First up are the IKEA Mix of Grains packets ($3.49). There are two flavors available – the first which I tried is a whole grain with dried porcini mushrooms and spices and the second is a mix of garlic, lemon, jalapeno and lingonberry.
These whole grain mixes are super easy to use – just a cup of water plus the grains and you’re done. You bring the liquid to a boil and then leave it set for 10 minutes. As I was cooking it – I wanted to add a little more moisture so I added probably another 1/2 cup of chicken broth. That’s a great tip too – if you’re cooking rice/grains and think they’re too bland – use chicken broth instead of water – it adds just a bit of extra flavor for you.
This is a great healthy side dish alternative to rice, pasta or potatoes – there’s so much nutrition it’s ridiculous! Also what I love is there’s no chemicals or anything you can’t pronounce – simple good ingredients.
To go along with my whole grains – I cooked up a small pork loin. The easiest thing to do with a pork loin is grab your favorite seasoning mix (this one is Colonel De’s Garlic Goodness) and rub it all over the pork loin. I let that rest for a bit while I prepped my veggies.
A simple way to cook veggies is to roast them – you just throw them on sheet pan – making sure they’re all about the same size or consistency – and sprinkle them with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast them at 425 for 20 minutes – maybe a little less for soft veggies like these and a little more for things like potatoes. Roasting at a high heat really locks in all that veggie flavor and yet adds a nice crispy texture to them. So delicious!
With my pork loin – I used a pan that can go from stove top to oven. So I seared the pork on all four sides first and then popped it in the oven.
I checked on it after a bit – always check your temp on pork and chicken – with pork you want a touch of pink on the inside and that comes at 155 degrees. So this wasn’t quite done – it just needed a few more minutes. The nice thing was – it was in the oven with the veggies – so it was easy to get it all done at the same time.
And there you have a well-balanced meal packed with nutrition and the IKEA PS Whole Grain Mix was the start of it!
The pork was juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside – that’s because I seared it before I put it in the oven – that is the key! Then I topped the whole grains with the roasted veggies and it really was a wonderful combo. The whole grain mix had porcini mushrooms so just adding a few more mushrooms in was a great addition.
The PS Collection also has these new drink mixes ($4.99) with three flavors and something they call Bacillus coagulans. There are 1 BILLION of these per serving of the drink mix. Now – what is it? Well – short explanation: it’s a probiotic that is good for you. Long explanation – go here.
They also have these cute cups in their PS Collection that I just loved! They come in hot pink or navy and are $5.99 each. It’s got a silicone sleeve and lid so it can be used for hot or cold drinks.
I love that IKEA gives you insight as to why they designed things – here are the designer thoughts that created this glass cup:
”I wanted to make a simple cup, the kind that you really want to take everywhere so I drew inspiration from regular paper cups and used the benefits to create a cup that’s kinder to our environment. The result became IKEA PS 2017 cup with lid. It’s made from durable glass, with a sleeve that keeps you from burning your fingers. This is a cup to keep by your side, whether you’re at home or at the office, on the go or taking it easy.” – Designer Iina Vuorivirta
These drink mixes are really good – my favorite is the raspberry but they’re all good.The other thing I like is that they’re not overly sweet – you really feel like you’re drinking something with some bang for the buck and not just a Kool-aid for grown ups.
I hope you’ve enjoyed your peek into the new IKEA PS Collection and be sure to stop out and check it out – I’m seriously obsessed. I already got this cool lamp and I have a feeling these hot pink candlesticks are next!
Roasted Pork & Veggies with IKEA Whole Grain Mix
– pork loin
– favorite seasoning mix
– broccoli & mushrooms, sliced
– olive oil
– salt & pepper
– IKEA Whole Grain Mix
– 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
– Preheat oven to 425
– Rinse off your pork loin and pat dry with a paper towel
– Rub the seasoning mix all over the pork loin and let rest
– Spread your broccoli & mushrooms on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper
– Heat oven-proof skillet with olive oil and sear pork loin on all sides
– Once pork loin is seared, pop the skillet into the oven along with your sheet of vegetables
– Roast for 20-25 minutes (might want to take the veggies out a bit before your pork)
– While pork & veggies are roasting, heat chicken broth on stove in a small pan and add the IKEA Whole Grain Mix
– Once liquid is boiling, turn off burner and put the lid on
– Check the temp on the pork to be sure it’s 155 degrees (no more! don’t dry it out!)
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