Most Amazing Pork Chops (or not so)

Tuesday I decided to make something in my brand new Cruisinart Multi-Cooker.  Ernie had given it to me for our anniversary back in December and I had yet to use it.  It's not that I didn't want to, but the thing is very high tech and does several different things.  It a slow cooker, there is a roast option, you can brown/sauté and even steam.  I absolutely love it but I am also very intimidated by it.  

Anyway, as some of you know, I love Crockin Girls.  I believe it was my Aunt Cheryl who suggested their page via facebook several months ago and since I have tried many recipes it only seemed natural to try another.  I like mixing it up so I decided to find something pork.  I did not have the bone-in pork chops the recipe called for but with Giant being so close to run to the store was not a big deal.  Prep was SUPER easy.

Most Amazing Pork Chops

Ingredients:

4 Bone-In thick cut pork chops
1 Packet of Dry Pork Gravy Mix
1 Envelope of Onion Soup Mix
1 1/2c Chicken Broth
1 Can of Cream of Chicken

Directions:
1.  Place Pork Chops in Slow Cooker
2.  Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl.  Pour mixture over pork chops and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Extras: (with a few reviews thrown in)That's it!  I used the Crockin Girls video they have on you tube as direction and was actually excited at how quick and easy it was.  I had the meal cooking by 9am.  Around 4:30 I started thinking of ideas for sides.  The Crockin Girls suggested rice or mashed potatoes.  I decided to serve a Oven Crisped Potatoes Recipe I had found on allrecipes.com since my 3 favs don't really care for mashed. (Recipe is below)  I thought the meal smelled unbelievable and to my shock both boys seemed to agree when they got home.  When the head of household walked in that hope of having another hit in our home was thrown out the window...

First, I have to say, my husband has come a very long way as far as his taste buds go.  When we first met he barely would eat in front of me let alone my family.  He didn't seem to like the many different things I had grown up on and enjoyed.  Vegetables seemed to be non existent and fried bologna seemed to be it's own food group.  When we first got married I tried easy things and in the 15+ years now we've been together I am happy to say my husband no longer thinks there is only 1 way to use corn.  For non hunters, corn is also used to bate dear. 

Anyway, upon my husbands arrival I could tell this was going to be a difficult sell but being the huge sport he is he called the boys to get washed up for dinner and we sat down.  As another veggie side I served Green Giant Honey Glazed Carrots.  To my surprise I think that was the favorite of the meal.  The pork chops really did fall off the bone when I pulled them out of the cooker.  I thought they tasted good.  Definitely not my favorite but good when you add some Sweet Baby Rays.  Ernie barely made it through but held his opinion in to keep the boys from turning on me too.  They, well one of them, gobbled up the carrots but only ate a portion of their pork chops.  I try not to take offence to a meal not going over well but I did want to know how to improve it.  Ernie informed me that he's not too into crock pot meals.  HUGE SHOCKER seeing how he bought me a slow cooker.  I have the leftovers in our fridge and I think I may take the meat off and throw it in a huge bowl of barbecue sauce and make pulled pork sandwiches so it's not a complete waste. 

Oven-Crisped Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 Potatoes (I used 3) thinly sliced
3tbsp Melted Butter
1tbsp Finely Chopped Onion (I used 1tsp of Onion Salt)
1/8tsp Pepper
1/4c Grated Parmesan Cheese (suggested by one of the reviews I read)

Directions:
1.  Arrange potatoes in an un-greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Combine butter, onion and pepper; pour over potatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 425 degrees F for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.

My lesson, not change anything in how I decide what to make, how do we know what we like if we don't Wtry right?  With my family I am not afraid to try something new.  what's the worse that could happen?  They hate it?  While I've certainly experienced my share of dinner disasters it will not scare me away from trying and experimenting.  I will conquer again.

Until next time my dear followers...