Stuffed Pork Chops

The other day I got a bug in me that wanted to cook stuffed porkchops. But then I quickly realized that this bug didn't want to do a lot of work... I wanted to make EASY stuffed pork chops. So I did a search and found this recipe for stuffed pork chops.

Stuffed Pork Chops
Food.com
The Line Up
4 pork chops
1/2 c butter, melted
6 slices bread
2 TBSP onions, chopped
1/4 c water
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c milk

The Game Plan
Brown pork chops in melted butter. Place in casserole.

Tear bread slices into tiny pieces and mix with onion, water, and pultry seasoning.

Place equal mounds of stuffing on each pork chop.
Combine soup and milk, pour over pork chops.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.


Coach's Post Game Conference
1/2 c butter looked like a lot to brown the pork chops in, so I only used 1/4 c (1/2 stick). I used the other 1/2 stick (1/4 c) butter in the stuffing instead of water. I've watched enough shows on The Cooking Channel and Food Network that say not to use water when you can add something with flavor to make the easy decision to add butter instead of water to moisten the stuffing. (Not to mention my mommy's Thanksgiving stuffing recipe is similar to this and uses butter instead of water.) Everything else I did as instructed.
Also - I took the butter & bits from browning the chops and added a bit of garlic - then tossed in some asparagus. I rolled the asparagus around in this mixture to coat them and then put them in a glass baking dish and poured the remaining "juices" ontop, sprinkled some parmesan cheese and baked for about 10 minutes. -- DELICIOUS!!!

Final Score
Coach - home run - easy and delicious
Catcher - home run
The All Star -  didn't taste 'em

***Edited 11/19/2013 (see below)***

Made this again tonight, for the first time since going dairy free -- and guess what... It was a home run with all 4 team Matos teammates!!

I used this dairy free cream of mushroom soup recipe, Earth Balance dairy free buttery spread, and coconut milk. It was DELICIOUS!! Will definitely make it back into our regular rotations now that I know it will work! 

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Balsamic Asparagus

Coach and I have decided that we really like asparagus. I bought some last week to put in a salad and had some left over. I knew I needed to use it soon or it would be in the garbage disposal. So I found a recipe other than my favorite Garlic/Parmesan Asparagus that I decided to try out. Kinda glad I did.

Balsamic Asparagus
Food.com/Recipezaar.com
The Line Up
1 bunch of asparagus
1 TBSP olive oil
ground black pepper
1 TBSP balsamic vinegar

The Game Plan
Prepare asparagus by washing and snapping off tough end
Heat oil in frying pan
Place asparagus in pan, keep moving until the asparagus changes color (3-5 minutes)
Add the balsamic vinegar & pepper, sprinkling over all the asparagus & mix to coat asparagus
Remove from the heat and cover for a few minutes to let the flavors develop

Coach's Post Game Conference
Not much to say about this recipe. It was very good, and very easy.

Final Score
Coach - Home Run
Catcher - Home Run
The All-Star - HA! I make him eat 1/2 a piece hoping that we'll fall on a way of fixing it that he'll like, but I don't count his score (it was a strike out for what it matters!)

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Garlic Pork Chops and Garlic Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan

This week was a busy one for Team Matos. The All-Star's football season is coming to a close. I can't say I'm sad to see it ending, we can definitely use some down time. But now that we've survived the week and made it through to the weekend, it's time to catch up and share with you what I've been cooking!

Of course, with practice 4 days a week this week I was going for some easy, QUICK recipes!

Garlic Pork Chops
http://www.recipesecrets.com/
The Line Up
6 Bone in pork chops 3/4" thick
1 envelope savory herb and garlic soup mix
2 TBSP vegetable oil
1/2 c hot water

The Game Plan
Preheat oven to 425. In broiler pan, without the rack, arrange chops. Brush both sides of chops with soup mix combined with oil. Bake chops 25 minutes or until done. Remove chops to serving platter. Add hot water to pan and stir, scraping brown bits from bottom of pan, serve sauce over chops.

Coach's Post Game Conference
As you can see from the picture, I did not use bone in chops. I also read a recipe recently that mentions soaking pork chops in milk & salt for a couple hours to tenderize them. I've tried it a couple times, and make pork chops a time or two without soaking them, and can definitely say that soaking them does help! (2 c milk + 2 tsp salt in a shallow bowl or baking dish to cover the chops - soak for 1-4 hours).
Also - when deglazing the baking pan, I splashed just a bit of white wine in to add just that little bit more flavor.

Final Score
Coach - Home Run
Catcher - Home Run
The All-Star - Home Run

Garlic Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
http://www.food.com/ Recipe # 88945
The Line Up
1 lb fresh asparagus
10 garlic cloves, minced
3 TBSP olive oil
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
1/4 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese (omit or use dairy free alternative for dairy free)

The Game Plan
Heat oil and garlic in a small saucepan over low heat until garlic becomes golden- several minutes (do not burn garlic); allow oil to cool.
Bend asparagus gently at a natural point and when it snaps, discard end pieces.
Place asparagus on a lipped roasting pan and toss with infused olive oil and garlic, coating all pieces.
Line up asparagus and push together, season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with grated Parmesan.
Roast in a preheated oven at 400°F for 12 minutes or until cooked to your liking.
Serve at once.

Coach's Post Game Conference
I don't infuse the oil with the garlic. I dump the oil in a large resealable plastic bag, add the garlic and asparagus and "toss" it in the bag (just moving everything around in the bag until everything's covered). Then Place it in the baking dish and sprinkling with the Parmesan.
Catcher had never had asparagus until I made this recipe the first time and he loved it! Between he and I we have eaten the entire batch the two times I've made it. The All-Star.. well, let's just say he's not a fan of any team who's colors include green!

Final Score
Coach - Home Run
Catcher - Home Run
The All-Star - didn't even show up to play!

***edit - please see label disclaimer in "True Confessions" - 11/7/2013

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