Last night I saw an interview of a man who has lots of prestigious writing awards for his short stories. He was being asked in his interview, why short stories? Why not novels? He explained a short story is when a girl gets on a train and a man has one sentence to tell her he loves her. A novel is how the two met. Who he is. Who she is. Does she love him back?
Hearing him talk about short stories made me love them more. They are really powerful. He said by the end you should be crying or laughing, but either way, a good short story produces a strong emotion by the last word.
Jalapeno Pork Medallions & Black Bean Salad
Serves 3-4
1 and 1/2 pounds pork loin
1 teaspoon ground chili powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
3 tablespoons olive oil
30 ounces black beans
1 avocado, cubed
1/2 cup cilantro
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno
2 limes
Salt & pepper
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Season pork loin with chili powder, red pepper flakes, paprika, cumin, salt & pepper, and olive oil.
Roast pork for 40-50 minutes on a rimmed baking sheet. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss together black beans, avocado, cilantro, scallions, jalapeno, and juice of 1 lime. Slice pork into medallions and serve with bean salad, tortilla chips, and remaining lime wedges.
- 1 and ½ pounds pork loin
- 1 teaspoon ground chili powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 30 ounces black beans
- 1 avocado, cubed
- ½ cup cilantro
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeno
- 2 limes
- Salt & pepper
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Season pork loin with chili powder, red pepper flakes, paprika, cumin, salt & pepper, and olive oil.
- Roast pork for 40-50 minutes on a rimmed baking sheet. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss together black beans, avocado, cilantro, scallions, jalapeno, and juice of 1 lime.
- Slice pork into medallions and serve with bean salad, tortilla chips, and remaining lime wedges.
Modified from Real Simple.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmm. I’m not feeling that short story. I have more than one pair of baby shoes that were given to me, but I didn’t like them, or didn’t get a chance to use them. I would totally sell them. I think I would feel more with something like “For sale: Wedding dress. Never worn.” Because why would someone buy a wedding dress and not wear it? And why would they be ridding themselves of it if it hadn’t been used? I guess I’m not a short story kind of girl, because I want all the details and back story before I let myself get sucked in. Haha!
Good luck in your new apartment!
Thanks so much! I think it’s meant to make the reader think the baby passed away during while being born and the sad experience of a mom selling the shoes she bought for her baby.