Tuscan Pork Chops

The lemon makes these pork chops amazing.   It doesn't make an appearance until the very end and could be easily forgotten, but don't, because it brings the herbs and garlic and charri-ness to life.  

I asked John to train me on the grill again.   Again.

"Are you paying attention this time?"

"Yes, I swear, I'll remember."

"So turn this and then turn this and then turn that and then push this and then step back."

"Okay.   Got it."

"Then let it heat up a bit and go to town."

"Easy.  I have this.   You go sit inside and relax.   I will make dinner on the grill."

(A proud moment.)  

I put on the random assortment of veggie kabobs.  I purposely didn't put things in order.  A couple of mushrooms here, some random tomatoes there, a red onion cap on a bald mushroom.   I'm in charge tonight.  

Grilling is fun.

I put on the sweet potatoes.   Our fourth food group.

And then I put on these gorgeous pork chops which had been bathing in a marinade of garlic and lots of herbs and olive oil.     Tuscan-like, I think.

I fended off the bugs attacking me on the deck and peaked inside periodically.

When they were done, they looked like this.

The turning-on-the-grill instructions may have gone in one ear and out the other (sorry John), but I did write down this recipe.   I hope you will try it.   We both said that it was the best we'd had in a long time.   Way better (and less expensive) than any restaurant.  

(Am I the only one who can never remember how to start the grill?)

Tuscan Pork Chops
serves 2

Ingredients
2 bone-in pork chops
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lemon, halved
salt and pepper

Preparation
Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper.   Let sit out at room temperature while you prepare the marinade.

Combine olive oil, vinegar, sage, rosemary and garlic.    Pour over pork chops and marinate for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.

Heat your grill to medium high (hopefully you already know how to do this!).  

Place pork chops on grill.   Grill about 5 minutes on the first side.   Flip and grill the second side for another 4 minutes.   (Note - your grilling times may vary.   This timing worked really well for us.)

Let the pork chops rest for a minute or two and then liberally sprinkle each piece with juice of half a lemon.  

Garden Herb and Walnut Pasta

What on earth happened to September?   Just a few days ago it was Labor Day weekend and we are now just moments away from October.  

I'm not sure exactly how it got away from me, but here we are.     And I'm finally getting to say Goodbye to Summer.    North Carolina has been breaking temperature records all month and we are finally getting a reprieve from the 90s.   This weekend it was like a light switched off.   One day we were drowning in hot and humid summer and the next we dove right into rainy cooler temperatures.    So much for smooth transitions, but, finally, Fall!

Saying goodbye to Summer for me means I am one step closer to our big day.   Just under a month now until our wedding.   I am looking forward to sharing some of the details as we get a little closer.   Warning, if wedding stuff bores you, you may want to tune out for a bit.

Before we go there though, I think it is the perfect time to share with you one of those recipes that just epitomizes the turn from summer to fall for me.   Woodsy, rustic flavors.   Fresh pasta.   Herbs.  Walnuts.  Garlic.    I just love this recipe and it gives me a chance to show off my pasta making skills.

You may recall, during my time in Rome, I spent a day at Cooking Classes in Rome with Chef Andrea.   We had such a fabulous time and one of the highlights of the day was making fresh pasta.   It was a swoon worthy experience, one I wasn't quite sure I'd be able to duplicate at home.

My instincts were right.   I gave it my best shot, but my homemade pasta did not live up to the reputation of that we produced in Italy.   Not even really close.   But, I know this.   Practice makes perfect and I am looking forward to lots more practice.    And the experience of making fresh pasta is so worth it.   It gives me a chance to really get my hands dirty and produce something from nothing.   Even if it doesn't turn out, you can't help but feel a little proud.

So today, I'll share with you the recipe that I modified from the Carrboro Farmer's Market here in North Carolina.     This is one of those handy recipes that you can really play around with.   I made lots of herbal modifications simply by using just those herbs that I actually had on hand.    Every spring I put a couple of pots out with fresh herbs and have a small window of opportunity to add them to almost everything I make before the hot sun dries them out and no amount of watering can save.

Garden Herb and Walnut Pasta

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Butter
3/4 Cup Walnuts
1/3 Cup Pine Nuts
1/4 Cup Fresh Dill
1/4 Cup Fresh Thyme
1/2 Cup Fresh Sage
2 Garlic Cloves, chopped
3/4 Cup Dry White Wine
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Chicken Stock
Fresh Pasta
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Preparation
Melt butter in large pan.    Add chopped walnuts and pine nuts and coat evenly with butter.   Cook until warm and toasty.   Be careful not to burn.   Remove nuts from pan and set aside.

Add olive oil to same pan and return to burner.   Add garlic, stirring until fragrant.   Add the dill and sage to the pan and stir.   Add thyme and stir.    Once combined, add the wine and stir some more.   Add the stock to pan.   Simmer for several minutes.

Pour sauce over freshly cooked pasta and toss.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Top with the buttered walnut and pine nut mixture and toss to combine when serving.    Serve hot, warm or cold!   Also good with addition of Parmesan and extra drizzle of olive oil.

There really is a lot of flexibility in this recipe and it is a great way to use up extra herbs that you may have sitting around.  I think it is a perfect introduction into what I hope will be a Fabulous Fall.

Tomorrow, I'll share the trials and tribulations of my first attempt at making homemade pasta!