the details.

What to Eat with Holiday Asparagus Salad

While this salad would be great any time of year, I envision eating it during the holiday season so here are some ideas for what to serve it with:

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Hot Honey Pear and Brie Mini Appetizers

Impress your guests with this simple and irresistible appetizer – hot honey roasted pear and baked brie in puff pastry with prosciutto. Follow our easy recipe and enjoy the perfect blend of creamy brie cheese, flaky puff pastry, and sweet and savory toppings.

I have been obsessed with our roasted pear salad, so I based these mini baked brie appetizers on the flavors in that salad. I pretty much roast pears in the oven constantly or brown them in a skillet for seriously everything including just on cottage cheese or oatmeal for breakfast. It is the most delicious thing ever!

I know that hot honey is all the rage right now, and it should be! It is the secret ingredient in this appetizer recipe that just sends the flavor through the roof. I can’t wait for you to try this one! Great for New Years Eve, game day, a bridal shower…ideal for any occasion!

Ingredients for Roasted Pear and Brie Appetizers

This recipe looks and sounds so fancy, but it’s so simple! All you have to do is roast some pears and everything else is ready to assemble. Here is your grocery list:

• Pear: Bartlett, Anjou or any pear you love works great
• Olive Oil: helps roast the pears
• Salt: enhances the pear flavor
• Puff Pastry: just buy it pre-made at the store usually by the pie crusts
• Brie: grab it in your deli section, you can buy a large wheel of brie or small wheels because they will get cubed
  • You can leave the rind on or remove it.
• Egg and Water: makes an egg wash to help the puff pastry get crispy and golden
• Prosciutto: you can find it in the specialty meats section of the grocery store or ask at the deli counter
• Thyme: fresh is preferred and chop it slightly
• Hot Honey: my favorite brand is Savannah Bee Company brand over Mike’s and Nate’s

The details for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

What is Brie?

Brie is a soft, buttery and creamy cheese that originated in France. It is off-white in color and made from cow’s milk. It is rich, fruity and earthy in flavor.

How to Make Puff Pastry Appetizers

The crispy puff pastry creates a cup that holds the melty brie, roasted pears, salty prosciutto with a burst of herby freshness from the thyme and a sweet heat from the hot honey. It’s the perfect combination of textures and flavors!

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Roast: Slice the pear th

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Instead of sharing Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals with you this year (and potentially buying all sorts of things I don’t even need!), I’m hoping you’ll join me in helping feed the hungry this holiday season.

How many families could we feed if we work together to donate what we can? For every dollar donated through Feeding America 10 meals are provided – TEN meals, my friends, that is no small thing. We are all in the presence of hunger, seen or unseen, and even a dollar or two can make a difference. If we hit our goal of $50,000, together we will provide 500,000 meals!

Today, I’m grateful for a fridge filled with leftovers and praying that together we will be able to help feed as many families as possible through the holiday season. Barefeet In The Kitchen will match all donations made to Feeding America through this link, up to $25,000. 

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: What Does Hunger Mean To You? I shared a bit of my own story and my gratefulness for charity food boxes while growing up. The gift of food is something I will never take for granted.

Leftover turkey? Creamy turkey green chile soup is loaded to the brim with chunks of leftover turkey and roasted green chile. 

And this leftover turkey pot pie takes the remaining turkey and makes excellent use of it. It has become one of our favorite recipes for using up those leftovers.

Leftover ham? Savory ham meatballs are coated in a thick, sticky, sweet and sour glaze and then baked in the oven until piping hot and irresistible. You know those foods that stick in your memory? These ham balls are one of those recipes.

With a rich ham flavor and a balanced combination of potatoes, leeks, and split peas, this slow cooker ham and split pea soup is a very pleasant surprise.

Tender bites of steak, spicy sausage, five different varieties of beans, tomatoes, and green chili add up to an irresistible steak chili that is a family favorite all winter long. Does anything smell better in the fall than a spicy pot of chili simmering on the stove?

Butter braised cabbage seasoned perfectly with salt and pepper is one of the simplest yet tastiest side dishes you can make. I could happily make and ea

I know we all scream for ice cream, but Ice Cream Nachos scream “Party!” Waffle cone chips topped with ice cream and your favorite sundae toppings are a guaranteed hit.

Ice Cream Nachos

As soon as my brother mentioned his idea for ice cream nachos, I immediately began dreaming about them. I’m here to tell you that ice cream nachos delivered everything that I imagined!

This is a very loose “recipe,” friends. You’ll need the following ingredients and they can all be adjusted to your tastes:

Waffle cones + ice cream + all of your favorite toppings

Dessert Nachos

It’s no secret here that I love ice cream. In fact, I have more than 140+ ice cream recipes here, any of which would be perfect for our nachos.

This is the perfect recipe to tailor to your personal tastes and what you have on hand. I’ve made nachos with all the traditional ice cream flavors for a banana split, but you can go as wild with it as you like.

I’m thinking about doing the next batch of ice cream nachos with peanut butter ice cream, spicy dark chocolate, and caramel ice cream. You could do a chocolate lover’s dream nachos using chocolate waffle cones, chocolate ice cream, hot fudge sauce, and chocolate whipped cream!

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