Pork Chops in Garlicky Sauce



This recipe came from Cooking from the Heart of Spain, a cookbook I got from the library. I was drawn to the use of fresh herbs. Pork chops aren't usually something I am enthusiastic about, which is partly the reason why I chose this recipe - garlic makes everything tasty!


I did make several adaptation to the recipe, including not peeling the potatoes and skipping the bitter pimenton, which I've never even heard of. All of my adaptations are in italics. In the above picture I had just added the potatoes, and on the back burner is brown Basmati rice, a recent find of mine at Publix. Mike LOVES Basmati rice, so I was happy to find a brown version. It was called "popcorn rice" on the package, and I couldn't figure out why until the fragrance filled the house - it really does smell kind of like popcorn!




Just about ready! At this point Mike and I were both standing over the stove about ready to reach in the skillet and dig in! The combination of garlic and parsley added at the last minute smelled SO good!


I didn't realize until I got to the table that I prepared two starches...whoops! I don't think I've EVER made that mistake! This was the first time that I really, truly enjoyed pork chops - I definitely plan on making these again! TRY THIS RECIPE!

Garlic-Grilled Game Hen


Mike made dinner Friday night on the Big Green Egg. He also made the baked french fries and broccoli with cheese sauce (by Green Giant - yummy!) The Hen was excellent; garlicky and moist, with a bit of smoky flavor from the Egg. Mike got the recipe from a Better Homes and Gardens grilling cookbook, but it was originally for a whole chicken, so it required a bit of adaptation. All he really did was work some minced garlic and salt under the skin of the hen, then stuff the insides with lemon slices, red bell pepper slices, and garlic. The skin was brushed with lemon juice and oil, which gave it a lovely golden color. Beautiful. So as to waste nothing, I cooked the bones and what little meat was on them in the crock pot to make a nice broth for cooking rice at a later date.

Having a Cornish Game Hen so close to Valentine's Day made me smile. Our first Valentine's Day together, Mike requested one of these for his dinner, and I had no idea what is was. After a panicked phone call to my mother, the hen actually came out pretty good, but not as good as this. I've come a long way since then, but this dinner was all Mike! Way to go, hon!