Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops with Warm Pineapple Relish

I got a new cookbook over the holidays!

Thanks Mom & Dad

In case you haven't already gleaned it, Americas Test Kitchen is my absolute favorite cooking show/book/website. I'm really excited to go through this book full of quicker, easier recipes. I've made a few already and bookmarked MANY more dishes I can't wait to try. 

First up: this simple spice rubbed pork chop. I halved the recipe to feed 2, you can easily double it to feed 4.

Spice Rub
3/4 tsp Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Coriander
1/2 tsp Ginger
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Cayenne

• Rub 3/4 to 1 inch thick boneless pork chops with the spice rub
• In a nonstick skillet heat some oil on medium. Cook pork chops about 5 minutes on each side. The brown sugar in the rub will burn if the heat is too high, be careful. 
• Once the chops reach 145-150 degrees remove from pan and cover with aluminum foil while you prepare the relish. Wipe the skillet with paper towels.

Pineapple Relish

1 cup Pineapple pieces

1 Tbs Brown Sugar

1 Tbs Lime Juice

1 Tbs Cilantro

• Add the pineapple, brown sugar and lime juice to the skillet. Heat on high for 1 minute. 
• Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. 

My wife said it was one of the best pork chops she's ever had and she can't wait for me to make it again. 

Chris' Ultimate Pumpkin Bread

Hooray for my first Baking post!

If you're anything like me you'll agree that there is no such thing as Fall without Pumpkin. Pie, Bread, Muffins, Seeds, Ice Cream, Lattes and Coffee Creamer, Rolls, even snuck into Mac n' Cheese. Give me ALL THE PUMPKINS!!! 

This recipe is adapted and expanded from the very incomplete Bobby Flay recipe here http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500191_162-2104698.html

Preheat oven to 350

In this Pan:

• 1 Stick unsalted butter
• 1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tsp Ground Nutmeg 
• 1/4 Tsp Ground Clove
• 1/4 Tsp Ground All Spice
• 1/4 Tsp Ground Ginger

Melt the butter on low heat and add the spices. Swirl them in the pan until your entire house is WONDERFULLY fragrant. This blooms the spices and really takes the flavor to another level. You may need to turn the heat up to medium low, butter should be warm and fragrant, not foaming. Remove from heat and let the butter cool. 

Whisk together:

• 2 Cups All Purpose Flour (10 ounces)
• 1 Tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 Tsp Salt

In baking it's always important to use the correct amounts of dry ingredients. It's best to weigh your flour. If you have a kitchen scale, now is the time to use it.

Whisk together: 

• 2 eggs, beaten 
• 15 ounces Canned Pumpkin
• Spiced Melted Butter, Cooled
• 1/2 Cup White Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
• 2 Tsp Vanilla 

Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir gently until just incorporated. Pour into a buttered and floured 9" loaf pan and bake at 350 for about 60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 1 hour. Or as long as you can stand ;) 

Awesome bonus: Store the bread in a airtight container and it will actually become MORE moist and sweet overtime thanks to the brown sugar!

OH, and did I mention my wife's HONEY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING?!?!
Just blend Cream Cheese, Honey and Powdered Sugar.