Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Chops

Some nights ….

Some nights when I get home from work, dinner is that last thing on my mind.  An actual, honest to goodness, dinner.  One with a main protein and two sides.  Served on an actual dinner plate.  All prepared and ready to be enjoyed at the same time ( I am terrible at timing!)  Eaten at the table, while seated.

Some nights the only thing that makes it into my mouth is a bowl of popcorn and a glass of red wine.  Totally dinner.  Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  Or how about a cup of cereal with a splash of cold milk…because cereal eaten out of a coffee cup tastes better at night.  I don’t know why, it just does.  Or hard-boiled eggs, that were meant for breakfast, but it is dinnertime and you are hungry now…you can figure out breakfast in the morning.

Then there are nights where you actually make it home and throw together a meal that would be considered dinner according to anyone’s standards.  These are the nights where you actually think that you might be a grown up.  That you might be a responsible 29-year-old.  High -five to self!

Last night…this happened.  Brown sugar glazed pork chops with roasted green beans were served at my dinner table.  I made enough for two nights…I am having an adult moment.  It is sure to pass.  At least I hope…I kinda like popcorn and wine for dinner. 

Brown Sugar Glazed Pork Chops

Adapted from Eat, Live, Run

Ingredients

• 2 Pork Chops, bone in
• 1 Cup Flour
• 1 Tablespoon Sweet Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Pinch of Crushed Red Peppers
• 2-3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Whisk together flour, paprika, and salt in a shallow dish ( a pie plate works great).  Pat dry the pork chops with paper towel.  Dredge pork chops in the flour mixture, coating both sides, shake off excess.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.  Place pork chops in skillet and cook on each side for about 4-5 minutes until they are well browned.  Remove from skillet and place in a casserole dish.  Pour lemon juice into skillet and with a wooden spoon, scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan, deglazing the pan.  Pour over the pork chops in casserole dish.  Sprinkle the top of the pork chops with brown sugar and place in oven for about 20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches at least 145°F.

Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving.

p.s.  no lemon juice?  how about apple juice or apple cider?  I am thinking, yes!!!