My go-to cook/recipe guy Alex has been busy teaching little ones at the local elementary school, so he doesn’t seem to have as much time to cook. I miss him.
But its Wednesday, and I had the opportunity to try out Gerri McCorkle’s father’s/grandmother’s Burl Ives Pork Chop recipe using my beautiful Staub cast iron pot. I love the way the food comes out so tender in this pot.
This is the last week of summer and now that fall is right around the corner, you might want to give this recipe a try.
Here’s some step-by-step instructions from Gerri (with a few tweaks from me):
Gerri recommends pork chops but I couldn’t find any good ones at the market, so I settled on a Tenderloin.
Brown the pork in olive oil to seal in the flavor.
Thinly slice one onion and peel and slice two apples.
Place pork in pot. Top with onions and apples.
Pour 2 cups of Apple Cider over the entire dish. Apple cider breaks down the onions and combined with the freshly cut apples, will create an incredible aroma in your kitchen. 
Gerri suggested mashed potatoes and fresh string beans. I had some Yukon golds, so I boiled and mashed them.
Place the mashed potatoes on a plate, top with pork and pour some of the liquid/onions/apples over the dish. Steam up your favorite veggies and you have a complete meal. I’m telling you, the pork just melts on the fork and in your mouth. The entire family will be asking for more!
In honor of Burl Ives, Gerri’s dad and grandma and because it’s my birthday month, I’ve decided I need to give you another chance to win some great cookware.
Just let me know what you remember about Burl Ives. What did he looked like, what he was famous for, did you see him in movie/TV show, does he remind you of your childhood, is he still alive? (sure, go ahead and Google him).
Reply to this post and you will be entered into a contest for a $200 gift certificate from Sur La Table, one of the best places for kitchen goodies. This way, you can pick out your favorite cookware.
Contest will end Wednesday, Sept. 28 at noon.
cinderelliesister 
September 22, 2011 at 8:55 am |
btw – I simmered the pork for about two hours. Cast iron cooks fast then it keeps the moisture in without over-cooking. If you are timing this, I would say that 1 hour is all you need to be ready for the dinner table.
September 22, 2011 at 11:05 am |
When I think of Burl Ives I think of Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit. Was he the voice of Uncle Remus? I think of a hefty man with a guitar, why I don’t know. Kind of friendly, like my favorite uncle. I think of someone old, but then I’m thinking of him when I was a child, so he could have been 30 for all I know. I guess when I think of him I remember a happy, warm man.
September 22, 2011 at 1:22 pm |
The pics look good!
I only know Burl Ives name. I have no idea who he is 😦
September 22, 2011 at 2:46 pm |
What?!? I get that you are young (little sista!) but you didn’t even Google him?
September 26, 2011 at 7:53 pm |
Believe it or not, I didn’t need to google Burl Ives. Yaay! He always reminds me of Christmas. What would the Christmas season be like without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer playing on CBS? Burl Ives was the Snowman and narrator. And now my kids look forward to it, too. What’s great is that they don’t care it’s a “Christmas” movie. The first time MacKenzie was introduced to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, she was hooked. She DVR’d it…YES…SHE DVR’d it all by herself. It was on our U-Verse list for a while. During Spring break, she watched it over and over again! At one point, I almost forgot it was Spring! She even told me that the snowman reminded her of her grandpa…and she’s right! He does resemble Jason’s Dad…even has the curled up mustache!
September 27, 2011 at 3:58 pm |
I think of Santa and a bowl full of jelly.