KB’s Amazing Skillet Pork Chops stuffed with Apple and White Cheddar

Feb 15, 2021 | Intermediate, Main Event, Recipes, The Amazing Herbes, The Amazing Rub

From the Kitchen of Terri Bergman

KB’s Amazing Skillet Pork Chops stuffed with Apple and White Cheddar
Finished with a Dijon, Maple and Lemon-Kissed Sauce

MY INSPIRATION was to make a skillet version of a fork tender pork chop…but keep the applesauce off the plate. These pork shops are slightly stuffed with thin slices of apple and a slice of a very sharp Vermont White Cheddar Cheese.  The Cheese virtually melts into the apples and the taste is wonderful! So here is how I prepared these chops…but the sauce may just steal the show here. Pork bits from the skillet (which will have remnants of the Amazing Rub and some corn starch) , loosened and cooked in stock, with spicy Dijon mustard, sweet and pure Vermont Maple Syrup and just to shout it out, a kiss of lemon juice. No need to thicken…just bring to heat, a quick boil and down to a simmer that reduces by one half! YUM!

CATEGORY: Main Event
SERVES: 4
LEVEL: Intermediate, you got this!

INGREDIENTS:
4 pork chops (1” thick)
1 small peeled, cored and thin sliced apple
4 pcs Vermont Sharp Cheddar (2” squares)
2 Tbsp Corn Starch
1 Tbsp KB’s Amazing Rub ( or your house sweet n spiced rub)
½ tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp Olive Oil

SAUCE:
1 C chicken stock
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
1-2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
Chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon of The Amazing Herbes

DIRECTIONS:
Take the pork chops out of the cooler and pat with paper towel, cover and let come to temperature.

Make a slice into side/middle center of pork chop and stuff with thin apple slices and 1 pc cheese.

In a plate; add corn starch and the Amazing Rub, black pepper. Press all chops each side into this seasoned corn starch. 

Heat oil in a skillet that has a cover. When the oil is hot, place the chops down into oil and sear for 2-3 minutes to brown nicely. When browned, carefully flip the chops and start the sear on that side. Almost immediately bring the heat down to low, cover the pan…and put timer on for 10 minutes. Because chop size may vary, start to check done at 5-7 minutes. When juices run clear, remove from the pan, set aside and cover with foil for at least 5 minutes.

This is when you make your sauce

SAUCE:
Deglaze the pan with chicken stock working all browned bits from bottom of pan. Bring to a slight boil, lower to simmer adding Dijon mustard, maple syrup and lemon juice. Simmer to reduce by half, at this point taste for seasoning…salt, pepper more mustard…your taste. 

Add fresh parsley or 1 slight tsp of the Amazing Herbes if desired for a finish.

Plate the chops, great with potato and mixed veggies. 

Sauce til your heart is content – ENJOY!

Beef Bourguignon

Feb 11, 2021 | Intermediate, Main Event, Recipes, The Amazing Herbes, The Amazing Rub

From the Kitchen of Terri Bergman

Delicious French Provencal beef braised in red wine until meltingly tender and sensuously delicious!

CATEGORY: Main Event
SERVES: 4-6
LEVEL: Intermediate

INGREDIENTS; 
1/4 lb (peppered) bacon, cut into small strips
3 lbs lean stew beef
3 cups red wine (Burgundy)
1 cup beef stock
1-2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 full orange peel, no pith
1 tsp Amazing Herbes or (2 sprigs parsley; 2 sprigs thyme [1/4 tsp if dried]; 1 sprig rosemary)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp Amazing Rub
1/2 cup flour or corn starch
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

RECOMMENDED TO FINISH WITH:
2 cups tomatoes, crushed or chopped
3/4 cup black (Nicoise) olives, pitted
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
1 lb mushrooms sliced
1 tsp Amazing Rub (or) 1 tsp sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Place orange peel with Amazing Herbes (or create herb bouquet with orange peel, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves and place in) with beef, wine, 1 onion, carrots, and garlic in a large, non-reactive bowl. Refridgerate overnight or for up to two days (or just a few hours if that is all you have!).  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Remove the beef from the marinade and set the marinade aside. Pat the beef dry and toss with flour (or corn starch) and Amazing Rub blend to coat, shaking off any excess.  Set the beef aside.

In a large frying pan, slowly cook bacon to release fat. Do not brown. Set bacon aside.  Brown the stew meat in the bacon fat over high heat. Brown the meat in batches. If you overcrowd the pan, the meat with steam and your stew will not a have a rich brown color. Add a little oil to the pan if needed. Place in a large pot with a lid.

When all of meat is browned, deglaze frying pan with 1 cup of beef stock. To deglaze; pour stock into pan and cook it while stirring to dissolve all of the good crispy stuff in the bottom of the pan. Pour over meat.

Add remaining marinade, tomato paste, garlic, thyme, bay leaf and reserved bacon pieces. Bring to a boil on the top of the stove and season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with a lid and place in the oven. Cook slowly for anywhere from 3-5 hours, stirring once or twice. (Or, cover and simmer over low heat on stovetop for about 2 hours, until meat is tender.)

Your dish is ready to be served! 

Or, finish with this last 30 minute step.
In a large frying pan, melt butter.  Add the onion and mushrooms and sprinkle with Amazing Rub (or sugar), saute until golden brown. Stir the tomatoes and olives into onion mixture and return to the oven for another 30 minutes.

Serve on individual plates in a ring of whipped Duchess Potatoes.

TRY IT! Terri adds 2 tbs of balsamic vinegar and a couple of dark chocolate squares to add shine and finish just before serving.