Maple Dijon Apple Sauced Pork Chops

 I wanted to capture your attention with this photo of an afternoon high yesterday. We have only been here five days, and each day by afternoon, it warms up to toasty highs of 95, 96, 97, 99, and then 100 yesterday. At the first light of dawn, dog walkers and walkers are out and about each day. The good news is that when the sun goes down after 5:00,  it cools down to tolerable temperatures. So we are still in the grilling season with a 2-hour time difference until daylight savings time when it will be only an hour. We've already had several very early Minnesota callers not realizing the time difference. 😁

Maple Dijon Apple Cider Sauced Pork Chops

Cook Notes: This delicious autumn dish is packed with fall flavors. I made the sauce separately and spooned it over the grilled pork chops. Another dinner alternative would be to use chicken breasts with the apple sauce pictured below, following the same directions.

The meal was paired with parmesan risotto. 

Ingredients:

• Two pork chops or two chicken breasts
• 3/4 cup chopped sweet onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 crisp apples, diced

Sauce Ingredients:

• 2 cups apple cider
• 1/2 chicken broth (low sodium)
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup (not pancake syrup)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon apple brandy or dry white wine
• 1/2 teaspoon each thyme and rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

Directions:

• Grill pork chop or chicken or pan sear in a fry pan.
• Stir fry onions in a large fry pan for about 5 minutes. Add garlic cloves and stir fry for 1 minute more.   
• Mix all sauce ingredients in a bowl, adding diced apples. Add the sauce to a large frying pan with cooked onions, garlic cloves, and meat if not grilling. Cook on low, uncovered, until the sauce thickens, about 25 minutes, and the apples are tender. Add wine or brandy. If grilling, add cooked meat to the sauce. Cook uncovered 5-6 minutes longer. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat is done. 

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