Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

This Week's Fancy Pants Meal: Simon Belmont's Porkchops

I have Cucco's Kitchen's cookbook, but it focuses on Legend of Zelda recipes. So I pilfered one he made from Castlevania.

His recipe calls for a two 2-inch bone-in pork chops. I used pork loin because I needed something to last a week. Using pork loin led to a somewhat dry slab of pork, so I'm assuming the bone-in pork chop would be jucier. I'd simmer it less next time.

The sauce is super excelent. Very savoury with a touch of sweetness, and a lot of onion flavor. I used it all cause I'm freezing the meals and when I warm them up, I want the pork chop to soak in it. I might simmer it longer without the pork to reduce it a bit.

Good stuff, no wonder Simon gets hearts for eating this.

# Belmont Pork Chops

Cucco's Kitchen
9.0 servings

4.0 pounds pork chops
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
2.0 tbsp olive oil
5.0 cloves garlic (peeled) (minced)
8.0 sprigs thyme leaves
1.0 cup onions (diced)
1.0 cup beef broth
1.0 cup red wine
1.0 tbsp soy sauce
1.0 tbsp herb de provence
1.0 tbsp Worcester sauce
2.0 tbsp unsalted butter
1.0 tbsp dijon mustard
4.0 tbsp brown sugar

1 - Season the pork chop with some salt, pepper and herb de Provence.
2 - Put a pan over medium-high heat
3 - Once it’s hot, add in the butter and 1 tbsp of oil oil, move the pan around till the the butter and oil and mixed
4 - Add the pork chops in the pan and add the thyme. We are going to sear them on both sides until they're nice and golden, about 2 minutes per side. Don’t concerned with cooking the chops through at this point, we just want a nice sear.
5 - Once both sides are seared and have a nice golden color remove them from the pan and set them aside to rest.
6 - Grab a paper towel and wipe away some of the extra grease.
7 - Add in the other tbsp of oil.
8 - Reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped onion. Cook them till they are translucent.
9 - Once they start to become translucent add in the minced garlic to the pan and cook, stirring it until the garlic is fragrant.
10 - Add in the beef broth, soy sauce, Worcester sauce, brown sugar mustard and red wine. Cook and stir for about a minute until the sauce is combined.
11 - Next add the browned pork chops back into the pan and nestle them inside the sauce.
12 - Raise the heat to high and bring to a boil.
13 - Once the sauce boils reduce too low, simmer and cover for 35-45 min till the pork is fork tender. Turn the pork over once half way through the cooking time.
14 - Once time passes and the chops are ready, remove from heat. Plate the chop facing up, pour some of that delicious sauce on top and bam, the Castlevania pork chop is done!

Makes 9 servings at ~400 calories per serving

Calories 415
Total Fat 18g
Total Carbohydrate 7g
Protein 44g

Normally yields 2 servings.

#thisweeksmeals #cooking

This Week's Not-So-Fancy-Pants Meal: Hamburger, Deconstructed.

I wanted hamburgers, I made hamburgers. No bread for diabetic and "the half loaf I have left is too small for the burger" reasons.

Ah, all the meals have been cooked for today, and now it's time to sit back and relax with some quality educationally enriching entertainment.