Apple-Stuffed Pork Chops

RECIPE

Yield
8 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop and about 3 tablespoons sauce)

Ingredients
5 tablespoons port or other sweet red wine, divided
2 cups diced peeled Granny Smith apple
2/3 cup chopped pitted dried plums
1/4 cup chopped pistachios
2 tablespoons chopped fresh or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons brown sugar
8 (6-ounce) lean bone-in center-cut pork chops (about 3/4 inch thick), trimmed
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

Preparation
Combine 2 tablespoons port, apple, and next 4 ingredients (apple through sugar), stirring well.

Cut a horizontal slit through thickest portion of each pork chop to form a pocket. Stuff about 1/4 cup apple mixture into each pocket. Sprinkle pork evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.

Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat; add 4 pork chops. Cook 7 minutes on each side or until done. Remove pork from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining pork.

Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt and flour in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add 3 tablespoons port and broth, stirring with a whisk. Add mixture to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Bring to a simmer over low heat; cook 5 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Serve sauce with pork.

Nutritional Information
Calories:242 (29% from fat)
Fat:7.7g (sat 2.3g,mono 3.5g,poly 1g)
Protein:23.6g
Carbohydrate:18.5g
Fiber:2g
Cholesterol:58mg
Iron:1.4mg
Sodium:429mg
Calcium:44mg

German cooking@home
by cooking mania

Sweet and Sour Braised Cabbage (Rotkohl)

RECIPE

This colorful combination, developed by Food Editor Ann Taylor Pittman, is a tasty accompaniment for roast meats or poultry. Although traditional versions don't use bacon, we love the smoky flavor it adds. For a more classic rendition, omit the bacon and use one tablespoon butter or schmaltz (rendered fat).

Yield
8 servings (serving size: about 3/4 cup)

Ingredients
4 slices applewood-smoked bacon (such as Neuske's), chopped
2 cups thinly vertically sliced onion (about 1 large)
3 cups chopped peeled Granny Smith apple (about 2 medium)
10 cup thinly sliced red cabbage (about 2 pounds)
1 cup apple cider
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 whole cloves
1 bay leaf

Preparation
1. Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan; set bacon aside. Add onion to drippings in pan; sauté 3 minutes. Add apple to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add cabbage to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add cider and remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cabbage is tender, stirring occasionally. Discard cloves and bay leaf. Sprinkle with bacon.

Nutritional Information
Calories:139 (25% from fat)
Fat:3.9g (sat 1.7g,mono 1.4g,poly 0.4g)
Protein:3.1g
Carbohydrate:24.4g
Fiber:3.4g
Cholesterol:7mg
Iron:1.1mg
Sodium:399mg
Calcium:61mg

German cooking@home
by cooking mania

Cinnamon Stewed Apples

RECIPE

A terrific companion for ham or pork, this recipe can be doubled easily, and will keep in the refrigerator for about a week. The sauce is somewhat thin just after cooking, but it will thicken upon standing.

Yield
2 cups (serving size: 1/4 cup)

Ingredients
6 cups chopped peeled Granny Smith apple (about 2 pounds)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup apple juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt

Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 45 minutes or until apple is tender, stirring occasionally. Let stand 5 minutes.

Nutritional Information
Calories:121 (3% from fat)
Fat:0.4g (sat 0.1g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.1g)
Protein:0.2g
Carbohydrate:31.3g
Fiber:2.3g
Cholesterol:0.0mg
Iron:0.4mg
Sodium:42mg
Calcium:19mg

German cooking@home
by cooking mania

German Apple Pancake

RECIPE

Yield
6 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Ingredients
Batter:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
1 cup egg substitute
1 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Apple mixture:
Cooking spray
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
1 cup thinly sliced Granny Smith apple
Remaining ingredient:
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Preparation
1. To prepare batter, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, salt, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine egg substitute, milk, butter, and vanilla in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add egg substitute mixture to flour mixture, stirring with a whisk. Let stand 30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 425°.

3. To prepare apple mixture, coat bottom and sides of a 10-inch ovenproof skillet with cooking spray. Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; sprinkle evenly over bottom and sides of pan. Arrange apple in an even spokelike layer in pan. Sprinkle apple with remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until mixture bubbles. Slowly pour batter over apple mixture.

4. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375° (do not remove pancake from oven); bake an additional 13 minutes or until center is set. Carefully loosen pancake with a spatula. Gently slide pancake onto a serving platter. Sift powdered sugar over top. Cut into 6 wedges; serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories:173 (28% from fat)
Fat:5.4g (sat 2.8g,mono 1.4g,poly 0.9g)
Protein:7.7g
Carbohydrate:23.2g
Fiber:0.9g
Cholesterol:11mg
Iron:1.5mg
Sodium:213mg
Calcium:101mg

German cooking@home
by cooking mania

Braised Chicken Thighs with Sauerkraut

RECIPE

Sauerkraut simmered with vegetables, apple, and juniper berries is a perfect match for bacon and chicken thighs. The robust combination of flavors makes this a great hearty winter dish.

Yield
4

Ingredients
3 slices bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips
8 chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds in all)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and chopped
3 cups drained and rinsed sauerkraut (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 cup canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 juniper berries, lightly crushed
1 bay leaf

Preparation
1. In a large deep frying pan, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.

2. Season the chicken thighs with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper and add to the pan in batches if necessary. Cook, turning, until browned, about 8 minutes. Remove from the pan. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat.

3. Add the onion, carrot, and apple to the pan. Cook over moderate heat, covered, for 5 minutes. Stir in the sauerkraut, bacon, broth, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, the mustard, juniper berries, and bay leaf. Arrange the chicken in an even layer on top. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat, and cook, covered, until the chicken is just done, about 25 minutes.

4. Remove the chicken from the pan and discard the bay leaf. If too much liquid remains in the pan, raise the heat to moderately high and cook until slightly thickened. Serve the sauerkraut topped with the chicken.

Wine Recommendation: For a white wine that will contrast nicely with the sauerkraut, look for a soft, full-flavored, and unoaked white. Gewürztraminer or pinot gris from Alsace in France are ideal choices.

German cooking@home
by cooking mania