Last weekend we picked up our half of a organic pig, we got ribs, bacon, hot dogs, roast, ham steaks, and pork chops. When we were trying to figure out what we wanted for dinner this evening I suggested we try the chops and find a good recipe to go with them. Cooking Light to the rescue again! I got my Cooking Light cookbook at Costco for about $20 dollars, a great deal for all the recipes we have made out of here.
Pork and Pear Sauté with Lemon Vodka Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 2 (4-ounce) boned center-cut loin pork chops (about 3/4 inch thick)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper, divided
- 2 peeled Anjou pears, cored and halved (about 1 pound)
- 1/4 cup vodka or dry white wine
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Preparation
Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the pork chops with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add pork chops to skillet; sauté 3 minutes on each side or until pork is done. Remove pork from pan, and keep warm. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in pan over medium heat. Place pear in pan, cut sides down. Sauté 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove pear from pan, and keep warm. Stir in the vodka, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, rind, juice, and chives, and cook for 1 minute.
For a side we roasted broccoli with 1 clove of garlic and a drizzle of olive oil for 20 minutes at 400 degrees, I love roasted broccoli- especially when the ends get crispy! Tonight’s wine is a 12 Mile Trail Merlot- a good basic merlot. I know a lot of people think merlot is boring but it can be great for a nice everyday kind of wine.
Last weekend we picked up our half of a organic pig, we got ribs, bacon, hot dogs, roast, ham steaks, and pork chops. When we were trying to figure out what we wanted for dinner this evening I suggested we try the chops and find a good recipe to go with them. Cooking Light to the rescue again! I got my Cooking Light cookbook at Costco for about $20 dollars, a great deal for all the recipes we have made out of here.
Pork and Pear Sauté with Lemon Vodka Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 2 (4-ounce) boned center-cut loin pork chops (about 3/4 inch thick)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper, divided
- 2 peeled Anjou pears, cored and halved (about 1 pound)
- 1/4 cup vodka or dry white wine
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Preparation
Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle the pork chops with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add pork chops to skillet; sauté 3 minutes on each side or until pork is done. Remove pork from pan, and keep warm. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in pan over medium heat. Place pear in pan, cut sides down. Sauté 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove pear from pan, and keep warm. Stir in the vodka, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, rind, juice, and chives, and cook for 1 minute.
For a side we roasted broccoli with 1 clove of garlic and a drizzle of olive oil for 20 minutes at 400 degrees, I love roasted broccoli- especially when the ends get crispy! Tonight’s wine is a 12 Mile Trail Merlot- a good basic merlot. I know a lot of people think merlot is boring but it can be great for a nice everyday kind of wine.
Why do Saturday’s always go so fast? It is already noon and I just finished breakfast. We have been very productive today- the whole downstairs has been dusted, vacuumed, swept, floors washed and all furniture has been vacuumed to get rid of about a million little Clifford hairs. As much as I appreciate a clean house all the effort can be overwhelming! Maybe one day I will have a magical fairy that will clean the whole house for me. After listening to my stomach rumble for a few hours I finally made some steel cut oats with chopped apple, almonds, dates and a bit of brown sugar. A little sliced apple on the side and a big cup of Good Earth Sweet and Spicy tea which is definitely my favorite kind of tea. I have a full stomach and am sitting down to watch Gray’s Anatomy.
Here is what Clifford did while we cleaned- his all time favorite activity. Bone chewing 
As of right now we have no plans tonight 
Yeah for relaxing!
