PIONEER WOMAN PORK CHOPS AND APPLES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a heavy pot, cook bacon over medium heat for a couple of minutes to render fat. Add onions and cook with bacon for a few minutes, or until bacon is chewy and onions are golden brown. Add grits, chicken broth, and water. Stir together and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover pot, and cook 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally and making sure the liquid level is okay. If grits begin to get dry, add a little more warm broth.After 30-40 minutes of cooking time, pour in cream. Cover pot and continue to simmer on very low heat for another 30 minutes, or until grits are done. Taste and add salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. Remove from heat and stir in grated cheese. Keep warm and serve.

Steps:

• In a pie plate, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, cayenne and thyme leaves. Dredge each side of the pork chops in the flour mixture, then set aside on a plate. Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops to the pan (work in two batches if the need be) and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Remove them to a plate. Add the onions to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, until lightly golden and slightly softened. Remove from the heat. Add the cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce to the base of a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Whisk everything to combine. Add the onions and thyme sprigs, the nestle the pork chops into the broth mixture. Cover and cook over high heat for 1 hour, then reduce to low heat for 2 more hours, until tender. Serve the pork chops with some of the gravy, onions, and a sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves, over cooked egg noodles or mashed potatoes, if you like.