Pork Spedini with Mushrooms and Bruschetta

To brine pork: Place porcini, garlic, pepper, and 8 sage leaves in a small bowl. Add boiling water and soak for 45 minutes.

Strain through a fine-mesh or paper-towel-lined sieve into a medium bowl. (Reserve the solids in a small microwave-safe bowl.) Add room-temperature water, kosher salt, and brown sugar to the strained liquid; stir until the sugar is dissolved, then stir in ice cubes. Add pork; cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

To prepare basting oil and kebabs: Preheat a gas grill to medium or prepare a medium-heat fire in a charcoal grill.

Add oil to the reserved porcini. Microwave on High for 1 minute.

Remove the pork from the brine; pat dry (discard the brine). Divide among three 12-inch flat metal skewers, alternating with the remaining sage. Alternate mushroom caps with onion on three other skewers. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the porcini, garlic, and sage to another small bowl; season with a pinch of salt and set aside. Brush all the kebabs generously with the flavored oil. Sprinkle the mushroom kebabs with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.

Grill the kebabs, turning once or twice and lightly basting with the oil, until the pork is firm and the vegetables are soft and beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. (If flare-ups occur as you baste, use a squirt bottle to put them out or move the kebabs away until the flame dies down.) Remove to a clean large plate and cover loosely with foil.

To prepare Bruschetta: Brush one side of bread slices with flavored oil. Grill until golden brown, about 1 minute per side.

To serve, divide the Bruschetta among 6 plates. Top with pork and vegetables; scatter the reserved porcini, garlic, and sage on top.

Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 3 fat Carbohydrate Servings: 1 Nutrition Bonus: Zinc (16% daily value).