Braised Pork Roast With Apple-Brandy Sauce

1. 1

   Unroll roast; trim fat. Combine sage, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; rub inside surface of roast with one-third of sage mixture. Reroll roast, securing at 1-inch intervals with heavy string. Rub outside surface of roast with remaining sage mixture.

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 425u00b0.

3. 3

   Place a large Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add roast; brown on all sides. Remove roast from pan; set aside. Melt margarine in pan. Add onion and celery, and saute 5 minutes. Return roast to pan. Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, apple juice, applejack, and broth; pour over roast.

4. 4

   Insert a meat thermometer into thickest portion of roast. Cover and bake at 425u00b0 for 20 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 325u00b0 (do not remove roast from oven), and bake 30 minutes. Add apple; cover and bake an additional 30 minutes or until meat thermometer registers 160u00b0 (slightly pink). Remove roast from pan, reserving cooking liquid. Place roast on a platter; cover with foil. Let stand 10 minutes.

5. 5

   Combine water and cornstarch, and stir into reserved cooking liquid. Bring mixture to a boil, and cook 1 minute or until sauce is slightly thick. Serve sauce with pork.

6. 6

   Note: Use 1 cup apple juice concentrate and omit apple brandy, if desired.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.