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Sunday, October 25, 2009

Stuffed Pork Chops, A One Stop Meal..


My wife was laid off Friday, with assurances of being called back in two weeks.. She was OK with that, but still a little annoyed. I thought one of her favorite meals would be nice Friday night- Stuffed pork chops! We have a premier meat market in our neighborhood that makes a pretty fair one, so I picked up two of them = $17.00 ! I ordered them without looking at them, and one fed the two of us- they had to weigh close to two pounds each! One, I just don't like them that much, and two- we could have had two steaks for that amount of money! Well, hung for a sheep, hung for a goat- so it was press on, regardless..With a quick sprinkling of appropriate spices and herbs, baked for an hour. I made up a pork gravy for the meat and stuffing just before they came out of the oven.. Good, but huge!
Last night was another mega wedding at another beautiful downtown church, with reception at an upscale dining complex in Grand Rapids called The B.O.B.. It stands for Big Old Building(really!) a totally refurbished 4 story building with about 6 restaurants and banquet rooms..Food was great, with a designer salad, Beef tenderloin, broiled scampi, mini squash, and garlic mashed potatoes.. Dessert was upscale cupcakes. They had a photo booth for keepsake photos for them and us, and a penny candy table where you built your own take home treat..Nice affair, but parking downtown is a pain!
Today, neither wife nor I are interested in food, so we'll wait until Monday to figure it out!

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh no, I'm so sorry your wife got laid off. Even with the stress of that happening with her job, I hope she thoroughly enjoys two weeks of leisure time.

That party sounds wonderful. Sounds like somebody did it up right. I love that photo booth idea and the build your own candy.

I buy those pork chops everyonce in a while and yes, they are huge and expensive. A big meal.
Lea Ann

buffalodick said...

Highlander-Well, both of us at home sometimes leads to more conversation than we need! Wedding was a very well done affair..

Akelamalu said...

I love pork but MWM can't eat it because it makes him ill, so we don't have it. :(

Sorry to hear your wife has been laid off.

pam said...

I bought some huge boneless chops that I was buying for some other recipe, but they are so thick that I am considering stuffing them. Maybe some sort of apple type stuffing.
So, did they just need to not pay your wife for two weeks?

buffalodick said...

Ake- Thanks, she's OK right now..
Pam- Rice, bread, corn bread, all work..

Christo Gonzales said...

sounds like about 3.50 per pound - those are some large chops!

Anonymous said...

I always buy the thin sliced chops, as I like them crispy on the edges and the truth is I just don't know how to cook the thick cut bone in one's without them being pink on the inside/or totally over done...

your gravy looks JAM PACKED with flavor, so creamy and yummy ! Will you share the pork gravy recipe with us sometime ? Eitherway, I am sure this lifted your wifey's sprits...looks an amazing dinner !

buffalodick said...

DogB- More like $4.25.. This place always has their stuff overpriced and oversized..
Nat- My gravies are seat of the pants affairs.. If you mix a brown(beef) gravy mix, with a chicken gravy mix, with pork spices- you get pork gravy! Lower cooking temps with thicker pork, and cook longer covered- they will get done, and stay moist!

Chef E said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chef E said...

I am a gravy girl, and on most meat! I have an event too and I have to go through NYC; which is a pain to drive...

I got a good look at that chop and stuffing up close, and damn that would look good on my plate :) I'm hung'y, as my kids once said...

Stacy Uncorked said...

So sorry your wife got laid off - hopefully it is just an impromptu 'vacation' of 2 weeks... Heh, you might get in trouble with your comment about you both being home and more conversations that you need...although she probably feels the same way, I know I would if hubby were home for any length of time and underfoot! ;)

That wedding sounds wonderful - they sure did it right, didn't they?

And your pork chop looks drool-worthy! The place I buy pork chops has them super thick, too - hubby's happy with the major serving, but I usually end up with some major leftovers. :)

buffalodick said...

ChefE- I'm sure NYC is worse for parking than G.R., but normally around here there is free parking right outside the church and reception hall..except downtown!
Stacy- My wife and I love meat, but we don't need huge portions to enjoy it!

Marjie said...

Being laid off sucks; I hope they do call her back in 2 weeks. Nice of you to cook her a dinner you don't much care for.

Unknown said...

Yikes-sorry about the lay-off. Those types of situations are always unnerving! Hope it gets better soon!

buffalodick said...

Margie- We're fine, don't worry! I cook more dinners that people like more than I do- just like you!
Angela- Not too worried, she just takes it personal, which means I'm involved..

Liz Mays said...

Those are monstrous! Two pounds each?? I can only eat the thin cut chops.

buffalodick said...

BlueV- I like pork steak better, but it was my wife's treat! You never see bone-in pork loin around here, otherwise, would cut my own!

Kate said...

I've been seeing those candy tales at weddings for awhile now. It's interesting. The kids go nuts.

buffalodick said...

Kate- we are a little behind times here- it seemed like a good idea!

Mike said...

I LOVE!!! stuffed pork chops!!!! MMMMM!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

I live in fear of my wife getting laid off... Not because of the job thing, but the sharing the house 24/7 thing. My thoughts and prayers will be with you the next two weeks...

But...

"Well, hung for a sheep, hung for a goat- so it was press on."... Maybe you could she could embroider that on a pillow for you during the next two weeks

buffalodick said...

otin- Wife loves them, more than me!
Griller- I hear you!

Chris said...

"hung for a sheep, hung for a goat" is a saying I've not heard before but I absolutely love it. Like "in for a penny in for a pound" deal right?

So sorry to hear about your wife's job situation but I have to say, for someone with such a "tough exterior", what I always read here is about you worrying about and doing for others. You are a good dude.

UBERMOUTH said...

How does one stuff a pork chop? Where do you put the stuffing?

The Good Cook said...

So sorry to hear about your wife and her job. These are indeed scary times.

We seem to be living in a parallel universe... we attended a lovely wedding this weekend too. Can't wait to post about it - it was the nicest wedding I've ever attended .... and you know, at my age, I've been to a few!

buffalodick said...

Chris- Same old saying said differently! She will be OK, but I find when she's happy- Things go better for me!
Uber- It's usually two pork chops, still joined at the bone, cut almost through thickness wise until a pocket is formed. The stuffing can be breading, corn bread, etc..
The good cook- I'll look forward to reading it!

pinknest said...

I'm sorry to hear about your wife! I hope it works out. And those pork chops sound gi-normous. But as long as you have a gi-normous amount of stuffing, then I welcome such big meat.

Megan said...

Sorry to hear abotu your wife. Hope things work out OK!

buffalodick said...

Pink- 1st day off, and we aren't having fun.. cranky at me..
Finn- It will- just sent in paperwork to get a chunk of money out of my 401K for the holidays!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Buff I am sorry to hear about your wife being laid off. Keeping my fingers crossed that they do call her back like they said.

You are a sweetie for lifting her spirits with her favorite meal even though is wasn't yours.

buffalodick said...

Katherine- Thanks, we'll be fine..more mental than monetary with us..

Unknown said...

Thank you! Because I do make some good stuffed pork chops if I do say so myself, but I never considered put gravy on them. I will certainly do that next time!

DANG! $17!! I would have freaking the hell out.

Sorry about the laying off, but maybe you two can make it a great few weeks! Go somewhere!

buffalodick said...

Bina- I was shocked, but out of time so I bought them.. If I can talk her into it, I'd like go somewhere!

The Blonde Duck said...

I'm so sorry she was laid off.

buffalodick said...

BlondeD- We're fine! She just gets girl weird for a bit.. I can be a bit complacent, she can mad at me quicker.. Que Sera Sera..Whatever will be will be!

JihadGene said...

Hope you weather the layoff OK. The chops look yummy!

Brian Miller said...

sorry to hear about the lay off, hope that call back comes in. good job fixing comfort food!

Just telling it like it is said...

Gosh you guys are such a tremendous couple...I feel her pain...the thought of losing ones job...I know that you will prevail...and I will pray for you...as your always in my thoughts a family that I look to for reassurance...I feel your strength n matter what you think...knowing that you are there stabilizes me!!
sincerely
darn girl

Jamie said...

That's too sad about your wife! But what a sweet thing to prepare her a special meal. You gotta splurge once in a while when the event calls.

The wedding meal sounds fab!

Unknown said...

I'm sorry your wife was laid off! My husband has been going through the same periodic lay offs at his job, too. Not fun :(. Your pork chops sound and look delicious! The wedding you guys attended sounded like quite the affair!