Grilled Maple-Brined Pork Chops

Sometimes you get tired of the same old bbq and pork chops.  I decided to try my hand at a brine that would make the usually plain tasting pork juicy and flavorful without having to add a mountain of bbq sauce to it.

2-4 Bone-in double cut pork chops

4 c. Water

1/3 c. White sugar

1/4 c. Salt

1 1/2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 c. + 2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup

3 Cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 tsp. Red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp Ground cloves

2 Tbsp Dried rosemary

1 Tbsp. Dried thyme

Set chops aside and in a medium pot combine remaining ingredients.  Stir and place on med high heat until it somes to a boil.  Turn heat down to medium and let it simmer for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.
For quick cooling, fill sink with an inch or two of cold water and set the pot in. 

Use a casserole dish large enough to hold the amount of chops you plan to brine.  If the brine pot is large enough to hold all the chops you can use that as well.

Cover with plastic wrap and put a plate on top to keep the chops submerged.  Chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours.

Remove from brine and grill.  You will be left with flavorful, juicy pork chops.

Daddy's Day Breakfast!

It was my husbands first Father's Day and Holly and I made him breakfast.  She was excited when i put the bacon on then passed out before the waffle batter could be finished.  Too much excitement in such a short time. hehe
Maple bacon and Buttermilk Blueberry waffles mmmmm. 

Buttermilk Blueberry waffles

1 3/4 C All Purpose Flour

1 Tbsp. Sugar

2 tsp. Baking powder

1/4 tsp. Baking soda

1/4 tsp. Salt

2 Eggs

2 C Buttermilk

1 tsp. Vanilla

4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and slightly (if using salted butter omit 1/4 tsp of salt from recipe)

Fresh or Frozen Blueberries (approx 1/2 C.)

Preheat waffle iron and brush with a little oil.

In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients.  Add in buttermilk and eggs.  Using a whisk, beat til just combined.  Add in vanilla and then while whisking, slowly drizzled in the melted butter.  Don't worry if butter chills up again in batter.  It will still work out great!  

Fold in blueberries.  Using a 1/2 cup (or less depending on iron you have), pour batter onto waffle iron.  Cook until golden brown.  About 3 min but varies depending on waffle iron.  

Serve right away or keep warm in oven.  

To keep warm:  preheat oven to 225 F. Place a cookie sheet in the oven with a cookie cooling rack on top.  As waffles are done cooking place them in the oven on the rack.  Will help keep them from getting too soft while you finish the others.  

Makes about 6 large waffles

** My hubby loves having chocolate in them too so i toss in a handful of mini-chocolate chips sometimes.  

Maple Bacon

We are hooked on this way of making bacon!!  Less mess and having to watch the stove top for splatter.  Plus its easy to do! I cook our bacon on a rack over a baking sheet.  It stops the bacon from shrinking a lot and curling up. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

1/2 pkg Bacon (8-10 slices)

2 Tbsp. Pure Maple Syrup

Preheat oven to 400 F. 

Cover a cookie sheet with foil (helps cleanup afterward) place a cooling rack on top of the sheet.  Line bacon up on rack so they are close to each other.  Bake for approx 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and using a fork, turn over all the bacon so the other side can brown. Brush each slice of bacon with the maple syrup.  Return sheet to oven and bake approx 5 minutes or until it is the color you like.  Be careful to watch once the maple syrup is added.  It can burn if left too long.