Apple Cider Pork Chops

"Tender Smithfield Prime Bone In Thick Cut Pork Chops soaked in an apple cider brine and baked to tender perfection. Perfect for holiday cooking!"

It seems crazy that the holidays are just around the corner, and The Husband and I have already started changing our to-go dinner habits.

As the weather turns cooler, we’re bundling up in the house more – and, let me tell you, he can not wait to light the first fire of the season in our fireplace. He’s being as patient as he can (read: not so patient) for the Phoenix weather to finally get with the fall & winter program.

And also, as we get closer to the end of the year, we’ve started gravitating more toward the baked comfort foods. It’s all those delicious savory dishes that really make me love this time of year.

I’ve already got a couple go-to recipes in my comfort cooking arsenal, but my latest discovery came from an ingredient I stumbled across in the Fresh Meat Department at our local Bashas’: Smithfield Prime Fresh Pork.

When shopping at Bashas’, be sure to find the Smithfield Prime label with a blue glow behind the lettering. If you don’t see it on display with the packaged meats, ask for it at the butcher’s counter!

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that The Husband is the big “meat eater” in our household. And don’t get me wrong – I would never turn down a good cut of meat – but between the two of us, he’s the one that likes to make sure it stays a staple in our diets. He especially loves cuts of meat that include the bone because he says it emphases the flavor.

So, I’m always happy to indulge him with his favorite dinners, but in the case of Smithfield, I think we’ve found a new dinner option that’s a perfect fit for both of us. He gets to have his savory cut of meat while I enjoy the fact that Smithfield Prime Fresh Pork is extremely tender and juicy (in fact, it’s 20% more tender than other leading brands for natural pork.)

Plus, with Smithfield, they don’t use growth promotants, have no added hormones or steroids, the product is made in the USA, and it’s gluten free. I think we can agree that not all pork is created equal, and I’m always looking for easy ways to improve the quality of the food we eat. Smithfield Prime Bone In Thick Cut Pork Chops were an easy win-win for us.

As for the recipe itself, I love that it embodies one of the key flavors of fall: apple cider. This is done by creating a brine for the meat that’s flavored with the cider, giving the thick-cut pork chops the perfect taste of fall.

If you haven’t cooked a lot of meat like this, I’ll bet you might be wondering – why bother with a brine? Well, the primary reason is due to taste. Brine is essentially a salt water solution, and when the pork absorbs it, it helps the meat become a juicier and more flavorful dish. Plus, a brine is a perfect way to infuse some additional flavor, which is exactly what I did by adding apple cider to the mix. And, finally, brining also helps prevent the meat from drying out while baking, and since this recipe is baked, a good brine is crucial.

So when you couple Smithfield’s already tender pork with a good brine, the results are simply amazing.

Seriously – talk about perfection.

If you’re looking for more festive ideas to add pork to your fall and winter cooking (tis the season for pork, after all!) be sure to check out the Smithfield site for more meal ideas. I’ve already picked up a few new ideas myself!

Also, if you’d like to try Smithfield Pork for your holiday cooking, be sure to pick up this coupon before visting your local Bashas’. (The coupon for Smithfield Fresh Pork is available from November 14th, 2016 to December 3rd, 2016 and is for $1 off 1 Smithfield Fresh Pork Item.)

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Apple Cider Pork Chops

Apple Cider Pork Chops! Tender Smithfield Prime Bone In Thick Cut Pork Chops soaked in an apple cider brine and baked to tender perfection.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Meat Pork

Dietary Gluten Free

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 40 minutes

Total Time 13 hours

Servings 4 pork chops

Author Chrisy

Ingredients

• 2 cup water cold
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed, plus more for seasoning
• 1 tsp thyme dried
• 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 2 cup apple cider chilled
• 4 Smithfield Prime Bone In Thick Cut Pork Chops
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• miniature sweet peppers optional
• 1 pinch salt to taste
• 1 pinch pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring water, salt, brown sugar, thyme, peppercorns, and cloves to a boil. Cook for 2-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until salt and sugar have dissolved.
2. Remove saucepan from heat. Add ice cubes and stir until ice has melted, then stir in chilled apple cider.
3. Place Smithfield Prime Bone In Thick Cut Pork Chops in a resealable bag, then pour in apple cider brine. Seal bag and refrigerate pork chops for 6-12 hours, turning the bag half way through.
4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray, then set aside.
5. In a large bowl, add olive oil and miniature sweet peppers. Toss peppers in oil, then arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
6. Remove pork chops from bag; discard brine. Rince pork chops thoroughly and pat dry. Dip pork chops in remaining olive oil, coating both sides, then arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Season peppers and pork with salt and pepper, to taste. If desired, sprinkle a little brown sugar on top of the pork chops.
7. Bake peppers and pork chops for 20 minutes, then use tongs to flip. Cook for another 30-40 minutes or until reaches 140°F to 145°F at the thickest part with an instant-read thermometer.
8. Serve pork chops immediately with cooked peppers.