Apples are in season here in South Carolina! What an exciting cooking time of the year! Apple Pork Chops, Apple Pies, Baked Apples, and not too mention the sheer joy of eating an apple every day to keep the doctor away!
Here is one of my favorite dishes for Fall.
Applesauce Pork Chops
6 Porkchops (preferrably organic, farm-raised)
1 TB olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced in rings
1/2 cup raisins
2 large apples
1 cup apple juice (real apple juice, no HFCS!)
1/2 cup apple sauce (optional)
1 TB brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1. Brown pork chops in oil on both sides
2. Place in a large ungreased baking dish
3. Place onions on top of pork chops
4. Sprinkle half the raisins on top
5. In a bowl mix apple juice and sauce, brown sugar, salt, basil, nutmeg and cloves; pour it over chops. Sprinkle rest of raisins on top.
6. Bake at 35o degrees for 60 to 90 minutes, until meat is tender
Nutritional Tips:
Apples are loaded with insoluble fiber that helps us feel full and protects against colon cancer.
They are a good source of vitamin C. If you have any open cuts or wounds, eat a ton of vitamin C to help heal your body and fight infection.
Eating apples along side a protein source (such as a pork chop) will help aid in the absorption of the iron. Vitamin C always helps the body absorb iron.
Pork Chops can be a healthy addition to your diet. As always, try and buy organic meats. They are raised without growth hormones, antibiotics, and in a humane way.
Pork is a great source of B vitamins, zinc, and especially Thiamine. Thiamine helps convert carbohydrates into energy. Who doesn't need more energy?
That's all there is to this recipe - short, sweet and yummy! I hope you all enjoy your last days of summer.
Falling head first into the Apple season,
DandelionHeart
