Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (66 page)

Pork Chops in Orange Sauce

Kelly Evenson

Pittsboro, NC

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 5¼-6¼ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

4 thick, center-cut pork chops

salt to taste

pepper to taste

1 Tbsp. oil

1 orange

¼ cup ketchup

¾ cup orange juice

1 Tbsp. orange marmalade

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

¼ cup water

1. Season pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper.

2. Brown chops lightly on both sides in skillet in oil. Transfer to slow cooker. Reserve 2 Tbsp. drippings and discard the rest.

3. Grate ½ tsp. orange zest from top or bottom of orange (in order to preserve the main part of the orange for later use). Combine zest with ketchup, orange juice, and marmalade in skillet with reserved drippings. Simmer 1 minute, stirring constantly.

4. Pour sauce over chops.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 5-6 hours. Remove chops and keep warm on a platter.

6. In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water. Stir into sauce in slow cooker until it becomes smooth. Cook on High 15 minutes, or until sauce thickens.

7. Serve chops with orange sauce on top, along with slices of fresh orange.

Oxford Canal Chops Deluxe

Willard E. Roth
, Elkhart, IN

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes • Cooking Time: 4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

6 6-oz. boneless pork chops

¼ cup flour

1 tsp. powdered garlic

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. dried basil and/or dried oregano

2 medium onions, sliced

2 Tbsp. oil

1 cup burgundy wine

14½-oz. can beef broth

1 soup can water

6-oz. can tomato sauce

8 oz. dried apricots

½ lb. fresh mushroom caps

1. Shake chops in bag with flour and seasonings.

2. Glaze onions in oil in medium hot skillet. Add chops and brown on both sides.

3. Pour any remaining flour over chops in skillet.

4. In large bowl mix together wine, broth, water, and tomato sauce. Pour over meat. Bring to boil.

5. Remove chops from skillet and place in cooker.

6. Layer in apricots and mushrooms. Pour heated broth over top.

7. Cover. Cook on Low 2½ hours, and then on High 1½ hours, or until chops are just tender.

Serving suggestion: This is a great dish to serve with the Celtic specialty Bubble and Squeak—
Irish potatoes mashed with green cabbage or brussels sprouts
.

Note:

My favorite memory with this recipe was the time I prepared it in the tiny kitchen of a houseboat on the Oxford Canal and then shared it with five friends. It was a hit!

Pork Chop Slow Cooker Casserole

Janice Crist

Quinter, KS

Makes 5 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

4-5 medium potatoes, quartered or sliced

10¾-oz. can cream of chicken soup

10¾-oz. can cream of celery soup

2 15-oz. cans green beans, drained

5 pork chops

1. Layer potatoes in slow cooker.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine 2 soups until smooth. Spread over potatoes.

3. Cover with green beans.

4. Place chops on top of beans.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 5-6 hours or on High 4 hours.

Variations:

1. Cover soup layer with 4 slices of your favorite cheese.

2. Sprinkle chops with garlic salt.

Cheryl Hagner

Montague, MI

Teriyaki Pineapple Pork Chops

Kayla Snyder

North East, PA

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 10-15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 2- to 3-qt.

4 8-oz. bone-in pork loin chops

1 Tbsp. minced fresh rosemary,
or
1 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed

1 tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

½ cup teriyaki sauce

1. Put chops in slow cooker.

2. Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over chops. If you’ve stacked the chops, lift up the top ones and ladle sauce over bottom ones, too.

3. Cover. Cook on High 4-5 hours, or until chops are tender but still juicy.

Tip:

For added flavor, marinate chops in sauce 2-3 hours before cooking.

Apples, Sauerkraut, and Chops

Carol Sherwood

Batavia, NY

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

1 onion, sliced and separated into rings,
divided

⅛ tsp. garlic flakes,
or
garlic powder,
divided

3 cups sauerkraut, drained,
divided

1 cup unpeeled apple slices,
divided

1½ tsp. caraway seeds,
divided

¼ tsp. salt,
divided

¼ tsp. dried thyme,
divided

¼ tsp. pepper,
divided

4 ½”-thick pork chops

¾ cup apple juice

1. Place half of onion rings, garlic flakes, sauerkraut, apple slices, and caraway seeds in slow cooker.

2. Season with half the salt, thyme, and pepper.

3. Brown chops in large non-stick skillet over high heat on both sides. This takes only a few minutes since you’re browning and not cooking.

4. Place pork chops on top of ingredients in slow cooker.

5. Layer remaining ingredients in order given.

6. Pour apple juice over all.

7. Cover. Cook on Low 6-8 hours or on High 4 hours.

Pork Chops with Stuffing

Erma Kauffman

Cochranville, PA

Makes 2 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 1½-qt.

4 slices bread, cubed