Cinnamon Crusted Chops

This is another recipe from way-back-when that I have attempted (successfully!) to spruce up a bit. I will still say that the combination of pork and apples is still so strange to me. Apparently many others have paired these two foods together - for a long time. I still think its weird, but I am a believer! This new and improved recipe is amazing! The pork is seasoned with lots of cinnamon and it will melt in your mouth.

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in pork chops
• 3 apples. Gala work great!
• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced thin
• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp fresh sage, chopped
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• 1/4 cup white wine

Instructions:

1. Slice apples, use an apple corer if you've got one. #easy
2. Thinly slice onion and chop sage
3. In a skillet over medium high heat 3 Tbsp olive oil. Once oil is hot, add in apples, onion and sage. Sauté apples and onions for approx. 5 minutes. Apples should be soft and onions translucent. Remove from skillet
4.  Rub cinnamon all over your pork chops. Don't neglect them. You can't use too much. Next, sprinkle with salt
5. Heat remaining Tbsp of olive oil in skillet. Add pork chops and sear for 2 minutes on each side.
6. Pour 1/4 cup white wine in skillet and once it begins to boil, add the apples and onions back
7. Cover skillet and let the flavors intertwine and the pork chops finish cooking. This should take about 7 minutes.
8. Serve and enjoy!

BBQ Pork Ribs

Crock pot's are kings when it comes to getting the most delicious, tender, and moist meat. If my crock pot wasn't a pain to clean out, I would use it a lot more. Actually, come to think of it, it's not hard to clean at all. I just stuff it in the dishwasher and BOOM. It's clean. I think the real issue is that since crock pot meals are SO easy and require NO effort, I am lazy by the time that cleaning comes around. If the crock pot cooks itself, then shouldn't it clean itself and put itself away? Thought so. This recipe was delicious. Quite possibly the best BBQ ribs I have had. It would be in your best interest to make these asap. I am going to have to make them again too because Adam liked them so much, that I didn't get any leftovers. This recipe is from CivilizedCavemanCooking. Check it out.

Ingredients:

• 1 rack of pork short ribs
• 1/4 cup paprika
• 1 Tbsp pepper
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• Batch of Beasty BBQ Sauce

Instructions:

1. Combine all spices together in mixing bowl
2. Cut your rack of ribs in half, or thirds, so that each section will fit in the crock pot
3. Apply the spice rub generously to the ribs. I used the entire batch of spice rub. Tightly wrap the ribs in plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 1 hour. I let mine sit for 1 day
4. Put 1/8 cup water in crock pot. Place ribs, bone side down in crock pot, stacking your sections
5. Set your crock pot on low for 8 hours
6. Around the 7th or 8th hour, pour in BBQ sauce ensuring that all layers of ribs get coated. Reserve some for dipping
7. Allow sauce to warm up in the crock pot, then enjoy!

*If you do not want to make your own BBQ sauce, buy your own - just be sure it has clean ingredients! I really like the brand Bone Suckin' Sauce. Squeaky clean.

Pork with Blueberry Sauce

I have no idea why I haven't posted this yet. I have made this numerous times and this is the dish we cooked for Adam's mother and grandmother while we were in Dallas over Christmas break. The blueberry sauce makes this the perfect summer meal, especially when the blueberries are on sale! Next time I make this, I may switch the fruit up - I'm thinking blackberries or cherries! I have typically made this with Pork tenderloin but switched it up this time and used boneless butterflied pork.

Blueberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3 boneless, butterflied, pork chops
• Mrs. Dash grilled chicken spice rub
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 Tbsp EVOO
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (if using frozen, thaw first)
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp honey

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Season both sides of pork with spice rub, salt and pepper
3. Put pork in baking dish and bake for 25 minutes, or until done
4. While the pork is baking, heat EVOO in saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and let them cook for about 5 minutes
5. Add blueberries, apple cider vinegar, and honey. Allow to cook until sauce has thickened
6. Once everything is done, plate the pork chop and pour the blueberry sauce over it!

I served this with Cumin Roasted Carrots and a salad with pears, walnuts, and dried cherries.

Crock Pot Pork Loin

Ready for another super easy meal??? I really can't call this a recipe because there was no measuring, no thought, and no specific ingredients. You can really use any spices and veggies you like.

I have recently declared a new rule when it comes to food. ANYTHING left over in the fridge that is perishable (and honestly we don't have much that isn't perishable) will be tossed out on Sunday - even if it has not perished. This ensures that items don't get shoved to the back of the fridge where they can rot and this new rule causes me to be extremely precise in what I buy. I tend to be an impulse buyer and it's nice to be gaining some "control" over it! All of that to say that this recipe is a by product of me making sure I make the most out of my food and money - and it was delicious!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs pork loin (will have plenty left over for breakfast and lunch!)
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• left over bag of frozen okra (approx 1/2 lb) (feel free to use fresh!)
• Basil, Salt, and Pepper

Instructions:

1. Pull out your awesome crock pot and toss the chopped onion in
2. Season pork with basil, salt, and pepper and add to crock pot
3. Add chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped zucchini and okra
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours

Now, this picture doesn't make the dish very appetizing, but trust me when I say it was wonderful! I even had it for lunch the next day, and breakfast the following day.

Balsamic Glazed Pork Steak

I believe that spices are a cook's best friend! You can literally make dozens of different dishes (alliteration, anyone? - totally didn't mean to do that again!) using the same basic ingredients and only altering the spices! Just changing one spice can create a whole new meal and experience.

This summer, Adam and I are taking a trip with some friends of ours - we will most likely be going somewhere in the Carribean and this week we are trying to nail down our final options. All the talk about resorts, sun, and fun really has me in a tropical mindset so I decided to let that fall over into this meal. I gave the pork an Island flavor by seasoning it with Jamaican Allspice!

Ingredients:

• 2 bone-in pork steaks
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Garlic Powder
• Jamaican Allspice
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat non-stick skillet over medium heat
2. Season both sides of pork with salt, garlic powder, and Jamaican Allspice. 
3. Lay pork in skillet to sear for approx 6 minutes
4. Flip pork - don't pierce the skin to do this as you will lose the yummy juices, try tongs - and splash with Balsamic Vinegar. Let the second side sear for 6 minutes
5. After the second side has seared, flip pork again and splash with more balsamic vinegar
6. When pork has finished cooking, transfer to plate and serve!

I served the pork steak with roasted broccoli and a salad. This recipe was adapted from one at wholelifeeating.com!

Apple and Onion Porkchops

I know, I know. You read the title of this post and thought "That is disgusting. Apples, Onions, Pork?!?!? She has really lost me on this one". Oh how I hope to change your mind. I first made this dish months and months ago and I just recently decided to revisit it. And boy am I glad I did - it was even better than I remembered. The sweetness of the apples, mixed with the tartness of the onions really compliment the pork exceptionally well. This is also a meal that is really quick to whip up. Please, do it for me and make this soon. You will be glad you did.

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in pork chops
• 3 apples, cored and sliced
• 1 small yellow onion, sliced thin
• 1 TBSP coconut oil
• Salt and Pepper

Preparation:

1. Heat non stick skillet on medium high heat. Add coconut oil
2. Season pork with salt and pepper
3. Cook pork on each side for approx 7 minutes. Remove from heat
4. Add apples and onions to same skillet and cook until apples are tender.
5. Top pork with apple and onion mixture and serve!

I served this dish with broccoli and turkey pepperoni