Slow Cooker Pepper Pork Chops

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but it looks really good. 

The recipe calls for marinating overnight, so be sure to plan ahead!   ~Shelly

Prep - 20 Minutes

Marinate - 8 hours

Slow Cooker - 6 hr, 20 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons black peppercorns, slightly crushed
1 pound ice
4 (1 to 1 1/2-inch thick) bone-in pork chops  
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3 ounces dried apple slices (Opt. dried apricots or fresh apples)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, julienned
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions

Combine the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup kosher salt, brown sugar and peppercorns in a medium saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Cook just until the salt and sugar dissolve, then remove from the heat and add the ice. Place the pork chops into a 2-gallon zip-top bag along with the mixture and seal. Place in a plastic container and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the chops from the brine, rinse, and pat dry. Season on both sides with the kosher salt and set aside

Place the apples in the slow cooker.

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 12-inch stainless steel saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute the pork chops on both sides until golden brown, approximately 5 to 6 minutes per side. Once browned, place the pork chops into the slow cooker atop the apples.

Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan followed by the onions and saute until they begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth to the pan to deglaze. Add the black pepper and thyme and stir to combine. Transfer this to the slow cooker, set to high, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Decrease the heat to low and continue cooking for another 4 hours and 30 minutes or until the pork is tender and falling away from the bone.   

Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown

Pairs well with Pinot Noir.       

Recipe on The Food Network.com

Blueberry, Apple and Pineapple Dump Cake

There really are no easier recipes than "Dump" Cakes.

Ingredients

• 1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling
• 1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 package (12 ounces) frozen unsweetened blueberries, OR Fresh blueberries.
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 package white cake mix (regular size)
• 2/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°. Mix pie filling and pineapple in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish until combined. Toss blueberries with sugar; spoon over pie filling mixture. Sprinkle with cake mix; drizzle with butter. Top with walnuts and almonds (do not stir).
  
• Bake until golden brown and bubbly, 45-55 minutes. Serve warm.

Test Kitchen tips

Try serving this dessert in a dish with half-and-half, heavy cream or ice cream.

Toast the nuts separately before adding to the dish for extra crunch and flavor.