Recipe(tried): Moist Pork Chops - Sheila - another method -

There have been many posts and comments here about how dry pork of all types are now that they are being bred (too) lean - at least in my opinion.

I have a tried and true method of cooking pork chops that gaurantees moist, tender chops, but it entails long slow cooking.

I salt/pepper and garlic powder both sides of bone-in loin chops, then brown both sides lightly in a little vegetable oil. Set aside on platter.

I deglaze the skillet (I use a Corningware skillet in which you can brown the chops, and then use to also bake them later) using a blend of water to which I've stirred in a heaping tablespoon of the PASTE type beef base. I use about 2 cups of water - it needs to be tasted after blending in the beef base paste, since it can be too salty or too dilute, and would have to be adjusted by adding more base, or taking away more water.

Let this flavored water deglaze the skillet, then add the chops back in. Cut up a large onion into slices, and add one of the small packages of sliced mushrooms and place on top of the chops, making sure that enough of the flavored water comes almost to the top of the chops. Scoop some of the water over the tops of the onions and mushrooms to make sure they get some of the color and flavor, also. You can also lightly salt and pepper the onions and mushrooms as they lay on top of the chops.

Cover the skillet, and bake at 350 degrees for at least an hour and a half - check for doneness by pulling apart the meat with the tines of a fork - if done, it will pull away and separate easily. If not, bake another half hour or so. It may be necessary to add a little plain water if the juices have cooked away too much.

Then thicken the remaining juice with a little cornstarch stirred into cold water, added a little at a time until the gravy thickens.

It's a simple recipe but it gives a nice tender and moist finished product. Great with garlic mashed potatoes!

Good luck - another way to ensure moist chops or pork roasts is by using a slow-cooker.

June