What would you make for dinner? I have boneless pork chops, acorn squash and either spinach or collard greens.

Trying to use what I have to make a delicious meal. I have boneless pork chops, two acorn squash and fresh spinach or fresh collards. If left to my own devices, I will just marinate and grill the chops, bake the acorn squash with butter and cinnamon, and sautee the collards stovetop. I'm not against doing just that, just wanted to see if any other ideas were out there - I love reading what people come up with on this site.

Please keep in mind that I'm not a pro and I have little ones at home so I don't have a ton of time. (it's just me and my husband eating, though, so the meal doesn't need to be kid- friendly)

Thanks so much!

bac
  • Posted by: bac
  • January 23, 2012
  • 6419 views
  • 7 Comments

7 Comments

rapearson
rapearson January 25, 2012
If you can stuff the pork chops you could make a stuffing out of steamed squash, chopped walnuts, some brown sugar, thyme, and golden raisins or other dried fruit. Then coat the chops in beaten egg and panko bread crumbs and bake.
 
Liz0422
Liz0422 January 24, 2012
Try sautéing the squash I a pan for about 15 minutes with a little olive oil, remove to a baking sheet, sprinkle with cinnamon. Add the pork chops to the pan and sauté for about 3 minutes per side, remove to the baking sheet with the squash. Roast the squash and pork chops in the oven at 400 for 15 minutes. In the meantime sauté the greens in the same pan.
 
pierino
pierino January 23, 2012
Definitely roast the squash. But I'd keep it southern if you are using collards; melt some bacon in a pan you can cover. Stem the collards and roll the leaves into cigars and then cut across into thin strips. Add the strips to the bacon with just a little more water than what the greens have been rinsed in and cook down. Collards will take a lot longer to be fully cooked than spinach.
What wvvanessa describes is your classic fry station, but you don't have to go all Japanese as lemon juice, salt and pepper will be sufficient to finish. Might want to hit them with a few drops from a bottle of Tabasco to personal taste.
 
vvvanessa
vvvanessa January 23, 2012
I have some thinner cut chops that I'm making into pork tonkatsu tonight. Season them with salt and pepper, then dredge them in flour then egg then panko and shallow fry them. Tonkatsu sauce is a mix of ketchup, mustard powder, worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Serve over a bed of shredded, sautéed greens. i'm a big fan of roasting squash, so I'd do that and serve it alongside the pork and greens.
 
Rachel S.
Rachel S. January 23, 2012
One of my favorite ways to jazz up pork chops quickly is to pan-fry them and then make a pan sauce; I like to make mine with shallots and capers, or shallots with reduced orange juice, chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, Rosemary and cream. Yum! Makes weeknight meals feel pretty special!
 
nutcakes
nutcakes January 23, 2012
There is alot of busy work here but making a gratin out of the squash and spinach (or collards) might be fin for a change, like this one:
http://ecogastronomy.org/recipes/winter-squash-and-spinach-gratin

Ant this winner on Food52 looks great, would be wonderful flavors with pork and should adapt to acorn:
http://www.food52.com/recipes/7374_caramelized_butternut_squash_wedges_with_a_sage_hazelnut_pesto
 
ellenl
ellenl January 23, 2012
do that. sounds good.
 
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