Giangi's Kitchen

Potatoes roasted with bacon and garlic.

We love potatoes!! Well, I should say: “I love potatoes” and therefore I will cook them as many times as I can get away with it. We also use our oven often, and tonight is the perfect occasion to have both dishes in to cook at the same time. The flavors of the pork and the potatoes will blend in nicely, and the potatoes will leave you wanting more. A nice glass of white wine will be perfect….

Tonight’s Dinner March 2, 2010
Pork Chop Normand
Roasted Potatoes with Bacon and Garlic
Steamed Broccolis

PORK CHOP NORMAND
1-tablespoon olive oil
4 center-cut pork chops, about ¾ to 1 inch thick
1/8 cup dry white wine
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar

Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Heat the oil in a large skillet, and sauté the pork chops over medium-high heat until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side.  Transfer the chops to a baking dish.  Add the wine to the skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up any brown bits.  Pour the wine over the chops, cover the dish with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 minutes.
Cut the apples into 1/8-inch thick slices.  Melt the butter in a skillet and sauté the apples slices over medium heat, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes.  Add the sugar, and continue cooking until the liquid forms a caramelized glaze on the apples, 1 to 2 minutes.
Spoon the apples over the chops and serve.

ROAST POTATOES WITH BACON AND GARLIC
8 thick slices bacon cut into squares
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, sliced, optional
1 lb. potatoes cut into ½ inch chunks
Sea salt

Put the bacon in a roasting pan, pour over the oil, and toss to coat.  Roast in a preheated oven at 375° for 5 minutes, adding the garlic if using, after 3 minutes.  Add the potatoes and toss to coat with the oil.  Season with salt.  Roast for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

STEAMED BROCCOLIS
1 head of broccolis florets, cut at the stem
Salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Steam the broccolis until done to taste. Sprinkle lightly with salt and olive oil.  Gently stir and serve either warm or cold.