Creamy Dijon Pork

Warning!  Not everything in this recipe is IC friendly.  I allow myself cheat days occasionally and know my limits.  I can handle and LOVE dijon mustard every once in a while.   I was tired of my same old pork recipes so I googled white sauce pork recipes and found this one at SimplyRecipes.com.  WOW WOW WOW!!!!  Maybe it's my love for Dijon Mustard, but this was so delicious!!!  I think it'd still be good cooked friendly (sans Dijon Mustard) if I was being more careful.  

Ingredients:
2 Boneless Pork Chops
1/4 Cup Green onion... white & green parts
1-2 Cups Chicken Stock
3/4 Cup Half & Half
1 Tbsp Butter
1 Tbsp Parsley
2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard (Unfriendly: omit if it bothers you)
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Cornstarch
Salt & Pepper

Directions:
Sprinkle Chops with Salt and Pepper.  Heat them in Olive Oil in pan over medium high heat.  Pan sear them till brown on each side (about 2-3 minutes per side).  Add Green onion and saute along side about a minute or two until soft.   Add Chicken Stock and bring to a simmer.   Cook until Chops are cooked through (about 10 minutes) flipping occasionally.    Remove Chops and cover in foil to keep warm.  Add the half and half & butter and simmer for 3 minutes to reduce.   Add the cornstarch if you want thicker.  Add Dijon Mustard and Parsley, mix well.   Pour over Chops and enjoy!

Serves 2.

Breaded Pork Chops

Hi folks, sorry I haven't posted in so long... i'm 33 weeks pregnant and having a tough pregnancy so my food explorations have been put on hold.    A few weeks ago I decided I needed more pork recipes so I made up this one.   Delicious!  We've had it a couple times since already... the hubs loves it and it's super easy for a preggo Momma who's suppose to be on bedrest.  :)

Ingredients:
2 porch chops
1/ 4C honey
1/3 C breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp Coriander
1 Tbsp Rosemary
1 Tbsp Garlic powder
4 Tbsp Olive Oil
Dash of pepper (if you can handle pepper)

Directions:
Heat the honey (to thin it out some) about 30 seconds in the microwave.   Pour into bowl.  In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs and all seasonings.   Dip the pork chops in the honey and then the bread mixture.  Pan fry in Olive Oil on stove top medium heat until done.  About 15 minutes.   Avoid turning too much or the breading will likely fall off.   You want a nice golden sear.   Voila!   I've been eating this with peas and beans.  

Pork Loin

I tackled my first loin!!!  I think this was a pork loin, but because it was only 1 pound... the online world seems to think it's a tenderloin.  So I don't know, it's a loin of some sort and it's pork and it was delicious!!!!  I made a gravy to go with this, but I liked it better without.  They key (I read) is to make sure and cook it to the right temperature (145 degrees)...which really stressed me out!   I got a little meat thermometer and that helped a ton.   It was perfect and juicy.  Oh and I also brined the meat (first time for that too!)  Which just means soaking the meat in salt/sugar water for like 8 hours prior to cooking.   Phew... lots of new stuff...and I conquered all!!!

Ingredients:
For brining:
4 Cups Water
1/4 Cup Salt
1/3 Cup Sugar

 For Pork:
1 pound Pork Loin (my package read "Pork Center Cut Loin Filet)
minced garlic
dried marjoram
kosher salt
rubbed sage

Directions:
To brine, combine all brining ingredients and let sit (in the refrigerator) 8 hours or overnight.  When done brining remove from water mixture and pat dry with paper towel.   Generously rub pork with all spices.  Place on rack in roasting pan and bake approximately 40-50 minutes at 375 until meat gets to 145 degrees.  (again, I'd use a thermometer).  Let sit 5-10 minutes before slicing. 

Serves 4

Stuffed Pork Chops

This is an old family favorite and I was so excited when I realized all the ingredients were IC-Friendly.  That never happens, yipee!!!

Ingredients:
6, 1-inch thick Pork Chops (with a pocket cut in them... the butcher can do this for you if you want)
3/4 package of white bread (I use Nature's Own brand)
2 Eggs
1/4 Cup melted Butter
1 tsp Poultry Seasoning
1 tsp Onion Salt (careful, could be a trigger for some)
1 Tbsp Parsley Flakes
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.   Tear the bread into small pieces.   Add all the seasonings to the bread.   Pour egg and melted butter over bread and mix well.    Stuff the pork chops generously with the stuffing.   Put pork chops in a greased baking dish.   Cook 45 minutes uncovered or until done.  

Served 6. 

Sesame Pork with Garlic and Butter Cream Sauce

I found this recipe on another IC'ers food blog here.   This was really easy to make and the sauce had a really good strong flavor, just how I like it!!   I had some leftover sauce and plan to try it on chicken in the next couple of days.  

Ingredients:
2-4 Pork Chops
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Sesame Seeds
Cream Cheese Sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:
Set oven to Broil.  Brush oil and sprinkle Salt & Pepper on both sides of pork and place on rock in broiler pan.   Sprinkle half with Sesame Seed.  Broil Pork 4-6 inches from heat for 6 minutes. Flip over and sprinkle with remaining Sesame Seed and broil for 6 more minutes until pork is no longer pink in center.   Serve cream cheese sauce over Pork.

Pear Smothered Pork Chops

This was one of the first recipes I cooked that I loved after being diagnosed with IC and is a pantry staple now.   I had no experience cooking with pork before.  Learning how to cook new meats has really offered me variety in a diet that is so restrictive.   I got this recipe from the cookbook, A Taste of the Good Life by Beverley Laumann.  

Ingredients:
 2 center-cut pork loin chops
1/4 tsp ground sage
dash salt and pepper
2 large, firm-ripe pear (original recipe calls for 1, but I like lots of pears so used two)
2 Tbsp. unsulphured molasses
2 Tbsp flour
1 Cup water

Directions:
In a skillet, brown pork chops in olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper if desired.  Remove chops to casserole dish.  Sprinkle sage on chops.  Peel and slice pear, placing slices on top of chops.  Combine flour with small amount of water to make a paste, then add to cup of water (about 2 Tbsp).  Add molasses to water and mix well.  Over low heat, pour liquid into hot skillet, scraping up browned bits of pork chops.  When slightly thickened, pour sauce over chops, cover, and bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until done.