God Save the Child, Ch. 8

This is the highlight of a meal Spenser cooked for Susan on their very first date.  

Short crust (see below)
1 1/2 lb Pork tenderloin
1/2 tsp thyme
black pepper
dill
1 egg white

Prepare and roll out the crust. Put tenderloin in center, sprinkle with thyme, grind some black pepper, dust with dill. Roll the crust carefully around it, sealing the seam and ends well. Put in a lightly greased roasting pan seam side down, brush top of crust with egg white.

Cook at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 155 to 160 degrees. Remove from oven and let rest for ten minutes before carving. Cut half of it into quarter-inch slices and arrange on a serving platter. Pass Cumberland sauce in a gravy boat.

Serve with a chilled red wine.

Short Crust:
1 1/2 cups flour 
1/2 cup shortening 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
4 to 5 tablespoons cold water 

In the food processor, combine flour, salt, and butter. Process 10 seconds, add the water a little at a time and process until the mixture looks like cornmeal. Gather the dough into a ball and flatten it.

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Sift together the flour and salt. Cut in the shortening with a pastry-blender or blending fork till pieces are the size of small peas. To make pastry extra tender and flaky, divide shortening in half. Cut in first half till mixture looks like corn meal. Then cut in remaining half till pieces are the size of peas. Add the water a tablespoon at a time and mix in with a fork.

Gather the dough into a ball and flatten it. Lightly flour the board and rolling pin. Roll the pastry into an oblong, from the center outwards, until it is about 1/4 inch thick.