Maple-Mustard Pork Chops and Applesauce

These chops are so yummy and the mustard glaze gives them so much flavor. Really easy to cook and you can't screw them up either. Perfect for a weeknight dinner with homemade applesauce, yum!


(this picture is for lunch the next day and the applesauce was loooong gone:)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 spicy brown mustard
1/4 apple juice
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cumin
6 boneless pork chops (1/2-3/4 inch thick)
olive oil
salt and pepper
3-4 apples
cinnamon and sugar

1. Heat a non stick skillet over medium heat.
2. Combine maple syrup, mustard,apple juice, allspice, and cumin in a small sauce pan and cook over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken.
3.Coat each chop in a light drizzle of olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper. Place in pan and start to baste all the sides of the chops that are facing up. Cook for about 5 minutes and flip. Now baste the other side. Cook 5 minutes and flip again. Baste and cook 5 minutes and repeat this process for about 20 minutes or until your chops are cooked through. Baste the glaze again over chops before serving for a little extra sauce. Yum!

HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE:
Really easy here. Cut your apples into cubes. Put in a medium size sauce pan and add a splash of apple juice. Put the lid on and let cook for about 5 minutes. Then add a couple tablespoons of sugar and a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir and cook until soft and sauce has formed.

*Serve applesauce with chops, steamed broccoli or carrots or a green salad. You are set!
* You could do these on the grill too in the summer!

Pork Taco Stackers

I copied this recipe from a cook book at my sisters house one visit and I finally made it. Thanks goodness because it was so good! Ok, taco fixings on corn bread is genius and I know this because it is all gone..... yum!!



Ingredients:

2 lb. pork roast
1 packet taco seasoning
1/2 cup 7-up or sprite
1 can pinto beans
chopped tomatoes
1 corn bread mix (with water, eggs, applesauce)
shredded lettuce
grated cheese
sour cream

1. Let get the pork going first. Now you can do two things with your slow cooker. Roast for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. I didn't start this until about 1 pm, so I chose the lesser of the two :) Now, put your roast in the slow cooker and turn to your desired setting. Sprinkle with taco seasoning, turn it over and sprinkle again. Pour your 7-up in there, put a lid on it and walk away.
2. Now when you only have about 1 hour left until your roast should be done, take it out and shred it with two forks. Put it all back in and let is soak up all the juices. Pork is done. Let is just hang out until you assemble your stackers.
3. After you shred the pork go ahead and prepare the rest of your dinner. Get your corn bread cooking in a 8x8 or make them into muffins. While those are cooking, cut tomatoes, shred lettuce, grate cheese and heat up the beans (I put mine on the stove on low). When your corn bread is done it's time to eat!
4. To assemble: Cut your cornbread into squares. Then cut them open to make two little halves. Place on plate and top with beans, cheese, pork, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream! Dig in!

* These have veggies on top but you could have a side salad or cut up cucumbers on the side.
* Leave out the pork and make it vegetarian!

Sweet and Spicy Pork Skewers

This was Rex's request for his father's day dinner and it was divine! He recently got me a grilling cookbook, so we tested it out! Won-der-ful!! Really easy and the flavors are amazing! Next time you grill, try this out!


Ingredients:
1-1.5 lbs. pork chops cut into 1 inch chunks
1 tablespoon olive oil

BBQ rub:
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Glaze:
1/4 cup fresh or refrigerated lime juice (I grated a bit of peel in there too)
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon dried thyme
pinch of cayenne
1/8 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
limes for garnishing
skewers

1. Mix oil and dry rub ingredients together in a shallow dish. Toss pork chunks into dish and mix with spices until all the meat is coated. Preheat grill to med-high heat. Skewer your pork onto water soaked skewers.
2.Combine all your glaze ingredients together. Put your skewers on the grill and after they have been cooking for about 5 minutes start basting pork with glaze. Baste every couple of minutes to really enhance the flavor. After about 12-15 minutes check your meat for doneness and remove from grill when cooked through.
3. Serve with lime wedges, watermelon, corn, potato salad, anything bbq worthy and eat!!

Pork Chops with Maple-Apple Glaze

I am always nervous to overcook pork chops but these turned out great! Tons of flavor, a couple of ingredients and low in fat! Quick and prefect for any weeknight meal!


Ingredients:

1/4 maple syrup
1/4 cup apple butter
1 tablespoon ground mustard or spicy mustard
4 pork loin chops
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a small saucepan mix syrup, apple butter and mustard. Cook over low heat about a minute, stirring occasionally, until blended.
2. Sprinkle pork with salt, pepper and garlic. Brush one side with glaze. Place glazed side down on a skillet over medium heat. You don't want the pan too hot or it will cook the out side of your chops and the middle won't be done. So heat to medium! Brush glaze on top side and cover pan with lid. Cook 8-10 minutes and turn to cook other side. Cook for 8-10 more minutes. You can glaze as much as you want. I like it very saucy so I used lots of glaze. Keeping a lid on also keeps in moisture for a NOT dried out chop.
3. After your chops are cooked take out of pan and place on plates. There will be extra sauce that you can spoon over your cooked pork! All done! So good, enjoy!

* This dinner is great with baked apples. All you have to do is slice 3-4 apples and toss with a little cinnamon and sugar. Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Cook for 20 minutes at 425 and done! So good!

* Along with apples, add a salad, steamed carrots, or steamed broccoli to finish! I made biscuits too!

Pork Lo Mein

This tastes just like we were eating at a Chinese Restaurant... which makes my hubby happy! This is sure to become a family favorite. It is quick and the flavors are amazing. With all your veggies, meat and noodles combined you can have a big bowl of this and still feel great. You can't go wrong with this easy dish!



Ingredients:

2-4 pork chops
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (if you want)
2 cups fresh snow peas
1 medium red pepper, sliced
2 medium carrots, diced and steamed about 5 minutes
3 cups cooked thin spaghetti
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1/3 cup chicken broth
chopped peanuts or cashews

1. Cut your pork in to 1/4 inch slices. Set aside. In a large resealable bag combine the soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes. Add in the pork. Seal the bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
2. Next about 10 minutes into the marinating time get a big pot of water boiling and cook those noodles. Steam the carrots too. Then when everything else is ready you can add this stuff in.
3.Coat a large non-stick skillet or wok with cooking spray. Stir fry pork and marinade at med-high heat until no longer pink. About 4-5 minutes. Add the peas, red pepper and carrots. Stir fry for another minute. Add in broth and let it thicken over heat. When it is thick, toss in noodles and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and fill bowls full and top with chopped nuts!!

* This dish has 343 calories per serving! Nice huh? If you want more veggies, add a side of steamed broccoli and you are set!