Savory Apple Baked Stuffed Pork Chops

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

6 (7-ounce) bone in pork shops, around 1 1/2" thick

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cups bread, cut into small cubes (French or Italian)

1 cup apple, peeled, small dice cubes ( Granny Smith)

1 cups mushrooms, minced

3 ounces goat cheese ( or cream cheese)

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons, minced parsley

1 tablespoon onion, minced

1 tablespoon sage, minced (or 1 teaspoon ground sage)

salat and pepper to taste

Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Heat a skillet (medium heat) Melt 1 tablespoon butter- then add the diced apples, bread cubes, minced mushroom, onions, sage and parsley and sauté for about 5 minutes, until the apples are softened and onions are translucent. 

 Remove the pan and transfer the apple stuffing to a bowl to cool- do not clean the pan- you will reuse it to sear the chops

-Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops. Cut a 2-inch slit in side of pork to create a deep pocket- the slit will only be 2 inches at the incision, but the inside of the chop you will create large pocket to accommodate the stuffing and the goat cheese

-Divide the goat cheese ( you can use cream cheese if you like- room temperature), but goat cheese is better) between all the pork chops, stuffing it all the way to the back of the chop

-Now divide the stuffing equally between the chops

-Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the reserved skillet - turn heat to high, and sear each chop until each side until golden brown.

-Transfer the pork chops to an oven safe baking dish, and cover with foil.  Bake 30 minutes, then remove the foil; continue to bake the chops, until they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees.

-Allow the pork chops to rest for 10 minutes after removing them from the oven