Love My Messy Messy Mess: Apple-Glazed Pork Chops with Raisins for #AppleWeek

Messy Messy Fail - I am just hanging on to my front hanging baskets for dear life. We purchased two beautiful pots of pinkish-red trillion bells at the end of May beginning of June and only let them dry out a few times. Of course we get quite neglectful of them as we get into September, and the stems have turned almost entirely brown. Yet I still feed them Bloom Booster and all of a sudden, all these little flowers show up on the brown straggly stems. Almost perfectly appropriate for Halloween, but that's not for another month.

Tidy Victory - Do you want to know what the NYS auto inspector said to me when I went to pick up my car and asked if there was anything to be watching for? "Ma'am, this car is going to be around for a long time". I KNEW it would pay off to purchase a 2007 Champagne Camry (whom I have since named Cecilia) even if it meant I would not be driving the most sporty or even most appealing car. Perhaps I shall change her name to La Cucaracha!

And now for my 2nd recipe for #AppleWeek with the #BlogFriends - today I am contributing to the collection of Main Dishes & Sides!

Here is the #AppleWeek schedule:

Monday September 26th - Appetizers & Drinks

Tuesday September 27th - Main Dishes & Sides

Wednesday September 28th - Sweet Treats

Thursday September 29th - Apple Projects

Friday September 30th - Anything Apple Goes

I've had this recipe since I was a single gal, living all by myself in my cute little apartment making two-serving meals for myself - one for now and one for leftovers.

Ah, those days seem so long ago!

I really did not cook much before I lived on my own. But then when I moved 100 miles from home, I figured it was time to start learning.

So I scoured the Internet, searched "pork chops" and this was one of the first recipes that came up.

I think this recipe is even better the 2nd day, but you'll just have to decide for yourself.

Here's what you need:

6 tbsp. all-purpose flour, divided use
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
6 (6 oz.) pork chops
2 tbsp. butter or margine
2 apples, peeled cored and sliced
1/3 c. raisins (any kid will do)
2 tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 c. apple juice
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Here's what you do:

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Combine 4 tbsp. flour, dry mustard, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Dredge pork chops in flour mixture until evenly coated; shake off excess.

Heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter to melt. When foam subsides, brown pork chops on both sides, about 5 minutes.

Remove pork chops from heat and arrange in a single layer in a shallow baking dish. Layer apples on top and sprinkle with raisins.

Reheat pan with drippings over medium heat. Stir remaining 2 tbsp. of flour along with brown sugar into the pan; mix well. Gradually pour in apple juice, stirring continuously. Cook until thickened.

Pour mixture over pork chops, sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake, covered, for 1 hour.

This recipe is just so good - the apples bake up and turn into a lovely sauce as they cook in the oven, the raisins get all plump and juicy. The pork chops really retain their moisture from being seared on the cook top before baking in the oven.

Perfect meal for a cold blustery day!

This recipe originally came from here - but I wish I knew who submitted it so I could thank them!

I hope you enjoy this pork chop recipe with your families!

Be sure to check out all of the other #BlogFriends posting their apple main dishes & sides today, too!

Monday: Appetizers and Drinks

Apple Brie Roll Up by Family Around the Table
Apple Cider Margaritas by A Palatable Pastime

Apple Cheddar Pinwheels by Cooking With Carlee
Apple Pie Martini by Amy's Cooking Adventures
Apple Pie Smoothie by Feeding Big
Caramel Apple Float by Jolene's Recipe Journal
Caramel Apple Martini by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Caramel Appletini by The Speckled Palate
Crockpot Apple Sauce by I Say Nomato
Hot and Boozy Caramel Apple Cider by Love My Messy Messy Mess
Hot Fireball Apple Cider by Grumpy's Honeybunch
Mulled Apple Shrub Mule by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Red Hot Apple Cider by New South Charm
Roasted Apple and Acorn Squash Soup by Caroline's Cooking
Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cider by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

Tuesday: Main Dishes and Sides

Apple Cheddar Grilled Cheese by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

Apple Cider Bread by I Say Nomato
Apple-Glazed Pork Chops with Raisins by Love My Messy Messy Mess

Apple Streusel Muffins by Family Around The Table
Chicken Salad with Apples and Cranberries by Feeding Big
Chopped Apple Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Fall Apples Become Yummy Applesauce for the Year by Crafty Mama in ME
Harvest Brats with Apple Slaw by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
Sausage Stuffed Apples by A Palatable Pastime
Sage Pork Chops with Apple Pan Gravy by Amy's Cooking Adventures
Scalloped Apples Casserole by Red Cottage Chronicles
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork by Cooking With Carlee
Southern Style Fried Apples by New South Charm

Wednesday: Sweet Treats

Apple and Nut Drop Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Apple Brown Betty by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids

Apple Cider Caramel Sauce by Cooking With Carlee
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread by Feeding Big
Apple Dumplings by A Palatable Pastime
Apple Oatmeal Cookies by Jolene's Recipe Journal
Apple Pie & Cinnamon Things by Crafty Mama in ME
Apple Pie in a Jar by Grumpy's Honeybunch
Apple Swirl Buns by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Baked Apples with Chocolate and Caramel by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Brown Butter Apples by Cricket's Confections
Mini Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust by Amy's Cooking Adventures
Nana's Apple Pie by The Crumby Cupcake
Sparkling Cider Pound Cake by Family Around The Table

Thursday: Apple Projects

Apple Bacon Jam by Caroline's Cooking

Apple Cinnamon Pancake Mix in a Jar by A Palatable Pastime

Apple Cinnamon Stovetop Potpourri by Amy's Cooking Adventures

Apple Suncatchers by Crafty Mama in ME

Caramel Apple in a Jar by Family Around The Table

Homemade Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Packets by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Knit Apple Hat by Jolene's Recipe Journal

Friday: Anything Apple Goes

1 Minute Caramel Apple Dip by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids

Apple Brown Betty by A Palatable Pastime

Apple Bundt Cake With Cider Caramel by Cooking With Carlee
Apple Cinnamon Shortcakes by Jolene's Recipe Journal
Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Apple Fritters by Grumpy's Honeybunch
Apple Pie Skillet by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Caramelized Apple and Bacon Jam Crostini by Caroline's Cooking
Creamy Peanut Butter Apple Dip by New South Charm
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Apple and Peppered Bacon by Feeding Big

Individual Apple Crisp by Family Around The Table
Smoky Apple Pulled Pork by Amy's Cooking Adventures

Slow Cooker Apple Butter by The Crumby Cupcake