Pork Perfection

August 14, 2020
Pork Chops with Apples, Carrots, and Mustard Sauce
Pg. 94
Natalie, Season 2
27 down…72 to go!

Usually I’m not a big fan of pork, but tonight I was. Growing up, I always found pork to be dry and simply not as yummy as say steak or chicken. I mean, I love bacon, but like pork chops, pork loins, etc…have not really appealed to me. As I’m refining my cooking skills, I’m realizing: 1) When pork is cooked properly, it is actually very delicious, juicy, and flavorful, and 2) Always make a sauce to go with your meals. I am a little sad I didn’t start making sauces along with my proteins until now at age 27. Not only does it add great flavor, but just in case you accidentally overcook your protein (it happens to all of us), it helps it not feel as dry.

Overall, this meal was superb. The bone-in pork chops had a good amount of fat that helped keep them juicy and flavorful. The apples and carrots were so yummy. I was apprehensive about them when I read that they were seasoned with cumin–a spice I usually use for things like fajitas. But all the flavors came together really well. The sauce was a little thin for my liking, so read below for what I did to make it thick, creamy, and so, so tasty.

What did I do differently? (Just one thing!)

To make the sauce thick and creamy, like I like it, I added some (low fat) sour cream. Whisking that in takes any sauce to the next level, in my opinion. I also added some crushed red pepper flakes. The heat was very mild, but really enhanced the sauce.

All my love,
Dani, a big tid

P.S. Besides bacon (because everyone loves bacon), what is your favorite pork dish? Honestly, mine is crispy pig ears! I know some of you are judging me right now, but don’t knock it ’til you try it. I had them for the first time at a fancy restaurant a few years ago, and was so impressed with how good they were! Would you try them if you had the chance? Let me know in the comments!