Spiced Pork w/ Sauteed Apples

So I have been MIA lately. I apologize. If you follow my All that Jazz blog about life and my puppers, you may know that I got a new job. I absolutely LOVE this job, but I stare at a computer (soon to be a double screen) all day and the last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at another one. On the flip side of my getting a job, my mom got laid off. She knew it was coming and it was just a ticking time bomb. With that being said she has been flipping trough my magazines and books trying to come up with ideas for dinner. This is the first one she made, and it was amazing! I walked in the door and the delicious smell engulfed me. So without further ado:

Spiced Pork w/ Sauteed Apples

1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3-4 boneless pork chops
2 tbsp butter
2 cups Braeburn or Gala apples, thinly sliced
1/3 cup shallots, thinly sliced
1/4 cup apple cider
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

1. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Combine salt, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon & nutmeg in a bowl and evenly coat the pork chops. Coat pan with cooking spray or vegetable oil, add pork to pan; cook 3-5 minutes on each side or until done. Remove pork from pan and keep warm.

2. Melt butter in pan. Add apple slices, shallots, and 1/8 tsp salt; saute for 4 minutes or until the apples start to brown. Add apple cider to pan, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in thyme leaves. Replace pork in the pan to heat through.

We served this with plain couscous, cooked in chicken broth and brussel sprouts.

I'm thinking of showing mommy how to add to the blog so she can type up what she cooks. We'll see how that goes. But for now hopefully I will take a little initiative and add some recipes.

Pork Chops with Golden Applesauce

Pork Chops with Golden Applesauce

Applesauce

2-3 large Golden delicious apples, chopped
1 tsp grated lemon zest
2 tsp lemon juice
2 oz raisins
1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and grated
3 tbsp brown sugar (light or dark)
2 cups apple juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

1. Combine apples and all of the above in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.

2. Boil on high until liquid is reduced to about half. Stir occasionally.

3. Once liquid is reduced, take a smasher and lightly smash the apples leaving some chunks.

4. Turn the heat to low, put a lid on it and let it simmer until ready to serve. Keep checking to make the liquid hasn't evaporated too much.

Pork

4-6 center cut boneless pork loin
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
pinch of garlic powder
pinch of ground ginger

1. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil to the pan.

2. Season pork chops on one side. Using tongs put into skillet seasoned side down. Season the other side.

3. Brown and caramelize 2 minutes each side. The reduce heat to medium and cook the rest of the way through. (Using a pan to cover makes the cooking through easier). Occasionally turning the chops.

4. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes.

5. Top with the applesauce and enjoy!