Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples

Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples

Warm flavors like sage and cinnamon play up the contrast between the juicy chops and caramelized apples. Tart Granny Smiths and slightly sweeter Braeburn apples both work well for this dish.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop and 3/4 cup apple mixture)

Ingredients
1  teaspoon  dried rubbed sage
1/2  teaspoon  salt
1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
4  (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
1/2  teaspoon  vegetable oil
Cooking spray
1  teaspoon  butter
4  cups  (1/2-inch) slices peeled Granny Smith apples (about 4 medium)
1  tablespoon  brown sugar
1  teaspoon  fresh lemon juice
1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
Dash of salt
Preparation
Combine first 3 ingredients, and sprinkle over the pork. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add pork; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove the pork from pan. Cover and keep warm.

Melt butter in pan over medium heat. Add apples and remaining ingredients, and cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Serve the apples with pork.

Nutritional Information
Calories:251 (30% from fat)
Fat:8.3g (sat 3.1g,mono 3.3g,poly 0.9g)
Protein:24.1g
Carbohydrate:20.2g
Fiber:2.3g
Cholesterol:67mg
Iron:0.9mg
Sodium:388mg
Calcium:38mg
Abby Duchin Dinces, Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2003

Sicilian Sausage Soup

Sicilian Sausage Soup

This is a great soup.  It is hearty and very filling.  I added 3 cloves
garlic with the sausage and onion.

Recipe By     : Family Circle
Serving Size  : 8
Categories    : Soups
  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2  pound         pork sausage or sweet Italian sausage
   1      large         onion, chopped  (1 cup)
   1      can           (2 pound 3 ounces) Italian-style tomatoes
   2      cans          (13 3/4 ounces each) chicken broth
   1      teaspoon      leaf basil, crumbled
     1/2  cup           orzo macaroni
     1/4  teaspoon      salt
     1/8  teaspoon      pepper

Cook sausage in a large saucepan, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until meat loses its pink color.  (If using Italian sausage, remove casings before cooking.) 

Add onion; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes.  Add tomatoes, broth and basil; bring to boiling; stir in orzo, salt and pepper.

Lower heat; cover; simmer until orzo is tender, about 10 minutes.  Taste and add additional salt and pepper if needed.  Ladle into a tureen or soup bowls.  Serve with bread sticks or sesame crackers.

Recipe Author: Family Circle
Recipe Source: Family Circle Recipes America Loves Best
Author Note: Sausage adds a fine, robust flavor to this easy 30-minute soup.