Piles of bright shiny apples in different shades and varieties tempt us each week at the farmer’s market and we always fill our baskets with more than we can ever eat alone. This fall, I find myself searching for ways to add apples to meals other than dessert. Tonight we enjoy apples for dinner.
I make Pork Chops with Red Cabbage and Apples often not only because it makes a dent in my farmer’s market bounty but also because it is fast. If the pork chops are super thick, as they sometimes are, I slice them in half horizontally. Not only do they cut cooking time but I find they absorb flavors better, too.
You might save additional time by using pre-shredded red cabbage but be warned it dissolves quickly under heat. Sometimes the little shortcuts make a big difference in a busy day though, so if this helps, then by all means do so.
However, it is not much more effort to slice up cabbage. The wider strips stand up better to the apple slices. I even find the slicing a bit cathartic. After an afternoon spent sparring over homework and study, a whack with the clever to split open a cabbage seems to be just the release needed.
It’s so liberating in fact that I let the kids put homework aside and invite them to the kitchen to help. They peel and slice the apples, which I think they find therapeutic, as well. It’s a task that does not require great skill or brainpower nor involve a struggle for control.
Safety is paramount so we often use our manual corer and slicer that turns with a crank.
The resulting slices need not be perfect. Uneven slices will still result in a delicious meal. Our menial actions remind us all that perfection in this case, as in most cases, is overrated.
After the pork chops are browned in bacon-y oil and the red cabbage and apples soften in the heat of the pan, the flavors meld together with the addition of cider and vinegar, and sometimes a spoonful of brown sugar. I can’t help noticing the sweet and sour mirrors the tenor of our afternoon together. Tempering acid with sweetness is another life lesson learned in the kitchen today.
Pork Chops with Red Cabbage and Apples is a hardy meal for a hardworking family whether in the fields or at the worktable. It celebrates the season, brings color to the table and feeds us tonight.
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