Fried Pork Chops with Baby Potatoes

This is a decadent one! Pork chops can be dry, but not if you bread them and fry them, let me tell you. This recipe makes juicy, delectable pork chops, and it's so easy.

You will need:

2 pork chops (the ones I used were boneless, but that was because they were on sale--choose the cut you prefer)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 tsp garlic powder (if you use garlic salt, omit the tsp of salt that follows)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp thyme leaves

These are small potatoes!

1 egg
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
Enough oil (I use olive, canola or safflower) to have a 1/2 inch deep in your choice of frying pan
3/4 lb of baby potatoes, such as French fingerling
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp salt

3 shallow bowls, such as soup/salad bowls(you'll need to dip the pork chops in them so deep bowls will not do unless they are quite large)
whisk
frying pan big enough for 2 pork chops
ungreased cookie sheet or oven dish for the potatoes

Preheat oven to 400.

Drizzle the 2 tbsps of olive oil over the potatoes on the cookie sheet. Dust the 1 tsp of salt over them. Bake for 45 minutes, checking 2-3 times to flip the potatoes and make sure they aren't cooking too fast. They are ready when they are browning on at least one side and their skins are wrinkled.

Wait until about 20 minutes into the potato baking time, and then set the frying oil to heat on medium to medium high.

Put the flour and spices in one of the shallow bowls and whisk together. In another shallow bowl, beat the egg. In the final bowl, put the bread crumbs.

Coat the first pork chop in the flour mixture, then dip both sides in the egg, then cover with bread crumbs. I often put the pork chop in the bread crumbs and then bury it in more crumbs, to make sure it's well coated.

Place in the pork chop carefully in the oil--if you've never fried anything in oil before, note that burning oil is very painful! Just set it gently in and avoid splashing. Repeat the process with the second pork chop.

Fry on each side for eight minutes.

Serve with the potatoes and enjoy!

Couscous with Chicken, Red Bell Peppers & Yellow Squash

France has a history of imperialism, which, on the whole, I'm not so proud of since I like the idea of self-determination. However, one good thing to come of it is that some North African dishes, like couscous, have become standards in French cuisine. All this to say that the following recipe is far more French than Algerian or Tunisian.




You will need:

1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
4-6 chicken legs
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 carrots, diced
4 medium yellow or summer squash, sliced
1 tomato, diced
1 15oz can of  chick peas (AKA garbanzo beans), rinsed
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 heaping tbsp cumin powder
3 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp black pepper
chicken broth (optional, 1-2 cups)

3 cups of couscous
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 tsp salt
chicken broth (optional, 6 cups)


3-Quart Saucepan
Measuring Spoons
Chef's Knife
Cutting Board
Stockpot
Can Opener
Strainer for rinsing the chickpeas
Wooden Stirring Spoon
Ladle
Serving Spoon
Mixing Bowl with Lid

Put the onion, garlic, and chicken in the stockpot with the olive oil to brown for three or four minutes on high heat. I don't add salt because the crushed tomatoes and the chickpeas are both already salty, but it's a matter of taste. You may want to add a bit of salt--if so, do it now. Add the red bell pepper, carrots, and squash, stirring. Heat for another five minutes, continuing to stir to keep the ingredients from sticking to the bottom. Add the diced tomato, chick peas, and crushed tomatoes, stir and lower the heat to medium-low. Add the cumin, cayenne, and black pepper.

Once the mixture is bubbling, turn down low and allow to cook for at least 40 minutes, although this is the sort of recipe that can cook for as long as you like, and it just gets better. If you do decide to cook it for longer, make sure the liquid doesn't reduce too much. Add chicken broth if you think it's boiling down.

When you're about ten to fifteen minutes from finishing cooking the mixture, boil 6 cups of water (or chicken broth, but omit the salt) with the tablespoon of EVOO and the salt. Put the couscous in the mixing bowl. As soon as the water or broth is boiling pour it over the cous cous, give it a quick stir, and cover for five minutes. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork.

Plate the couscous with the chicken and squash mixture on top. Enjoy!

Serves four.

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If you try one of my recipes, please comment and let me know how it came out!