Chocolate Pork? Yep, it is good.

Found this recipe at my mom's over the weekend. Cocoa and pork? I read all these savory chocolate recipes and think it sounds strange, but why not? So, I tried it. It was pretty darn good. Hubby didn't know it had chocolate till I told him. The cocoa gives the pork and the gravy/sauce a nice dark color and flavor, but it is not sweet.

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pork/smoky-braised-pork-shoulder-2011/

I used a pork tenderloin, because that is what I could find at Trader Joe's, and I wasn't making multiple stops this week.  I also cooked it in a crockpot, because fits my lifestyle right now.  It turned out great. I did strain the juices and cook them down on the stove to make a thicker sauce to go over the pork.  I think that the pork loin was too dry, and I would rather have had a bone-in pork shoulder, but with the sauce it still turned out nice. 

Here is a picture of the Smoky Cocoa Pork, with some broccoli and sweet potatoes.  Sweet Potatoes already cut into "fries" at Trader Joe's are an awesome time saver.  I just sauteed these with lots of coconut oil, broccoli and some Mango Chutney that I tossed in at the end for some flavor.