Grilled Pork Chops with an Apple and Onion Sauce

We use the grill all year long.  Just two days after a decent (and rare) snowfall last year, we were firing up the grill.  The "grilled taste" just makes me smile, and it means less clean up for the cook...bigger smile!  Although this recipe suggests using the grill (which indicates summer to most), it screams "fall" flavors!
 I love sweet and savory dishes (with a little touch of "spicy" too!).  This recipe is a loose combination of two recipes:  First, growing up, my mom often made a sweet and savory pork tenderloin and cranberry dish with egg noodles - It is still one of my favorites at her house.  Second, years ago I found a recipe in Taste of Home's Cooking for Two magazine that was a one-skillet meal with pork chops, apples, onions, and potatoes.
 I love to sneak in a veggie, so I added cabbage to the sauce.  Cabbage is such a great source of calcium (who knew?), fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and many of the B's, magnesium, and potassium.  It is also one of the strongest cancer-fighting veggies!  I love to sneak it into stir fry meals, as well as sloppy joes.
Please enjoy this sweet and savory fall treat-best dishes and yummy dreams!

Grilled Pork Chops with an Apple and Onion Sauce

4 bone-in pork chops

parsley, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper

3 medium apples (I used Gala)

1 large sweet onion

2 cups of shredded cabbage

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. apple pie spice

1/4 tsp. of nutmeg

dash of hot sauce

2 c. apple juice

4 tsp. cornstarch

2 tbsp. of your favorite BBQ sauce (We use Sweet Baby Ray's)

wheat egg noodles

Preparing the Pork Chops:

1.  Trim the pork chops.

2.  Pat dry and drizzle olive oil on both sides of the pork chops.

3.  Mix together desired amount of parsley, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper and sprinkle on both sides of pork chops.

4.  Place in refrigerator while preparing other ingredients.

Preparing the Sauce:

1.  Slice apples and onions and place in a saute pan with the cabbage.

2.  Add measured amount of salt, pepper, apple pie spice, and nutmeg to the pan.

3.  In a small bowl, mix together the apple juice, cornstarch and bbq sauce until the mixture is smooth.

4.  Add the mixture to the saute pan, cover, and cook on medium heat until fruit and veggies are tender.

5.  Prepare wheat egg noodles according to package directions.
6.  While the sauce and noodles cook, grill the pork chops until juices are clear.

7.  Place the pork chops on a bed of noodles and cover with the sauce.  Enjoy!

Thanks for reading, loves xo

Apples Three Ways: Grilled Apple "Pizza", Chunky Applesauce, and Apple "Sandwiches"

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," right?  I love apples and am not sure if the saying is entirely true, but I'm a willing participant.  The other day, a brand new "Taste of Home" magazine was in my mailbox.  I don't remember ordering it (surprise, surprise) but I can't get enough of food magazines, so I was thrilled to look through it.  Of course, there were pages dedicated to fall apple recipes and it dawned on me that I've never tried to make homemade applesauce. Thus, the apple-inspired weekend began.   So, I made the applesauce (mostly for my little one - but we loved it too!)  and I found this adorable apple "pizza" recipe too.  I lightened up the "pizza" and it's a "deliciously fall" dessert.  I have also included a third apple recipe that I found while browsing around in "blogland" the other night.  It is the most adorable apple "sandwich" from an equally adorable blog (please visit!):  http://www.mrshappyhomemaker.com/2011/09/apple-sandwiches.html

Grilled Apple Pizza 
adapted from R. Sandlin in "Taste of Home"

3-5 tart apples, peeled and sliced
Refrigerated pizza crust
1 tbsp. butter
Splash of apple juice
3 tsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
*extra melted butter for grilling
Optional:  cream cheese frosting, caramel sauce, raisins


1.  Brush the pizza crust with a little bit of butter and cook on a covered grill until golden brown.
2.  Meanwhile, place apples and tbsp. of butter in a saute pan and cook until apples are tender (this is where I added the splash of apple juice to avoid adding more butter).
3.  When apples are softened, add cinnamon and sugar.
4.  Place apple mixture on baked pizza crust.
5.  Top with anything of your choice!  We used raisins, caramel, and cream cheese frosting.

***I baked the crust in a pie pan in the oven due to the never-ending rain we're experiencing and it worked well - but it would be fun to do this on the grill!

Chunky Applesauce
adapted from D. Amrine in "Taste of Home"

4 cups of chopped, peeled tart apples (I recommend Braeburn, Granny Smith apples are a little too tart)
1/4 c. brown sugar
1. tsp cinnamon
dash of vanilla extract

1.  Cook apples with cinnamon and sugar in a covered dutch oven until tender.  Stir occasionally.

2.  Mash with a fork and add vanilla.
3.  Serve warm or chilled.

*This would make a great topping to a pork dish, or on ice cream.




Apple "Sandwiches"
By:  Crystal at "Mrs. Happy Homemaker"

Visit: http://www.mrshappyhomemaker.com/2011/09/apple-sandwiches.html
 to see the ingredients for this adorable recipe!  It's a must try for apple and peanut butter lovers!