We are a busy family. Really is there a family who isn’t busy? We have kids, home, jobs, school, activities, errands, bills…etc…etc. Life is hectic. Dinner shouldn’t be. Dinner is a time to unwind from the day, relax with a inviting plate surrounded by family. Weekday dinners have evolved into a joint effort in our home. Everyone slowly makes their way into the kitchen to take on his/her small part. The table is cleared, plates assesmbled and glasses filled. As we prepare for our meal we converse of our day, we laugh with hubby as he shares one of his work adventures and the girls’ begin to planning our weekend. Plates served, napkins set we take our places to enjoy our meal. As I load the dishwasher I think, I know these will be the moments I miss when my girls’ leave our sides to conquer their dreams. Read on dinner lovers…
When Crisco contacted me to share a recipe for “Que hay de cenar?” (“What’s for dinner?”) I immediately turned to one of my quick weekday meals. Pork Chops browned in a cast iron skillet, a splash of citrus and broth added to make a pan sauce. Serve alongside a simple salad or roasted potatoes, dinner made easy. This week let’s take time to enjoy our families, our loved ones and our friends with dinner. Life is hectic, dinner can reboot our body for the next busy day. Enjoy! Sweet Life!
After enjoying this quick recipe, head on over to Crisco to enter for a chance at fabulous prizes. This event is hosted by Michelle Bernstein who appeared on Food Network, Iron Chef America and Top Chef. Everyday Crisco will award 10 recipes a gift card and Crisco coupons for great dinner submissions and each recipe submitted in entered for a chance at the grand prize worth $1,000. Good Luck!
Oh hold on…you didn’t think I would end dinner without something sweet? A sweet ending to a quick meal is a must for reviving our sanity, don’t you think? I leave you with Magic Cookie Bars. Enjoy!
Skillet Chops with Cilantro Citrus Sauce
by Sweet Life
By Vianney Rodriguez
serves 4
4 thick boneless pork chops
salt
freshly ground pepper
extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
juice from 1/2 orange
3 tsp dijon mustard
4 tbsp chopped cilantro and extra for garnish
2 tbsp water
1 tsp cornstarch
Begin by heating a cast iron skillet over medium heat, while you prepare your chops. Sprinkle each chop with salt and pepper. Add oil to your skillet, just enough to coat your skillet. When your skillet is heated through add your chops, two at a time. Cook about 6 minutes on each side. Remove and place a sheet pan in oven at 250 degrees to keep warm. Continue with your next two chops cooking with the same method, add more oil if needed. After all four chops are cooked, add chicken broth, sugar, lemon juice, orange juice and mustard to the pan. Continue to cook over medium heat, scraping pan to mix all brown bits into sauce. In a small bowl add cornstarch and water, mix. Add the water/cornstarch mixture to the pan and using a whisk combine well. Crank the heat to a boil and cook for a minute or until your sauce thickens just a bit. Add your butter and swirl through the sauce, add your chopped cilantro. Return your chops to the pan and simmer for 3 minutes. Serve with a drizzle of the sauce and garnish with cilantro.
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OMG, that looks so delicious! Thx for sharing!
That cilantro citrus sauce really sounds great. And I always have leftovers whenever I buy cilantro, so I always appreciate more ideas for using it up.
comments seemed to be closed on your latest post so I’ll just do it here. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Aww, your family sounds like my own family when I was growing up. And your girls will miss those family dinners too when they’re on their own. I certainly do. They just don’t know it yet, of course.
Love the pork chops. I’m bookmarking this cos I love anything with cilantro and can eat it by itself. Well, almost.
usually i’d be most infatuated with the dessert offering, and i do love magic cookie bars. however, this time i’m smitten with that pan sauce. cilantro, where would i be without you? 🙂
The sauce on the chops sounds fabulous. But then, I am one of the few who doesn’t hate cilantro. 😉
Wow that looks and sounds fantastic!!
Wow, love it!!!!
Looks good – love the citrus and fish combination
you got me at “cilantro citrus” – wow! that’s a great way to jazz up pork chops. yummmmy!
A delicious meal, the chops look excellent with the refreshing cilantro citrus sauce!
Dinner at your place sounds like such a fun affair! And one filled with delicious food to boot. I wish I had been there for this meal. Love the glaze on the pork and also those magic bars!
Could I do this with chicken? Ben won’t eat pork.
Oh my gosh, I love magic cookie bars! I made some last weekend with roasted pecans–oh, mama they were good!
@Blond Duck…chicken would be perfect with pan sauce, oh roasted pecans..yum!
sweetlife
Ohhh the chops looks juicy and delicious and the sauce sounds fresh and flavourful! What a perfect dish!
Bonnie…can I come over for dinner? PLEEEEEASE?
Your family sounds lovely! i agree with you that dinner should be a time of winding down and relaxing with each other. i love how food brings everyone together. The pork chops look yummy!
lovely pork chop recipe and love your philosophy for enjoying family meals
I want those coconuty, chocolate bars…………..lovely flavours!!!!!!
We can never have enough time on our hands, right? But you manage well – the evidence is in these chops! 🙂
What a fun opportunity 🙂 Plus, the dinner is wonderful…I can just imagine the smell of that citrus sauce when it hits the pan…mmmmm! The bars make a perfect sweet end-of-dinner kiss, too 🙂
Oh wow, such a delicious dinner followed by a wonderful desert. Please hand me over one of those gorgeous cookie bars!
*kisses* HH
Beautiful meal and beautiful dessert….that’s magic! I love quick home cooked meals too.
LOL I’d love to know your secret to getting help at dinner time too Bonnie 😀 It’s a one woman show at my home *sigh* With a little yelling, I get help with clearing the table AFTER dinner, but it’s an uphill battle and glad to see, one you seem to have conquered! Hmmm……maybe it’s because I am surrounded by only men in my house?? 😉
Love your dinner!! Don’t eat much pork but your chops have convinced me……
The pork looks amazing, I’m a pork big fan. And the Magic Cookie Bars…. yummmm. The only complain I have is that you are not my neighbor. Would be awesome to have some potluck together. And Bonnie thanks for the sweet words at my site. I really needed some lovin’ 🙂
Wonderful recipe. Cilantro can add such brightness to meat dishes. I, like you, treasure dinner time. I’m all about simple recipes that bring the family together. Thank you for sharing. I hope the rest of your week is beautiful!
May be I can use the lovely cilantro citrus pan sauce with some of my veggies. It looks delicious.
Hey Bonnie! This dinner plate is so pretty, and I can see why Crisco contacted you for ‘Que Hay de Cenar’. I would have too (smile)! Oh, and did I miss how to make those pretty pink looking onions? I’ll have to look through the recipe again.
Oh, and my job is okay;) I’ts a legal type job, so, you know, it’s a job. You know how it is…
p.s. That dessert looks so good! I’m going to try it this weekend.
Wow, the chop looks delicious with the sauce…cilantro and citrus…must taste SO SO good 🙂 and the cookies with condensed milk cannot go wrong…I love everything that uses condensed milk…yummie!
Bonnie…most of my friends who have families like yours would probably want to switch with your scenario in the kitchen. They never stop telling me how their kids are nowhere near helping out…hmmm…wonder what they’re doing wrong? Well, at least you got it right as well as that nice dinner you prepared ;o)
That dessert looks tempting…yum!
Have a great week and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
this looks very flavorful!… i would love to try this out. thanks for sharing this.
oh my gosh that is a dinner I can get used to. Love the magic cookie bar.
It would probably take me 2 hrs to prepare a dinner like yours! The chop with pan sauce looks marvelous!
Oooh yum! I would love a cilantro pan sauce with my pork chops. Thanks for the idea 🙂
Luv this type of pork chop dish! Your flavors sound delicious!
Oh yum! You had me at “cilantro”. 😉
Paz xoxo
The magic cookies bars look delicious!!! I will try them.
The cilantro Citrus chops, a must do for dinner. I loved it.
Have a great day!
I love love cilantro! Great chops…great flavor.