Recipe: Buffalo Pork Skewers with Blue Cheese Sauce

BUFFALO PORK SKEWERS WITH BLUE CHEESE SAUCE

"While this crowd-pleasing appetizer is great for the holidays, it's also perfect for football weekends, tailgating, and other entertaining year-round."

1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed, cut into 1-inch cubes*
Oil spray
FOR THE BLUE CHEESE SAUCE:**
2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons milk (low-fat or nonfat is okay)
Salt
FOR THE BUTTER MIXTURE:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup hot sauce, such as Tabasco, divided use
FOR SERVING:
6 celery ribs, cut crosswise in halves or thirds, then lengthwise into sticks***

Special equipment: 18 (6-inch) skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes if they're wood or bamboo

Preheat broiler and arrange a rack 4 inches from the heat. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking oil.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk. Season with salt and set aside.

In another small bowl, combine the butter and 2 tablespoons of the hot sauce. Set both mixtures aside.

In a large bowl, combine the pork and remaining 2 tablespoons of hot sauce. Season generously with salt. Thread the pork onto skewers and arrange on prepared baking sheet.

Broil for 4 minutes. Turn and broil until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove pork from broiler and let rest at least 3 minutes. While pork is resting, brush both sides with the butter mixture.

Serve the skewers and celery sticks with the blue cheese sauce on the side.

*If you'd like, you can use boneless pork loin chops instead of the tenderloin.

**Instead of making the blue cheese sauce from scratch, you can purchase ready-made blue cheese dressing.

***While it wouldn't be traditional, you can swap the celery for carrot sticks, or serve a combination of the two."

Makes 6 servings
Source: the National Pork Board