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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Thursday Recipe - Easy Lasagna and Traditional German Pork Chops

Thanks to @KDSarge on Twitter, I have recipe suggestions. No pictures, because I'm imagining these in my head. Maybe I'll cook the lasagna for dinner tonight, but the pork chops will have to wait until I've gone shopping again. And don't cook them both for the same meal. Sauerkraut and lasagna just don't mix.

This time of year, when spring is still not here and the cold is set in my bones, I want comfort food, the kind that warms heart, soul, and body. These recipes fit the bill.

With our milk allergies, I'll be doing a pot of dairy-free lasagna (almost not worth doing, because the cheese is the best part) and one with goat cheese (which I can't eat, it makes me sicker than cow cheese). I'll have to cook pork chops for Valentine's Day.

Easy Lasagna

1 12 oz package elbow macaroni or spirals
1 large can spaghetti sauce, whatever flavor and brand you prefer
1 lb. hamburger, browned and drained (or use Italian sausage or ground turkey or whatever meat you want)
2 c. steamed cauliflower, roughly chopped
2 c. shredded mozarella
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese
Any or all of the following:
1 c. chopped onion, sauteed
1 c. chopped bell pepper
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1 c. olives
1 c. chopped zucchini
1 c. frozen spinach, thawed and drained

Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente (slightly undercooked). Drain.

Add sauce, meat, cauliflower, half the cheese, and any extras you want to add. Stir gently until mixed. Pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Spread evenly. Sprinkle with the rest of the mozarella and the parmesan. Bake at 350° until hot and cheese is melted. Serve with green salad and garlic bread.

Traditional German Pork Chops (great with German Potato Salad and steamed veggies)

6 thick cut pork chops (for 6 people)
1 T. oil
1 t. salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1 t. rubbed sage
1/2 t. paprika
1/2 c. thinly sliced onion
2 c. sauerkraut (find a good refrigerated bottled brand. Don't use canned)
1 large granny smith or other tart apple, cored and thinly sliced

Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add pork chops. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes per side, until nicely browned. Reduce heat to medium. Remove pork chops, set aside. Add onions and stir fry for 2 - 3 minutes until soft. Add pork chops back to pan. Sprinkle pork chops with salt, pepper, sage, and paprika. Spread sauerkraut over chops. Add apples. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until pork is completely done, about 20 - 30 minutes. (Cut one open and make sure the center is not pink. If they have bones, check near the bone.)

Serve with extra sauerkraut and brown mustard.

6 comments:

  1. Mmm, German food. It's sad that I'm the only one in my family that likes sauerkraut.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm the only one who likes it here, too. The best place I've found to get good stuff is at Costco. It's about $4 for a 2 quart jar of good kraut. But do you know how much 2 quarts is? Lots and lots, when you're the only one eating it. I need to find a local friend who also likes kraut.

    BTW, cooking it with the apples and stuff makes it a lot milder. It also helps keep the pork tender and juicy.

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  3. Lol. Yeah. I've got a lot of picky eaters that no amount of apples can change. :(

    I should make this and offer PB&J as an alternate course. :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cook it as written, then pull off the kraut and let them eat the chops. If they ask for your secret, you decide whether you want to say "kraut" or "Alien pepper life forms".

    I offer them the choice: Eat what I cooked or make your own.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ooh, looking forward to trying these! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the suggestion, KD. I hope you enjoy the recipes.

    ReplyDelete

Keep it clean, keep it nice.