Rub - a - Dub Dub Kansas City BBQ Rub

Things are getting slower around my house these days.  Kids are all working, or they are out and about, no one usually home for dinner.  So I am not cooking much anymore, because it's just me and the hubby.  I have to get to a "cooking for two" mentality, so I don't have a lot of wasted food.  It's a little hard adjusting to that way of cooking, after making meals for a large family all these years.  So last night it was dinner for two.  I served up thick, center cut boneless pork chops with
 Kansas City BBQ Rub, hot off the grill.

Recipe below.

To print recipe, click on it, highlight and print.

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Heat your gas grill.  Rub both sides of the chops generously with the Kansas City BBQ Rub. Place the chops on heated grill.  Cook for 10 minutes on each side if the chops are really thick cut, otherwise about

 6 -8 on each side.  Chops are done when juices run clear.  Look how good they look!

For a side dish - cut in 1 inch chunks, 1/2 large orange bell pepper, 1/4 red onion, 1/2 small yellow squash, 1/2 small green zucchini, and 8-10 baby carrots.  Drizzle with 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil,  and salt and pepper to taste. Place in a grill basket on the heated grill, toss occasionally while roasting.

  TIP:  ALWAYS DRIZZLE VINEGAR BEFORE OIL.

Quiet dinner for two.  OH and by the way,  it was delicious!

 Kansas City BBQ Rub

Ingredients for the rub

1 tablespoon white sugar

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

1/4 teaspoon cumin

Mix together in a bowl.  Sprinkle on food with a spoon then rub it in with clean hands. Store any remaining unused/untouched  rub in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  Rub can be used on pork, beef, chicken and fish.  Makes about 2/3 cup.

Yo Pork Chop, Stuff It!

We only eat pork a few times a year, so I like to keep it interesting when we do.   It is the other white meat so they say.  I am just really not a pork person, I don't know why, my mother always made it so good.  It is not an expensive meat to buy, I think it's as inexpensive as chicken.

I rummaged through the pantry to find out what to do with these two boneless center cut pork chops, there was just two of us eating.  I found cornbread stuffing that I keep on hand for times like these.  And so the story begins, I stuffed them and this is how I did it.

Two center cut boneless pork chops and a box of Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing Mix.  Cook the stuffing according to package directions (secret - I didn't use the butter).

 While the stuffing was cooking, I trimmed almost all the fat from the chops with a sharp knife, I don't like the fat on my meat.  Be careful with that knife, you don't want a trip to the emergency room!

 Then I butterflied them, cut them down the center, but not all the way through.  A little olive oil in the bottom of my baking dish so they don't stick.

 I had some pork seasoning in the pantry as well, and sprinkled both of the chops with it.  I figured, what the hay, gives it more flavor.  Place them in the baking dish open side up.

 Ok, that stuffing is ready and time to stuff the pork chops.  Fill them until you can't fit anymore and close the lid (fold over the top of the pork chop).

 Sprinkle more of that pork seasoning on top, and about 2 tablesooons of water in the bottom of the dish.

....... cover with foil so they don't dry out, bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until juices run clear.  During baking, I baste with the juices.  And remember, all oven temperatures are different, so baking time will vary.

WOW!  Tender and juicy stuffed pork chops.  I didn't serve gravy, but you certainly could.

 

And there is nothing better with pork than apples.  I peeled two apples.......

 slice them, put them in a frying pan.....

 with 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.

 What did I get?  Amazing cinnamon apples served right next to my stuffed pork chops!  What a yummy Fall meal, the hubby was happy too!  He said he fell in love all over again. With me that is, not the food.

Pork Chops and Apple Sauce

Here is a blast from the past, do you all remember the Brady Bunch episode where Peter is trying to find his identity and changes the way he speaks?  I still laugh at the way he said "pork chops and apple sauce" with his teeth clenched tight!  That's the first thing I think of when I say or hear that phrase.

So I made pork chops, the other night, on the grill, and served them up with some apple sauce, roasted green beans on the grill and garlic mashed potatoes.  I am not usually a fan of bones on my meat when I cook it, but these looked so good, and done on the grill, were fabulous, juicy and tender.

Center cut pork chops and Grill Mates Pork Rub are all you need.  Rub both sides of the chops with the rub and place on the hot grill.

About 7 - 8 minutes on each side, looking good!

 And all I can say is WOW!