HOW TO SEASON AND COOK PORK CHOPS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Mix together black pepper, seasoning salt, garlic & onion powder. Rub evenly all over each pork chop. (Season to your taste. My husband doesnt like his as salt so I season his less.)
• Heat olive oil in a frying pan over med-high heat. Lay pork chops on pan and allow to sear for 2 minutes without moving them. Flip the pork chops over and allow to sear for 1 minute longer.
• Remove pork chops and place in an oven safe baking dish. I use a 19 x 13 pyrex baking dish.
• Pour in the water. You will want the water to come about 1/3 the way up the pork chop.
• Cover baking dish tightly. I use tinfoil and seal the sides very tight. Place in preheated oven.
• Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Your pork should be at 160 degrees when done. I would not check until at least an 1 1/2 hours have past. You will let out all the steam that is keeping the chops moist.
• The juices in the baking dish make a wonderful gravy.

Steps:

• Take the pork chops out of the refrigerator and season on both sides with salt and pepper — we use just less than 1/4 teaspoon of fine salt per pork chop. Set the chops aside to rest for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190° C).
• Heat the oil in a large oven-safe skillet — such as a cast iron pan — over medium-high heat. As soon as the oil is hot and looks shimmery, pat the pork dry, and then add the pork. Cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. While the pork sears, scatter half of the thyme over the side of the pork chops that are facing up.
• Flip the pork so that the seared side is facing up. (If there is a fattier side of the pork, use kitchen tongs to hold the chops, fat-side-down until it sizzles and browns slightly; about 30 seconds.)
• Scatter the remaining thyme over the seared side of the pork. Arrange lemon wedges around the chops, and then loosely cover with foil or tuck parchment paper around the pan. Slide the skillet into the oven to finish cooking. (If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the pork chops to a baking dish.)
• Bake 8 to 15 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reads 145 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the chop. (Since cook time depends on the thickness of the chops, check for doneness at 5 minutes, then go from there, checking every 2 minutes.) If you do not have a thermometer, you will know they are done, if the juices run clear when cutting into the chops.
• Transfer pork chops to a plate, then cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let the pork rest for 5 minutes. Serve with additional herbs, roasted lemon wedges, and a spoonful of pan juices on top.