Sautéed Cabbage

 Hardly worth noting this simple recipe except when I made it Tony specifically said, “yum!” And that doesn’t happen often. 

• 1 (2 pounds) head green cabbage

• 1/4 cup high-quality unsalted butter

• 1/4 cup chicken broth0

• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 2 slices crisply cooked bacon, crumbled, for garnish (optional)

  Cut up the cabbage.

  Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add cabbage, and toss until well coated. Stir in the chicken broth, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender but still a bit firm, 8 to 12 minutes.

  The bacon probably shouldn’t be optional, it does get soggy in leftovers though so eat it the first day.

Tourtiere

4 pounds ground pork butts 

1 ½ cups water 

1 medium onion, ground or finely chopped 

2 tsp salt 

1 to 2 tsp cinnamon, start low and adjust to taste 

1 to 1.5 tsp cloves, start low and adjust to taste 

1 cup bread crumbs 

Your favorite pie crust 

Put meat in large pot.  Break it up and add water. Mix in onions and salt. Adjust heat to keep meat cooking at a low boil; stir at intervals to keep from scorching.  Add more water if necessary. Cook with cover on for about 45 minutes, adding the spices halfway through. 

Near the end of cooking time, add the bread crumbs.  Adjust the amount of crumbs according to the amount of fat.  The mixture shouldn’t become too dry. 

This amount makes filling for 2 large pies or 9-11 small ones.   Fill uncooked pie crusts.  Top with either a second crust or mashed potatoes. May freeze at this point. 

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes 

Note: this is Grant’s great-great grandmother’s recipe 

Pesto Cavatappi

 An awesome copycat of my Noodles and Company favorite.

• ▢ 1 tablespoon Salt
• ▢ 1 pound cavatappi pasta
• ▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 large tomato cored and diced
• ▢ 4 ounces mushrooms sliced (optional, see note 2)
• ▢ 1/4 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
• ▢ 1/4 cup dry white wine (see note 3)
• ▢ ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• ▢ 1 cup homemade pesto or store-bought (see note 4)
• ▢ 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese




• In a large saucepan or stock pot, bring 4 quarts of water and salt to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add tomatoes and mushrooms (if using) and cook for about 5 minutes, until some of the liquid has been released and the tomatoes are heated through.
• Stir in the broth, wine, and cream and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes.
• Add pesto and stir until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add pasta and toss until uniformly coated in the sauce. Transfer to a serving dish or individual plates and garnish with Parmesan cheese.

• NOTES
  Excellent! 
  I didn’t have mushrooms but did have peppers.
  Didn’t have white wine on hand but that would be good.
  I added a bunch of rotisserie chicken. Shrimp would also be good.

Juicy Pork Chops

• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons EACH: onion powder and garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon EACH: salt, pepper, and oregano
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 – (1 ¼ inch thick) boneless pork chops

INSTRUCTIONS

• Turn your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oregano.
• Drizzle the 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over both sides of the pork chops. Sprinkle the spice mix evenly over both sides of the pork chops and place them in a baking dish. (see notes) Drizzle them with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
• Bake the pork chops for 18 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you remove them from the oven, let them rest in the pan for 5 minutes before serving.

NOTES

• Try to choose a baking dish that is just the right size for the pork chops. You don't want there to be too much room between the chops or the juices will evaporate in the oven.
• Bake your pork chops for 7 minutes per ½ inch of thickness. Add an extra minute for each ½ inch if you're using bone-in pork chops.

MY NOTES

• This is going to turn into my go-to recipe for thicker chops.  They were very not-dry!
• I put 6 chops in a square glass baking dish - a pretty snug fit. They were about 1.25" thick.
• Instead of this spice blend, I just used some pre-mixed thing (something free I got at the State Fair supplemented with a little Famous Dave's chicken blend)
• I poured a little olive oil on a plate, dipped the chop on both sides, sprinkled seasoning on one side and put it face down in the baking dish, sprinkle more seasoning on top and bake.
• The method (highlighted above) is the key to this recipe.

Hawaiian Ham and Swiss Sliders

24 slices of deli honey ham

6 Slices of swiss cheese, cut into fourths

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1 1/2 tablespoons dijon mustard

1/2 cup butter melted

1 tablespoon Onion Powder

1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

2 packages (12 count) KING'S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls

Preparation

Step 1

Cut rolls in half and spread mayo onto 1 side of the rolls. Place a slice or two of ham and slice of swiss cheese in roll. Replace the top of the rolls and bunch them closely together into a baking dish. 

Step 2

In a medium bowl, whisk together poppy seeds, dijon mustard, melted butter, onion powder and worcestershire sauce. 

Step 3

Pour sauce over the rolls, just covering the tops. Cover with foil and let sit for 10 minutes. 

Step 4

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for additional 2 minutes until tops are slightly browned and crisp. Serve warm.

NOTES:

I used Pepperidge Farms Hawaiian rolls and they didn’t have quite the same flavor as Kings. It was good, but I’ll try Kings next time.

Delicious recipe. Very easy. 

Nick suggests a sauce with a little more zing like Arby’s horsey.

Thai Pork and Noodles

1 pound thin boneless pork chops, fat trimmed

8 ounces wide Thai rice noodles

1 cup fresh cilantro (leaves and stems)

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime

2 slices peeled ginger

2 cloves garlic, smashed

3 red jalapeno peppers, seeded and roughly chopped

2 shallots, roughly chopped

3 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

4 tablespoons peanut oil

1/4 pound green beans, split lengthwise and cut into pieces

Directions

1. Place the pork in the freezer about 10 minutes to make it easier to slice. Soak the noodles in very hot water until just tender, about 10 minutes; drain. Snip the noodles with scissors into shorter lengths. Cut the frozen pork crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
2. Puree the cilantro, lime zest and juice, ginger, garlic, jalapenos, shallots, fish sauce, brown sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a food processor until smooth, scraping down the processor as needed.
3. Heat 3 tablespoons peanut oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add half the cilantro mixture and stir-fry 1 minute. Add the pork and stir-fry until no longer pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the pork with a slotted spoon to a plate. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon peanut oil to the skillet; add the green beans and stir-fry until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the noodles, pork and 2 tablespoons of the remaining cilantro mixture. Cook, tossing with tongs, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining cilantro mixture to taste.

Pork Chops with Apples and Garlic Smashed Potatoes

1 pound small fingerling potatoes
2 cloves garlic
Kosher salt
4 1/2-inch-thick boneless pork loin chops (5 ounces each)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
Freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
2 Granny Smith apples, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup apple cider
1/4 cup buttermilk

• Put the potatoes and garlic in a saucepan, cover with cold water and season with salt. Cover and bring to a boil, then uncover and continue cooking until tender, about 15 minutes. Cover and set aside.
• Meanwhile, rub both sides of the pork chops with the sage, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat, then add 1 teaspoon olive oil and sear the chops until golden on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Transfer to a plate. 
• Wipe out the skillet and add the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Add the onion and apples and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the cider.
• Return the chops to the skillet. Cover and cook, turning once, until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. 
• Drain the potatoes, reserving 1/4 cup liquid. Return the potatoes to the pan; add the buttermilk and mash, adding cooking liquid as needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the pork chops, onion and apples. Drizzle with the pan juices.

Notes:

• Easy.  The potatoes timed out nicely with the chops.
• I just used the russets I had on hand.
• I skipped the buttermilk and just added some butter.
• Apples and onions - I feel like I'm getting in touch with my German roots.
• And this potato recipe would work well on it's own.  I didn't peel them and just smashed them up a bit with a meat chopper.

Grilled Pork Kebobs

2 (12-ounce) pork tenderloins, trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ teaspoons five-spice powder
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cornstarch
4 ½ tablespoons hoisin sauce
Vegetable oil spray
2 scallions, thinly sliced

You will need four 12-inch metal skewers. We prefer natural pork, but if your pork is enhanced (injected with a salt solution), do not salt it in step 1.

INSTRUCTIONS
Toss pork and salt together in large bowl and let sit for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk five-spice powder, garlic powder, and cornstarch together in bowl. Add hoisin to five-spice mixture and stir to combine. Set aside 1 1/2 tablespoons hoisin mixture.

Add remaining hoisin mixture to pork and toss to coat. Thread pork onto four 12-inch metal skewers, leaving 1/4 inch between pieces. Spray both sides of meat generously with oil spray.

FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over half of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.

FOR A GAS GRILL: Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s).

Clean and oil cooking grate. Place skewers on hotter side of grill and grill until well charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip skewers, brush with reserved hoisin mixture, and continue to grill until second side is well charred and meat registers 140 degrees, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer to serving platter, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with scallions and serve.

NOTES:

• These were good enough to blog, but I'd make a few changes next time.
• Most notably, they were too salty.  Either use less salt or rinse the salt off before adding all the spices and sauce.
• I had a Costco pork roast which made enough for 6 kebobs
• I faked the 5-spice blend but am looking for the authentic version for next time

Sweet and Sour Glazed Pork Chops

4 (8-ounce) pork chops, bone-in, 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

FOR THE SWEET AND SOUR GLAZE
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Season pork chops with salt and pepper, to taste.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add pork chops and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
Place into oven and roast until completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 140 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes.*
To make the sweet and sour glaze, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over medium heat; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Serve pork chops immediately with sweet and sour glaze.

NOTES:

• I skipped the red pepper flakes and poured the glaze over both sides of the chops while still in the pan.  
• The method was very easy. Results were good.

Source

Instant Pot Pork Roast

2 1/2 pounds pork loin roast

kosher salt or sea salt , to taste
fresh cracked black pepper , to taste
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 medium onion , diced
4 cloves garlic , minced
1/2 cup broth
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon coarse mustard
2 teaspoons herbs of choice- dried or fresh (rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme etc…)
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1/4 cup water

Season pork with salt and pepper. Turn Instant Pot on "Sauté”, and add butter and melt. Add the pork loin and sear the sides of the pork loin to a nice golden brown.  Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the broth, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, and herbs.
Close the lid, set to high pressure, and after the pressure cooker reaches full pressure,  cook for 15-30 minutes *depending on size & preferred doneness. 

After the cooking time is complete, press "Cancel" and carefully release the pressure. If possible, check the internal temperature of the pork loin (it should be about 145°F).
Remove the pork loin from the Instant Pot (keep the juices the Instant Pot), cover and allow the pork loin to rest for about 10 minutes, depending on how large your loin roast is and how well done you like it.
Mix together the cornstarch and water. Add to the Instant Pot with the juices. Turn Instant Pot on "Sauté” and simmer until thickened. Taste seasoning and add additional salt and pepper if desired.

NOTES:

• Source
• I omitted the celery and carrots from the original recipe.
• I started with a Costco pork roast (4 pack, about 2.5 lbs each).  
• Be sure to sear well all around.  It holds in juices and adds lots of flavor.
• The herbs were delicious and I'll definitely do this again.  
• The only change I'd make is to cut the roast into 2 pieces so it's a uniform thickness.  Mine was thinner on one end and I ended up restarting the instant pot 3 times to get it to an internal temperature of 145 in the thickest part.

Moo Shu Pork (or Beef, or Chicken...)

Pancake recipe source

Filling recipe adapted from The Chinese Takeout Cookbook (highly recommended!)

PANCAKES

1½ cups (7 ½ ounces) all-purpose flour

¾ cup boiling water

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (or other oil)

½ teaspoon vegetable oil

FILLING

Marinade

1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce

1 1/2 tsp. rice wine or dry cherry

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 lb. boneless pork loin or pork chop, sliced into thin strips

OR Leftover grilled meat (skip marinade and cooking steps if using already-cooked meat)

Sauce

2 T. rice wine

1 T. soy sauce

1 T. hoisin sauce

1 T. sesame oil

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 T. oyster sauce

1/4 tsp. five-spice

2 T. peanut or vegetable oil

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. minced fresh ginger (or 1/4 tsp. dried)

2 green onions, chopped

6 fresh shittake mushrooms, sliced into thin strips

6 napa cabbage leaves, sliced into thin strips

2 medium carrots, shredded or sliced thinly

1 c. bean sprouts (or substitute extra cabbage)

To Make Pancakes (Can be done ahead of time)

1. Using wooden spoon, mix flour and boiling water in bowl to form rough dough. When cool, transfer dough to lightly floured surface and knead until it forms ball that is tacky but no longer sticky, about 4 minutes (dough will not be perfectly smooth). Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

2. Roll dough into 12-inch-long log on lightly floured surface and cut into 12 equal pieces. Turn each piece cut side up and pat into rough 3-inch disk. Brush 1 side of 6 disks with sesame oil (I don't own a brush, so I used nonstick spray.  Classy but effective); top each oiled side with unoiled disk and press lightly to form 6 pairs. Roll disks into 7-inch rounds, lightly flouring work surface as needed.

3. Heat vegetable oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Using paper towels, carefully wipe out oil. Place pancake in skillet and cook without moving it until air pockets begin to form between layers and underside is dry, 40 to 60 seconds. Flip pancake and cook until few light brown spots appear on second side, 40 to 60 seconds. Transfer to plate and, when cool enough to handle, peel apart into 2 pancakes. Stack pancakes moist side up and cover loosely with plastic. Repeat with remaining pancakes. Cover pancakes tightly and keep warm. Wipe out skillet with paper towel. (Pancakes can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw wrapped pancakes at room temperature. Unwrap and place on plate. Invert second plate over pancakes and microwave until warm and soft, 60 to 90 seconds.)

To Make Filling

1. If using raw meat: In a medium bowl, stir together the marinade ingredients and add the pork.  Stir to coat and let stand for at least 20 minutes.  Heat a large skillet over high heat until hot.  Add the pork and stir-fry until the outside is no longer pink, 2-3 minutes.  Transfer pork to a plate and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, stir together the sauce ingredients and set aside.

3. Add 1 T. oil to the skillet.  Add the garlic, ginger, and scallion and stir fry until aromatic, about 30 seconds (don't let it burn!).  Add the mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts (and pre-cooked meat, if using).  Stir-fry until the vegetables begin to wilt, about 4-5 minutes.  Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir to combine.  Add the meat, if you haven't yet.  When vegetables are cooked, remove from heat.

4. To serve, put pancake on your plate, add filling, and roll like a burrito.

Serves 4 polite people or 2 delighted adults.

Pulled Pork - Instant Pot

1 (4-5 lb) pork shoulder or butt
2 tbls brown sugar
1 tbls chili powder
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tbls vegetable oil
1-1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
2 tbls cider vinegar
1 tsp liquid smoke

1. Cut pork into 2-inch thick slices.
2. Combing spices and brown sugar.  Rub on surfaces of pork.
3. With cooker's lid off, heat oil on high and brown the pork.
4. Add broth, vinegar and liquid smoke.  Lock on the lid and set for 100 minutes on high.
5. Let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes before quick release.
6. OPTIONAL - remove pork from cooker, drain all liquid, heat 16 ounces of BBQ sauce on high and add the pork before serving.

Notes:

• I didn't do the BBQ sauce step because it was quite flavorful without the sauce.  Don't skip the liquid smoke.
• Very good!

Bourbon, Bacon, Pecan Cookies

¾ cup butter-flavored Crisco

1-¼ cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 tbsp bourbon
1 tbsp vanilla
1 egg
1-¾ cups flour
1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon
¾ tsp baking soda
1 cup chopped toasted pecans

½ cup crumbled bacon( ¼ lb)

Heat 375
Combine Crisco, brown sugar, bourbon, and vanilla in bowl; beat in egg. Combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Mix into creamed mixture. Stir in bacon and pecans.  Chill for ½ hour.

Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Better the second day.

Ribs in the Oven

4-5 pounds spare ribs or baby back ribs
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
1 cup Dry Spice Rub
1 cup Barbecue Sauce

Dry Spice Rub (use ¼ batch)

2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup paprika
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
1/4 cup granulated onion
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup cumin
1/8 cup ancho or chipotle
1/4 cup mustard powder
1/8 cup cayenne pepper

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set the cooling rack on top. Lay the ribs on top of the rack in a single layer. This arrangement allows for heat circulations on all sides of the ribs.

Mix the mustard and the liquid smoke, if using, and brush the ribs on both sides. Sprinkle the ribs with the dry rub and pat gently to make sure the rub adheres to the rib meat. Note: This step can be done the day ahead for a deeper flavor. Wrap the seasoned ribs in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Heat the broiler and place an oven rack a few inches below the heating element. Make sure the meaty side of the ribs is facing up. Broil the ribs for about 5 minutes, until the sugar in the dry rub is bubbling and the ribs are evenly browned.

Set the oven to 300°F. Move the ribs to an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Roast for 2½–3 hours for spare ribs or 1½–2 hours for baby back ribs. Halfway through cooking, cover the ribs with aluminum foil to protect them from drying out.

About 30 minutes before the end of cooking, brush the ribs with barbecue sauce, re-cover with foil, and finish cooking. The ribs are done when a knife slides easily into the thickest part of the rib meat. Let them rest, covered, for about ten minutes, and then cut between the bones to separate the individual ribs. Serve.

Source.

Crock Pot Barbecued Ribs

I made this in the crock pot today using boneless ribs I had left over from the adventure in the photo.
They were very easy and adding the baking step at the end made them better than the average, overcooked crock pot meat.

 3 pounds baby back ribs, trimmed
 salt and ground black pepper, to taste
 1/2 cup water
 1/2 onion, sliced
 1 clove garlic, minced
 1 (18 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce

Directions

• Season ribs with salt and pepper.
• Pour water into slow cooker. Layer the ribs into the slow cooker. Top the ribs with onion and garlic.
• Cook on High for 4 hours (or Low for 8 hours).
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Transfer ribs to a baking sheet. Discard onion and garlic. Coat ribs with barbeque sauce.
• Bake in preheated oven until the sauce caramelizes and sticks to the meat, 10 to 15 minutes.

NOTES:

• I used boneless ribs
• and less barbecue sauce than called for
• Very easy with a better than average finish.  Quick enough to do after work.
• Source

Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers

12 oz pkg sausage, cut into ¼ in piece
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can Italian diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a gallon-sized freezer bag, zip close & place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Empty contents into crock-pot and cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve over rice.

NOTES:

• Sorry, but I didn't get a photo on this one.
• I'm intrigued by the idea of freeze-ahead meals for the crockpot and decided to start here.  I'll post my findings as I try more.
• I didn't use the red pepper (just extra green) - too expensive at this time of year.
• I used Johnsonville Brats, and they were good, but it would probably be better with Italian sausage.
• Also, I started with room temperature ingredients and cooked it on low for about 7 hours.  This was definitely more time than it needed.
• It would be very easy to extend with a larger can of tomatoes or more sausage.
• It was good.  I'd make it again.

Pork Chops with Blueberries

(from The Silver Spoon)

• 4 spare-rib chops
• flour
• 2 T butter
• 3 T olive oil
• ¾ cup red wine
• 2¾ cups blieberries
• scant ½ cup honey
• salt

Preheat oven to 400º. Dust the chops with flour. Heat the butter and oil in an ovenproof pan, add the chops and cook, turning, until browned all over. Pour in the wine and cook until it has partly evaporated, then season with salt. Pass the blueberries through a food mill (or puree) and mix with honey. Spread this mixture over the chops. Cover the pan, transfer to the oven and bake 15 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Product Recommendation - Rib Rack

Dad used this to grill thick-cut pork chops tonight and it worked really well!  He set them in a baking dish and marinated in a little whiskey before grilling.  Once the charcoal was ready, seared them on the grill for one minute on each side and then stood them up (bone side down) in the rack and simply cooked with the lid on until they reached 150 (about 15 minutes).  Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Very moist and tender!

Cinnamon Apple Pork Chops

Source: Taste of Home online

These were super easy, used one pan, and passed the Johnny test.

• 4 boneless pork loin chops
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 medium tart apples, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook pork chops in 1 tablespoon butter for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160° (I couldn't find my meat thermometer, so I just cooked them until they were done in the middle). Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
• Remove chops and keep warm. Add the apples, pecans, brown sugar mixture and remaining butter to the pan; cook and stir until apples are tender. Serve with chops.
• Yield: 4 servings.

Baked Pork Chops and Rice

6 pork chops

1 1/2 c. uncooked rice

1 can cream of celery soup

14 ounces water

1 tsp. Worchestershire Sauce

Brown pork chops in skillet then place pork chops in casserole dish with rice. Whisk soup, water, and Worch. sauce together and pour over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serves 6.

NOTES:

• The original recipe was for 4 chops and used 1 cup of rice, the can of soup and 1 cup of water.
• It also called for beef consomme, but I had the cream soup on hand.
• I covered it with foil to retain the moisture in the rice. Not sure if that was necessary.