Aluminum Chef

Honey Glazed Pork Chops:

This meal was insanely simplistic and very affordable.

Ingredients:

-4 pork loin chops

-salt/pepper to taste

-2 tbsp packed brown sugar (dark)

-2 tbsp honey

-Nonstick cooking spray

Directions: Add salt and pepper to both sides of each pork chop. In a large skillet over medium heat cook the chops until brown, flipping once. While you are cooking the chops on the stove preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Also combine the honey and brown sugar in a small bowl. 

Once the pork chops are golden brown (seen on right) place them in a baking pan. Heat the honey mixture in the microwave on HIGH for 20 seconds. Use half of the honey mixture to coat one side of each pork chop. I stabbed holes in each chop with a fork so the honey mixture could better soak into the meat. 

Place in the oven for 15 minutes. Flip the pork chop over and glaze with the remainder of the honey mixture. Cook for another 15 to 20 minutes. 

This was delicious and the honey gave the perfect hint of sweetness without overpowering the flavor of the pork chop. I enjoy how easy this recipe was to shop for and complete. 

Since the ingredients are minimal this recipe is not hard to change up for different serving sizes. I only cooked two pork chops since I was eating alone. However, you could make this for a large family. I think children would also really like this dish because it has very basic flavors. 

The only note I would add to this meal is that the honey and brown sugar glaze was an adequate amount for 2 pork chops; if I were to cook 4 chops as the recipe suggested, I would double the quantity of honey and brown sugar used.

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup

(Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly)

My original post and my inspiration for Aluminum Chef

Aluminum Chef

Watching Iron Chef is a favorite pastime for my family. Over the years we have been confounded, entranced, and inspired by the wide array of culinary prowess. My Dad and youngest sister, Em, are the main devotees to Food Network and the glories it holds. This year I have decided to challenge myself to attempt one new dish each week. In honor of my beloved Iron Chef I have named the blog posts related to this goal, Aluminum Chef. Aluminum is both durable and malleable, on this journey through the kitchen I hope to embody both. However, there will be no secret ingredients as I am a novice at best when it comes to cuisine.

In the words of the chairman, "Allez Cuisine!"

This week I have started off simply with a crockpot roast. To save cooking time I bought beef loins in small sections that would fit with all my veggies.

Ingredients:
-beef tenderloin (pre-cut)
-small potatoes (cut into fourths)
-5 medium carrots (peeled and cut into one-inch segments)
-2 small onions (peeled and sliced)
-1 packet of instant gravy
-1 cup of water

I pre-mixed the gravy before adding everything to the crockpot. I set it to low and waited 3 hours (I stirred every 30 minutes just to ensure even cooking). I love how low maintenance this was.

In the future I would have used 2 packets of instant gravy or I would have used 2 bottles of Guinness beer to enhance the flavor. The only issue I could take is that the meat was a little dry because there wasn't enough sauce for it to soak in. Adding either extra gravy or substituting with the beer would alleviate that problem.

Overall, the meal was juicy, tender, and fulfilling. Not a bad start to this dinner challenge. 

I would love any suggestions or tips from those of you in the kitchen who have more experience! Also, if you know of any delicious, somewhat healthy recipes that I should try out please add in the comments section!

In honor of the chairman I feel that Aluminum Chef needs its catchphrase as well. I'll stick with French:

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup

(Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly)

Major Robert Westin

Challenge #12: Connect the following in an 800 word story: 

1947 convertible, switchblade, and parachute.

Wind whipped through the C-47 and slapped the buckle straps against Robert's face, jarring him from his transient daze. He went over each connection on his parachute in a systematic manner, drawn from dozens of previous jumps. Each thought was routine, ingrained. His complete cognizance was unnecessary as he noted the fraying shoelace of his right boot, the bristling blonde hair on the neck of the private before him, or the pallid coloring of the first jumper's face.

His mind was now sharply focused as his body floated above the dirt owned by Italy, specifically Gela, Italy. Earth crumbled beneath his brown leather boots as he slid to a stuttered halt. Robert was grateful for the modified Type T-5 parachute he was wearing with the quick release box. Not every serviceman was as lucky and several were gunned down while attempting to escape their chutes. Captain Westin used the high grass of the fertile plain as his cover as he crawled toward the tree line. 

Twenty-eight men remained of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Captain Westin determined the route his men would take to link up with the 1st Infantry Division in Sicily 80 kilometers north. An hour outside of Gela dust clouds alerted the 504th of incoming vehicles. The men crouched on the east side of the road lying prone. Instead of a feared enemy tank they were met with one of their own, a beloved "Deuce and a Half" known to civilians as the GMC CCKW. The nickname originated from the 2.5 ton weight of this military supply truck.

Westin and his men rode into camp at Sicily the following day with enough time to shovel down c-rations and a gulp of black coffee, cold. Exhaustion loomed over many of the mens' heads as they trudged toward Italian troops and certain death for many. Robert fought valiantly and was awarded the Silver Star, but his treasured possession gained during the fight was an Italian switchblade he stripped from a fallen adversary. The blade was known as the Italian stiletto for its design. The blade came to a point and was engineered brilliantly for a thrusting motion. Another memento he carried was shrapnel buried in his left thigh. Robert wasn't enthusiastic about this souvenir, however it was the one that granted him a trip home to Chicago. 

Life picked up once he landed in O'Hare and he started on a speaking tour selling bonds. Robert was promoted to Major to help win over donors. Major Westin was a natural at public relations and after the war he used his knack for talking to people to earn a living. Selling cars was something he was very passionate about and followed naturally his passions from youth. Growing up he idolized his mechanic father and loved all things cars. That passion never waned and was thriving as he opened Westin Motors in 1946.

Business was steady and Robert felt satisfied, but he longed for companionship. He viewed women like the automobiles on his lot: shiny paint didn't mean a quality engine, fast ones are fun but not reliable for everyday, and a dream car, just like a dream woman, was worth the wait. Little did he know that with his latest shipment of Buick Roadmaster convertibles his story would change once more. His lot proudly displayed three of these brand new cars, one black, one gray, and one red to match the "fireball dynaflash" under the hood. Robert loved the pearl gray version and daydreamed of cruising that 8-cylinder beauty down a country lane at sunset as the wind tickled his neck.

Major Westin was closing up one Thursday in June when Eva walked onto the lot. She was a thin brunette with ruby red lips and a twinkling smile and she wanted a test drive. Eva explained that her family lived west of Chicago in Brookfield and this car would be driven on mostly dirt roads, the type of road where she intended to take her test drive. They coasted kicking up a trail of dust. Wind danced through Eva's hair and carried her melodic laughter with it. The setting sun was eclipsed only by her exquisite aesthetic.

When they arrived back on the lot, Eva had a determined look and informed him the car was overpriced and she would offer him $1895 and not a penny more. Robert offered her a different deal: the car was free if she agreed to marry him; if she didn't agree to the terms, he vowed to sell her the car for the exact price she quoted and spend the remainder of his days convincing her to be his wife. Luckily for Major Westin, Eva took the deal and they were married that August.