Jerk Pork Chops, Pineapple, and Cucumbers in Sour Cream

This is a triple threat today.  A little taste of Floribbean on this 82 degree Saturday!

Jerk Pork Chops: (marinade recipe from Jamaicans.com)

2, thick cut pork chops

jerk marinade: 

 INGREDIENTS :

1/2 cup Pimenta ( allspice berries)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
6-8 garlic cloves
4-6 Scotch bonnet peppers
1 tablespoon ground thyme or 2 tablespoons thyme leaves
1-2 bunches scallions (green onions)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoon soy sauce to moisten

Put content in a food processor or blender and liquefy
Pour sauce in a Jar and keep refrigerated.
The sauce will keep forever if kept refrigerated
To increase spiciness blend pepper and pimenta and add to sauce the hot peppers at any time.

Marinate the chops over night and flip once in the morning to make sure they are evenly coated.

Ideally, you would use allspice wood if you have it, if not, hickory chips work just fine.  Soak the chips in water and follow your smokebox's directions for us. Preheat your grill to high heat and place the chops on the gill, close lid for 1 minute.  Flip the chops, baste and cover for another minute.  Drop the heat to medium and continue to grill the chops for another 4 minutes.  Flip the chops, baste and close the lid and grill for another 4 minutes. Remove from grill and let stand at least 5 minutes before serving to let the meat rest.

Cucumbers in Sour Cream:

Ingredients

2 medium cucumbers, peeled, sliced thin

1 medium onion, sliced thin

1 tsp salt

Dressing:

1/4 to 1/3 C Heinz (brand is important) apple cider vinegar

1 Tbl sugar

8 oz sour cream

paprika

 

Instructions

Just before serving, drain cucumbers and onions WELL.

Blend dressing ingredients together. Add dressing to cucumbers and onions. Garnish with paprika.

Grilled Pineapple

This one couldn't be easier.  Either use a fresh pineapple, or the easiest way, a can of pineapple slices.  drain the pineapple and reserve the juice to mix with your orange juice (YUMMO).  Sprinkle both sides of the pineapple slices with a little brown sugar to help them caramelize on the grill.  Place the slices on the grill over medium heat for 4 minutes total, flipping frequently to avoid sticking/burning.  Serve immediately or over ice cream.

OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!  This was SOOOOOO yummy!  The cucmber recipe is from my Aunt Josie and perfectly compliments the heat from the jerk.  The pineapples were perfect and the whole meal just tasted like sunshine on a plate.  This one is going in the highly recommend pile!

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Picatta-Style Pork

So I refused to make the hubby cook every night...it defeats the purpose :D.  Tonight I decided to try my hand at Picatta-style pork (I know it's spelled wrong, but that's how it is in the book).  This is from Better Homes and Gardens: Great Cooking for Two page 28:

Ingredients:
8 oz pork tenderloin, sliced 1/2 inch thick
2 Tbl water
1/4 tsp instant beef or chicken bouillon
nonstick spray coating
2 Tbl lemon juice
2 Tbl butter
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
dash pepper

Directions:
place each pork slice between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.  Working from the center to the edges, pound the pork with the flat side of a meat mallet to 1/8-inch thickness..  Remove plastic wrap.

combine water and bouillon; set aside.  Spray the unheated rack of a broiler pan generously with the cooking spray.  Arrange pork slices on broiler pan; brush generously with bouillon mixture.  Broil pork 3 to 4 inches from the heat about 2 minutes per side or until pork is slightly pink and juices run clear, brushing pork frequently with bouillon  mixture to keep moist.

Meanwhile, for sauce, in a small saucepan combine the lemon juice, butter, mustard and pepper.  Heat through over low heat, using a fork to mix well.

To serve, transfer pork slices to individual plates.  Spoon sauce over pork.  If desired, garnish each serving with a lemon peel strip if desired. Makes 2 serving.

Substitutions: I used 2 boneless pork chops instead of a loin.  The only other change made was I think I got dyslexic and broiled for 3-4 minutes instead of 2 on each side. It actually wasn't too tough.  Tasted delicious and fresh as well!  This was incredibly quick and easy to top it off.

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