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.

26 comments:

  1. What lovely pork chops! I like my stuffing a little on the drier side too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I 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!

    I'm saving this recipe. Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. YUMMY! Too bad my chickies won't let me do anything besides shake n bake with pork chops! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds like a lovely dinner. Back of the pavkage recipes seem to work well for me too.

    The apples sound divine!

    ReplyDelete
  5. 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 !

    ReplyDelete
  6. My Mom makes this! It's so delicious and comforting! I love it with the caramelized apples!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mmmmm, 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!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pork chops and apples..what a delicious meal:) I sometimes do my apples this way too and I like it better than apple sauce.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This 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'.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well 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!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What's the saying, the door latch is open and the lights are on. You're welcomed any time!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks delicious. You know it must be good if you've been making it 30 years! I love those kind of recipes :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Katy, this looks so delicious! I especially love your pairing with the caramelized apples.

    ReplyDelete
  14. gosh you make the best food..this looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks 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!

    ReplyDelete
  16. What 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!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I couldn't stop from saying Pork chops and applesauce! A very clever way to do stuffed pork chops!

    ReplyDelete
  18. It'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.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Holy 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!

    ReplyDelete
  20. OMG 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

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love pork chops and stuffing and always have applesauce. But these apples look so much better then applesauce. Love this recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I almost missed this since I can't eat pork.

    I certainly eat apples and this would make a great side dish for poultry. I am thinking, I could make this for the Sabbath.

    ReplyDelete
  23. OMG, this looks so good! You're an amazing cook. You truely are!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Katy - 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!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I made this years ago and am making it today, but i alternate porkchops, stuffing, and a pineapple ring in mine

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.