Maple Bacon & Apple Stuffed Pork Chops

 

Well said, Homer…

Greetings Glutards!  How’s the work week been?  Yeah, mine too.  My vacation can’t come soon enough.  But until then, why not escape to some gluten free gourmet in your very own home?  It’s cheaper than a plane ticket, and you don’t have to worry about the hassles of packing.  Grab a cocktail and follow me to the kitchen for Maple Bacon & Apple Stuffed Pork Chops.

Now, this is something that I just came up with the other day.  I had a pack of bacon sitting in my fridge and I was trying to think of some interesting things to do with it.  It turned out to be pretty amazing, but I’ll let you be the judge.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 Pork Chops
• 3-4 strips of cooked bacon, chopped
• 4 slices of gluten free bread- toasted & cut into small cubes
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 3 TBSP Maple syrup
• 1 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/2 of a green apple, chopped
• A pinch of cayenne pepper
• A pinch of thyme
• Salt & pepper. to taste
• Pamela’s Baking Mix, for dredging
• 2 TBSP Butter

Here’s how ya do:

In a large bowl, add your homemade gluten free breadcrumbs, green apple, bacon, and shallots.  Mix it all around.

To your bowl, add your maple syrup and apple cider vinegar.  Now, throw in your cayenne, thyme, salt and pepper.  Stir it up real good.  You may want to get in there with your hands to squish and mix everything together.  Isn’t this fun?  Set your fondled stuffing aside for later.

Ok, lets play with knives!  Take your pork chops and carefully cut into one side with a small pairing knife.  Don’t make the opening too large.  You don’t want your stuffing to fall out.  Keep using your knife to carve out a cavern in your pork chops for all of that delicious stuffing.

Once you’ve gone all ‘Jack the Ripper’ on your pork chops, now it’s time to bring the stuffing back into the picture.  Take small bunches of stuffing at a time and well, stuff, it into your chops.  Make sure you fill the whole thing.

Next, dredge your stuffed chops in your Pamela’s mix.  Make sure to coat all sides.

In a large skillet, melt your butter.  You want it to be just at the sizzling point.  Add your pork chops to your buttery pan.  You want to sear all the sides of your chops.  You’re looking for a nice golden brown color.

Once your chops are seared on the outside, it’s time to place them on a non-stick baking sheet and pop them in a 350 degree oven.  You want them to party in there for about 20 minutes.  It’s very important that stuffed meat items reach the proper internal temperature.

And that’s about it, folks!  Plate up your chops with your favorite gluten free sides and you’re set.  I chose to make crispy Brussels sprouts and brown rice with mine.  I also made a caramelized apple and bacon reduction to put on top…but that didn’t turn out the way I wanted it.  Cook and learn, I guess.

Mix.  Stuff.  Bake.  Enjoy!

Glutardedly Yours,

 

~Tim

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