Spiced Pork Chops with Apple Chutney

This recipe is FANTASTIC...I mean really, really GOOD!  The flavors just say Fall and of course the apples and cranberries go so good with the pork.  Try it!

Ingredients:

Chutney:

• 1 tablespoon butter 
• 5 cups (1/4-inch) cubed peeled apple (about 3 apples - I like Granny Smith)
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries 
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar 
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice  

Pork:

• 3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
• 4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
• Cooking spray $\

Directions:

• To prepare chutney, melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add apple; sauté 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Add cranberries and the next 6 ingredients (through allspice); bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes or until apples are tender; stir occasionally.
• 2. To prepare pork, while chutney simmers, heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Combine chipotle and next 4 ingredients (through black pepper); sprinkle over pork. Coat grill pan with cooking spray. Add pork to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until done. Serve with chutney.

This is restaurant quality...I mean NICE restaurant quality!  Hope you like it! 

Pumpkin Granola

Today I was inspired to whip up a batch of PUMPKIN GRANOLA.

I am really impressed with how it turned out since it's my first attempt at ever making homemade granola.

Ingredients:
6 cups of whole rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 T brown sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup pumpkin puree (canned not pumpkin pie filling)
2 T. water
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Combine oats, coconut, almonds and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl - toss well.

Combine honey, canola oil, pumpkin and water then add to dry ingredients and toss well - mixture will be moist.

Place oats on a large baking sheet, bake in oven for 20 minutes - remove and gently toss and bake another 20 minutes.  Remove from oven, toss and bake for another 20 minutes or until brown and crisp.  Mixture will still be a little soft but will crisp up more as it cools off.  

Remove from oven and stir in cranberries and raisins.  Let cool completely and then store in sealed container or plastic bag.  Use within two weeks to enjoy best flavor.  

This is really a taste of AUTUMN!

Chocolate Chip Streusel Pumpkin Bread

My family LOVES the flavor of pumpkin!  Yesterday I baked this delicious bread - everyone loved it! 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 15 oz. can of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup applesauce 
• 1/2 cup fat-free vanilla pudding (I used one single serving container)
• 2 large eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup oats
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 stick butter cut into small pieces
•  Cooking spray  

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Spoon batter into 2 (8 x 4-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Make streusel topping by combining small chucks of the butter with brown sugar and oats (I do this with my hands) and then sprinkle evenly on top of each loaf.  Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans on a wire rack, and remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.

Enjoy for a light dessert or maybe even for a breakfast treat! 

                                                                                                                                                  

Happy Fall

I hope all of you are enjoying this Fall season - this is one of my favorite times of the year!  Not only are the trees starting to turn but here in Kentucky there is that little, wonderful nip in the air.  I wanted to share some little things I have done to decorate around the house to celebrate Fall.

 

I just love the white pumpkin! 

And here is what the Fall Coasters look like that I recently did, encase you missed my blog post on how to do this click here:  Tile Coasters