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Friday, June 12, 2009

Healthy budget meal: Pork Chops, squash, and zucchini

So it's been so hard for me to cook healthy and on a budget here lately, but this week I made this meal and it was a hit. The pork chops only cook for about 3-5 mins on each side so it is quick and easy. Recipe is enough for 5 people but you can make more. You will need a cast iron skillet or other oven proof skillet for this.

Ingredients:
1 family pack pork chops

3-4 med sized yellow squash, sliced thin
4-5 med sized zucchini, sliced thin
1 med onion, halved, then sliced thin
1-2 Olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Let your pork chops come to room temp and slice all your veggies. Turn on the oven to heat at 400 deg F. In an oven proof casserole dish, combine veggies, olive oil, salt and pepper, and place in the oven. The veggies will take about 20-30 mins depending on how thin you sliced them. When the veggies are almost done and tender, Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Salt and pepper the room temp pork chops on each side, and when the pan is hot put in the oil. Place pork chops evenly around the large skillet and brown on each side for about 1 min, until carmelized on each side. Place the skillet with all the chops into the oven (move your veggies or if they are done take them out) and let the chops cook about 3-5 mins on each side. Take the chops out and let rest a few mins, then serve with veggies. Searing the chops over high heat first will give great flavor and finishing them in the oven takes no time at all. This was such a hit with my husband, I think this is my new favorite way to cook pork chops, I can't wait to try it with cube steak next! You can def season the veggies with any seasoning you like, even add garlic into the mix.