Chops With Fruit Stuffing Recipes

CRANBERRY-APRICOT STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit in a small bowl. Pour 1/4 cup boiling water over the fruit and set aside for 10 minutes to soften. Drain, reserve the soaking water. In a mini-processor process the fruit with the nuts, butter, fennel and half the shallot until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small sealable plastic bag or pastry bag. Snip about a 1/2-inch opening in the corner of the plastic bag. With a small paring knife, make a pocket starting from rounded side of each chop. Set the tip of the bag inside the pocket and press a quarter of the stuffing into the chop. Repeat with the remaining chops and filling. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pat the chops dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Brown one side of the chops, until well browned about 5 minutes. Use tongs to hold the chops and sear the edges of the chops. Turn and brown the other sides of the chops, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chops to a baking sheet and bake until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the chops registers 135 degrees F, about 15 minutes. While the chops are in the oven make the sauce. Drain the oil from the saute pan. Off the heat, add the Calvados and the remaining shallots. Return the pan to the heat, taking care since the alcohol may flambe, and cook over high heat until the alcohol is reduced by half and is slightly syrupy. Add the broth and the fruit soaking liquid and boil down until the liquid is reduce by about a third. Add the cream and continue to simmer until it thickens slightly. Whisk in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add any juices that have accumulated on the baking sheet to the sauce. Divide the chops among 4 warm plates or a large platter. Pour on the sauce and serve.

CHOPS WITH FRUIT STUFFING

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown pork chops in oil on both sides. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. , Place half of the stuffing mixture in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Top with pork and remaining stuffing mixture. Cook, covered, on low until pork is tender, about 3 hours.

CHOPS WITH FRUIT STUFFING

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown pork chops in oil on both sides. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Place half of the stuffing mixture in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Top with pork and remaining stuffing mixture. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

PORK CHOPS WITH FRUITCAKE STUFFING

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet cook the onion and the bell pepper in 2 tablespoons of butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened, stir in the fruitcake and salt and pepper to taste, and let the stuffing cool. With a sharp paring knife make a 1-inch-long horizontal incision along the side of each chop and cut a deep, wide pocket in the chop. Fill the chops with the stuffing and close the openings with wooden picks. Pat the chops dry with paper towels and season them with salt and pepper.
• In a heavy ovenproof skillet (preferably cast-iron) heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the oil over moderately high heat until the foam subsides and in the fat brown the pork chops. Add 1/4 cup water, bake the chops, covered, in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven, turning them once, for 30 minutes, and transfer them to plates. On top of the stove boil the pan juices until they are reduced to about 1/3 cup, strain them through a sieve into a bowl, and spoon them over the chops.

PORK CHOPS WITH FRUITCAKE STUFFING

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet cook the onion and the bell pepper in 2 tablespoons of butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened, stir in the fruitcake and salt and pepper to taste, and let the stuffing cool.
• With a sharp paring knife make a 1-inch-long horizontal incision along the side of each chop and cut a deep, wide pocket in the chop.
• Fill the chops with the stuffing and close the openings with wooden picks.
• Pat the chops dry with paper towels and season them with salt and pepper.
• In a heavy ovenproof skillet (preferably cast-iron) heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the oil over moderately high heat until the foam subsides and brown the pork chops.
• Add 1/4 cup water, bake the chops, covered, in the middle of a preheated 350°F oven, turning them once, for 30 minutes, and transfer them to plates.
• On top of the stove boil the pan juices until they are reduced to about 1/3 cup, strain them through a sieve into a bowl, and spoon them over the chops.

PORK CHOPS W/ APPLE CRANBERRY STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• If pork chops are not butterflied, slice through leaving attached at one side so it opens like a book. Season inside and out with salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat a skillet on medium high heat with 2 T oil. Place pork cut side down in the pan.
• Leave for 4-5 minutes. Turn and fold the chop shut and brown each outer side of the meat. If the edges are very thick you can also brown the edges. The meat should not be cooked all the way through, only nicely seared and browned. Remove pan from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• To start the stuffing, add the apple liquid, chicken broth, onions, apples, cranberries and the butter to a saucepan and following directions bring to a boil.
• Once liquid is boiling stir in the bread and seasoning. Fold in well making sure all bread gets moistened. Cover. Remove from heat and let stand 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Arrange meat with the "hinged" side down in a 9x9 baking dish or cake pan sprayed with a nonstick spray. Fill the upward facing pockets of the pork with the stuffing. If you have any stuffing left, spoon around the base of the meat.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20-30 minutes or the meat is cooked to your satisfaction.
• I still have a thing about pork and I tend to overcook it to this day. Please use your own judgment:).

STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• To prepare the cranberry filling: Soak 1 cup dried cranberries in the boiling water for 20 minutes. Drain the cranberries, reserving 1/4 cup of the water. Place the cranberries, reserved water, 2 tablespoons pine nuts, cinnamon, cloves, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar in a food processor. Process until finely chopped; set aside.
• Bring the chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until the chicken stock has reduced to half its original volume, about 15 minutes. Add the white wine, red wine, cranberry juice, and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Continue cooking until the sauce has reduced by half again, about 10 minutes. Keep warm.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cut a pocket into the side of each pork chop, about 3/4 of the way through. Stuff each pork chop with the dried cranberry mixture, then season on all sides with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the olive oil in a large, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke. Cook the pork chops on one side until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the pork chops over, and cook another few minutes until browned on the other side too.
• Pour 1 cup of the sauce into the skillet and bring to a simmer. Place the skillet in the preheated oven, and bake until the pork is no longer pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
• To serve, place each pork chop onto a warmed dinner plate, and spoon the sauce from the skillet over top. Sprinkle the pork chops with 2 tablespoons dried cranberries and 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts for decoration. Serve with the remaining cranberry sauce.