Thursday, October 22, 2009
Easy Baked Stuffed Pork Chops and Carmelized Apples
Now this is a recipe I made way back when, maybe 30 years ago or so. It used to be on the back of the Pepperidge Farm Herbed Stuffing bag, has since been removed, but I still make this from time to time, and it's still a favorite. It makes a nice presentation and one that I prepare when I was something just a little extra special for the family.
I've pretty much used the stuffing recipe that's on the Pepperidge Farm website with a couple of changes indicated in parenthesis.
Easy Baked Stuffed Pork Chops
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 inch x 5 inch loaf pan, set aside.
Lightly brown 6 pork chops (bone in, boneless, loin, center cut, your choice), in butter or oil, not cooking all the way through. You're looking just to give it some color. Place chops in prepared loaf pan, standing the pork chops in a rows down the length of the loaf pan.
Prepare stuffing mix.
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) chicken broth (you may not need the entire amount)
4 cups herb seasoned stuffing
1 medium apple, peeled, cored and chopped
A good pinch of Bell's Seasoning (optional)
Heat the butter in a 10-inch skillet or a deep sauce pan over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Add the broth and heat to a boil. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the stuffing mix and apples, stirring until well combined. Taste for seasoning. I like to add a little extra Bell's Seasoning because I like the flavor of sage, and I think the pork chops can use the little added flavor. The other note I'd like to make here is that you may not not need all that broth. The last time I did this, the stuffing was way too wet; I would go with half the amount, but that's personal preference.
Now, with a spoon (and probably your hands), lightly pack the stuffing in between the rows of pork chops, so that you'll have stuffing, pork chop, stuffing, pork chop, stuffing, etc. The stuffing will expand so don't pack it in too firmly.
Bake at 350F for one hour or until done, depending on how thick your chops are. When ready to serve, scoop out a pork chop with the stuffing.
I often serve pork with apples; the two flavors just seem to go together so well. This time I made a simple caramelized apple.
Caramelized Apple
Really, this is just too easy, not a recipe per se, but a method. A friend of mine from Kentucky shared her family's recipe with me.
Four apples, peeled, cored, and sliced as if for a pie. (Granny Smiths are good for this as they stand up to cooking.) Add a quarter cup of brown sugar, two tablespoons of butter. Put all into a frying pan and heat through over medium heat. The butter and the brown sugar will melt, making a wonderful caramel coating for the apples. Cook, stirring frequently, until apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon if you want. It's really that simple. This makes a nice change from applesauce and a delicious way to use up apples.
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What lovely pork chops! I like my stuffing a little on the drier side too.
ReplyDeleteI think this looks fabulous. I just spent the last hour looking through an old church cookbook which is filled with stuff like this. Good ol hearty home cookin!
ReplyDeleteI'm saving this recipe. Thanks for the post.
YUMMY! Too bad my chickies won't let me do anything besides shake n bake with pork chops! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lovely dinner. Back of the pavkage recipes seem to work well for me too.
ReplyDeleteThe apples sound divine!
That looks so tasty Katy ! I bought some pork chops today ( but the thin sliced type)...and I have most of the other ingredients apart from the 'Bell Seasonin'g...I think will make this for my husband tomorrow night. Thank you !
ReplyDeleteMy Mom makes this! It's so delicious and comforting! I love it with the caramelized apples!
ReplyDeleteMmmmm, what a fanatastic and delicious fall meal, Katy! Pork chops and stuffing are delicous on their own, but paring them with the apples is heavenly! I could eat a bowl of those apples!
ReplyDeletePork chops and apples..what a delicious meal:) I sometimes do my apples this way too and I like it better than apple sauce.
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThis looks wonderful and looks so pretty on the plate! Great idea for a special dinner. I love cooking apples like that, but we always called it 'fried apples'.
ReplyDeleteWell my goodness dear Katy...you have such a way of evoking goodness, warmth and family from your little kitchen down there! I must say, even though I have never had pork chops done this way I can tell that I would LOVE this recipe. Wonderful idea, and beautiful presentation. Love the carmalized apples too. For sure that brings back memories. One of your commentors noted that this was a recipe for Fall...I couldn't agree more. I can just feel the wind a whipping away outside the kitchen window but inside...ahhh...the warmth and aroma of a great home cooked meal like this....set the table for one more!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the saying, the door latch is open and the lights are on. You're welcomed any time!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious. You know it must be good if you've been making it 30 years! I love those kind of recipes :)
ReplyDeleteKaty, this looks so delicious! I especially love your pairing with the caramelized apples.
ReplyDeletegosh you make the best food..this looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the encouraging words. I agree the quote you left 100%. It is always difficult to lose weight but finding yummy recipes makes it a little easier. That is so amazing that you lost over 60 pounds on WW and kept it off for 5 years. As for putting it back on, blame it on your sweetie-Pi (just kidding). Actually my husband is away in the army and I think it makes it a little easier for me to concentrate on myself while he is away, so that I can surprise him when he comes back. By the way, I love pork chops with apples and stuffing but I use just stove top stuffing and apple pie filling. I guess I should try doing it from scratch. Your recipe looks really delish. Yum Yum!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cozy meal for autumn! I bought some stuffing at the store the other day and I was trying to think of what to do with it. I didn't get chops but I did get a pork tenderloin roast. Maybe I can use that. Thanks for the nice recipe!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't stop from saying Pork chops and applesauce! A very clever way to do stuffed pork chops!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how certain foods have an affinity for each other. Pork and apples is one of those glorious combinations. This sounds really good and it's a great recipe.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow Katy, I am making this dish this week no matter what!!! I love love love love stuffing and pork chops with apples... Mmm Mmm Mmm!
ReplyDeleteOMG that looks like pure bliss!! Ty for another gem, I will, WILL be making these babies this week..You really make me Smile, Katy..hugs, Diana
ReplyDeleteI love pork chops and stuffing and always have applesauce. But these apples look so much better then applesauce. Love this recipe!
ReplyDeleteI almost missed this since I can't eat pork.
ReplyDeleteI certainly eat apples and this would make a great side dish for poultry. I am thinking, I could make this for the Sabbath.
OMG, this looks so good! You're an amazing cook. You truely are!
ReplyDeleteKaty - I'm risking the wrath of the chickies and put this on my meal plan this week! :) KK likes stuffing a lot so I'm hoping this will make her happy!
ReplyDeleteI made this years ago and am making it today, but i alternate porkchops, stuffing, and a pineapple ring in mine
ReplyDelete