The Perfect Fall Weekend- Apple Stuffed Pork Chops

Good Friday morning friends and foodies. It's a gorgeous fall day here in Chicago, and I am really looking forward to doing some cooking over the weekend.
After doing 3 fantastic seafood recipes during October (National Seafood Month) so I figured it's about time we get back to some great gourmet meats!
Admittedly, I am your typical Chicago carnivore.
The average Chicagoan consumes 7lb more beef per year than the average American residing in any other city, and everyone knows Americans consume the most beef overall. So I guess you could call Chicago the beef consumption capitol of the world. I honestly don't even want to see the figures on our pork consumption :)
On the topic of pork....it is going to be the feature item for my recipe this weekend. I'm going to be making a fall favorite of mine with a NEW Lobster Gram product I have never tried before, our Niman Ranch all natural 10oz bone in pork chops. I have only become aware of Niman Ranch in the last year or so since we started working with them, and I have to say...I'm a HUGE fan. The Spiral Cut Holiday Ham we carry I prepared in the office for the trial...it served 20 people and everyone had rave reviews. It's easy to be an awesome cook when you start with outstanding ingredients like meats from Niman Ranch.
Anyway...back to the recipe. Apple Stuffed Pork Chops.
I have a great apple stuffing recipe that will be stuffed into the pork chops and baked.
My kitchen is going to smell like fantastic pork and apples.
In short, my kitchen is going to smell like fall, and I can't wait! It's making me hungry just thinking about it!
So...I won't share the recipe until Monday when I post the video and other image, but to give you an idea of what I'm starting with, here are some images from the frozen shipment that arrived today.
Happy Eating Foodies!

Drunken Grilled Pork Chop Video

Good morning everyone! Its a rainy, dreary Monday here, but not even that can dampen my spirits too much this week. I am only working two days this week, and then I'm off for 5 days in a row. Yay vacation. Not really planning on doing too much. I'm turning 25 on Wednesday so my week and weekend will probably be one long celebration. Thankfully the weather is supposed to be nice by then so I'm sure I'll do a bit of grilling.
...and speaking of grilling...I have the new videos and recipes from my Drunken Grilled Pork Chop recipe this weekend. The marinade made the pork chops perfectly moist and tender. I'll definitely be making this one again. On the down side, I made the Purple Foodie's Garlic Oven Fry recipe again and unfortunately it ended up making my camera man ill. He suffers from diverticulitis and apparently he can't partake in freshly milled black pepper. Oh well, I didn't know and neither did he. The fries however still rocked something fierce. I'll just have to make sure he isn't eating with me when I use it.
While I'm getting the the pictures together from this adventure, here are the videos and recipes I used. Pictures are on the way and this time I swear I won't forget for a week!



Short video montage of the chops grilling away


Ingredients

* 2 Bone-In Pork Chops, about 1” thick
* 1/8 cup soy sauce
* 1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
* 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
* 1 cup of your favorite beer

Directions
Place ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined. Place chops in zip lock bags and spoon marinade onto chops. Seal bags and massage marinade into the chops. Place bags in fridge and let sit for 4-24 hours turning bags as needed to distribute marinade. After chops are sufficiently marinaded, heat electric grill on high. Remove chops from bags and place directly on heated grill. Cook on high for 7 minutes on each side. Internal temperature of cooked pork chops should reach 170 degrees. Meat should be white all the way through.

Cider Brined Pork Chops

Lately I have been all about brining meat. I found this recipe on Eating well, and I have decided to give it a try this weekend. If if had not been for the blackberry Pork chop saute last night, I would be making this for dinner tonight!

Ingredients
Cider Brine

• 2 cups apple cider
  
• 1 cup water
  
• 1/4 cup kosher salt
  
• 1/4 cup honey
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 2 cups ice

Pork Chops and Sauteed Apples

• 2 bone-in pork chops, trimmed
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
  
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, divided
  
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 1 teaspoon butter
  
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion
  
• 1/2 cup white wine
  
• 1 tart apple, peeled and thinly sliced

Recipe Directions
To prepare cider brine: Pour cider and water into a bowl and stir in salt until dissolved, then stir in honey and cinnamon until the honey is dissolved. Stir in ice and check to see that the mixture registers 45°F or lower on an instant-read thermometer.
To prepare chops & apples: Place chops in a large sealable plastic bag. Carefully add the brine to the bag, seal, then place the bag in a bowl in case of any leaks. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 8 hours. Combine sage, pepper and 1/8 teaspoon ginger in a small bowl. Remove the chops from the brine. (Discard bag and brine.) Sprinkle both sides of the chops with the sage mixture. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add oil and the chops. Cook until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to a plate. Melt butter in the pan; add onion, stir to coat, cover and cook, stirring often, until starting to turn translucent and brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine and stir, scraping up any browned bits; cook for 1 minute. Stir in apple, cider and 1/8 teaspoon ginger; bring to a boil. Nestle the chops into the sauce, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Turn the chops, cover and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the chops registers 145°F, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the chops to a warm platter and tent with foil. Bring the sauce in the pan to a boil and cook until it is syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the chops and serve..
Source:Blackberries and Pork Chop Recipe