Super Safi’s Monday Morning Musings 07 – Pork Chops recipe

Morning Musically-Minded, Medically-Minded, Masticators!

(Today’s post is sponsored by the letter “M”)

Over the past 600+ episodes, The Simpsons has taken us on an amazing journey involving music, science, and food to name a few concepts.

And what better way to start your week, then by discussing some of these concepts Monday morning?

So let’s get started this week by discussing another recipe from the seventh episode of The Simpsons, pork chops.

In the seventh episode of The Simpsons, The Call of the Simpsons (Season 01, Episode 07), Homer buys an RV leading to a camping misadventure for the Simpsons family. First, they get lost in the woods, lose all their camping equipment; and then when Bart and Homer go for help, they get washed down a waterfall, lose all of their clothes, and Homer is mistaken for Bigfoot after sinking in a mud hole.

Marge, recognizing that Bigfoot is Homer, is questioned by reporters who are interested in learning more about the mysterious forest creature. Questions include “What does it eat?”

Marge confused does eventually respond “Well, I suppose pork chops are his favourite”.

We then see a clip of the front page of the National Informer, with the headline “The Bigfoot Diet: Pork Chops Aplenty”.

But have you ever wondered how do you make pork chops?

Since I don’t want you to balloon up like Homer,  from the Food Network Canada, here is a recipe for “Healthy Breaded Pork Chops”:

Ingredients:

• 4 thin boneless pork chops (about 1/4 lb each)
•  Salt and freshly ground black pepper
•  3 Tbsp sour cream
•  2 tsp Dijon mustard
•  1 cup panko breadcrumbs
•  2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
•  Cooking spray, for coating
•  1 tsp packed light brown sugar
•  1 tsp apple cider vinegar
•  Green salad with apple slices, for serving

Recipe:

1. Adjust the oven racks to the top and lower-third positions and preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F. Put a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.

2. Lay the pork chops between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Combine 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1 teaspoon of the mustard in a small bowl and brush both sides of each chop with the mixture.

3. Mix the panko and parsley together on a plate and press each side of the pork chops into the crumbs. Generously spray both sides of each chop with cooking spray and place on the rack in the prepared baking sheet. Bake on the lower rack, flipping halfway through, until the pork chops are golden, crispy and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes.

4. Mix the brown sugar and vinegar with 2 teaspoons water and the remaining 2 tablespoons sour cream and remaining 1 teaspoon mustard in a small bowl. Serve the pork chops with the sauce and the green salad.

Now that we know how to make ‘healthier’ pork chops, be sure to come back next week when we continue our Monday morning musings with the next episode of The Simpsons.

What’s your favourite Simpsons pork chops reference/image/scene? Have you ever made your own pork chops? Will you try the recipe above? Sound off in the comments below. You know we love hearing from you.