Rolled Pork Loin Stuffed with Apricots and Prunes

This is a wonderful dish to serve at Christmas. It highlights dried fruits as well as a rich sauce made with port. The roast can be served on a platter lined with fresh spinach leaves and orange slices, and it is lovely to carve at table. Your butcher will usually prepare the roast if you order early and take your marinated fruit in to them for the stuffing.

2 kg		boned pork loin
2 Tbs		butter
2 Tbs		vegetable oil
20		prunes, dried, pitted
6		apricots, dried, halved
6 Tbs		brandy
1 cup		beef stock
1.5 cups		port
.25 cups		cream, thickened
3 Tbs		currant jelly
2 Tbs		orange juice
4 Tbs		butter
4 Tbs		plain flour

1	(Tie the roasts together at 2 inch intervals to make a single round roast with a ready made pocket. Or have your butcher stuff the roast with the fruit, specifying that you need the round shape.)
2	Pour the port over the dried prunes and let soak for at least 1 hour. Reserve the port. Have butcher stuff the pork loin with the fruit, alternating a prune with 2 apricot halves. If preparing the roast yourself, stuff by pushing the fruit into the pocket with a wooden spoon handle. Repeat until the cavity is filled, but not crowded. Reserve leftover fruit.
3	Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet. Brown the roast on all sides over medium - high heat. Warm the Cognac or brandy and pour over roast. Ignite and allow flame to subside; then remove the roast to a roasting pan.
4	Roast uncovered for 1 1/2 hours, or until a meat thermometer reads 70 degrees. Remove roast to a heated platter and let stand for 15 minutes.
5	Meanwhile, combine beef stock with reserved port, cream and jelly in a saucepan. Reduce by 1/3 over high heat. Add remaining dried fruit. Degrease pan juices from roast, then deglaze roasting pan with a little of the prepared sauce. Return pan juices to the saucepan. Add the orange juice, season with salt and pepper. Whisk the flour and butter mixture into the sauce to thicken. Simmer for 3 minutes. Do not let it boil.
6	Carve the roast into 1/2 to 3/4-inch slices so that each slice shows a prune and an apricot in the center. Pass the sauce from a sauceboat.

Servings: 8