Martina McBride's Smoked Pork Chops

Erma Elizabeth McCall, I can’t believe that you are promoting a NASCAR recipe!! What is the world coming to?

You, who thinks the only proper racing involves four footed horses at Keeneland and Churchill Downs now has become a NASCAR fan? I just knew that somewhere under all that prim and proper Southern Lady facade, there lurked a hidden Good Ole Boy side of you. Next thing I know, you’ll be driving down to Talladega or Daytona and trading recipes out in the infield!! Dear, early senility may be taking over your por’ little brain.

So, just to keep up with your Down Home Country/NASCAR side, I’m sending you some Country Music star’s recipes.

Mel, from Mel’s Diner fame, right here in downtown Dutch Corners, has been featuring a pork chop recipe he says came straight from some big restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. Mel loves Country Music (that’s all he plays at the Diner), and he especially loves Martina McBride. “Wild Angels” seems to play non-stop during dinner.

Any how, Mel went down to Nashville and ate at this place that claimed these Smoked Pork Chops were Martina’s favorite dish. Mel, naturally, conned the cook into sharing the recipe and it has been a staple at the Diner ever since.

With all of Iowa’s pork, any different recipe for the faithful pork chop is a welcomed friend. These have become something of a Saturday night Special at Mel’s, and he must make up a hundred or so each week.

P.S. You can reuse the marinade. With that whole vanilla bean, this aint a cheap brine. Just bring it to a boil after you remove the chops and store it in the fridge and it is ready for the next batch of Martina McBride’s Favorite Smoked Pork Chops from Cabana in Nashville, or from Mel’s Diner in beautiful downtown Dutch Corners.

Martina McBride’s Favorite Smoked Pork Chops from Cabana in Nashville:

6 large center-cut pork chops–make that HUGE thick chops

Marinade:

1 quart of water
¼ cup sorghum
¼ cup salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
10 whole black peppercorns
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped out

Bring all the Marinade ingredients to a boil in a large saucepan. Simmer for several minutes and then cool to room temperature. Place chops and marinade in a large, covered casserole, and place in the refrigerator for one to two days.

Pat dry the chops. In a home smoker or good closed barbeque grill, smoke the chops at 160 degrees with fruit flavored wood chips until the chops reach at least 150 degrees. Use a thermometer to test.

Serves 6.

Antique Shaker Apple Recipes

Talk about unusual, Max, then check out this Shaker Apple and Pork Stew. It starts out kind of like a Pork Roast basted with applesauce, and then it adds carrots, potatoes, and onions like a beef stew. Come to think of it, I often add potatoes, carrots and onions to my pork roasts. So maybe this isn’t such an unusual recipe after all.

Shaker Apple and Pork Stew:

3 pounds boneless pork
3 pounds applesauce
2 tablespoons mixed cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
6 small red skinned potatoes
3 carrots
2 onions
2 apples

Cut the pork into small cubes. In a heavy Dutch Oven, place the pork, applesauce, spices. Cover and cook on high heat for 10 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 4 hours. An hour before serving, add the unpeeled whole potatoes, the carrots that have been peeled and cut into large chunks, and the onions that have been quartered. About 15 minutes before serving, add the apples that have been peeled and sliced thinly. Serve in soup bowls.

Serves 8.

Antique Shaker Apple Recipes

Erma, as you know, I had never heard of the Shakers before I met you. Then I began hearing about their simple elegant furniture. We had some communal societies here in Iowa too, though not exactly like the Shakers. The big one, of course, is the Amana Colonies, and they were big on orchards and apples too.

I found this recipe in one of the Shaker cookbooks you gave me years ago and I had to try it. I used bacon instead of the salt pork and brown sugar instead of the maple. My, how times have changed. Can you imagine what this everyday dish would cost today to make if you used real maple sugar?

Can you imagine how many pies the Shaker sisters would have to bake to feed the hundreds of people who lived in their village?

Apple-Pork Pie from Mount Lebanon Village:

2 pie crusts, unbaked
2 tablespoons flour
½ cup maple sugar (may substitute light brown sugar)
½ cup white sugar
Pinch of salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
6 tart apples, pared and sliced
½ pound salt pork, cut into thin small pieces 1 inch long (substitute bacon)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons butter

Line a medium sized casserole with half of the pastry.

Mix the flour, salt, sugars, and spices. Combine that with the apples and place half of the mixture into the casserole. Cover with half of the pieces of salt pork. Sprinkle with pepper. Repeat the layers. Dot with butter and fit on the other half of the pie crust. Cut several slashes in the top crust. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes and then lower the temperature to 375 degrees and continue baking for 50 minutes. Serve warm.

Serves 6 to 8.

Bacon may be substituted for the salt pork.

Cookie Deprivation Syndrome is Cause of Paris Hilton’s DUI’s

Doctor Maxine has discovered why Paris Hilton is in trouble? The good doctor (without even talking to the patient yet) has analyzed Paris as suffering from Cookie Deprivation Syndrome. This little known syndrome is common in the upper classes, and the results are disastrous. She did not have cookies as a child so now she is seeking relief in a bottle? Her DUI’s are a desperate cry for help!! With this stunning insight into the psyche of Paris Hilton, you are ready for a round on the morning talk shows. Have you discussed this theory yet with Dr. Phil? Why, this could be a Best Selling Book. At the very least, this deserves a seminar at the American Psychological Association annual meeting. As nutty as some of their theories are, you would probably get Cookie Deprivation Syndrome listed as a recognized mental problem. No, they would not say “problem,” it is aberration or some such watered down term for “all messed up.”

My husband would add to Cookie Deprivation Syndrome, the Meat Deprivation Syndrome. The man thinks that if there is not meat on the table with every meal, it is not a meal. He says the symptoms of the Syndrome are weak, listless behavior; lack of ability to do even the most simple household chores; and a fierce craving for anything might be classed as an animal. Fortunately M.D.S is easily cured with a 12-ounce steak, or a whole chicken, or a large cut of pork.

Chinese Roast Pork Strips are a sure cure for an attack of M.D.S. And you will notice that in keeping with my image of never cooking anything without some alcohol, it has a bit of sherry in the marinade.

Chinese Roast Pork Strips: (serves 4)

3 pound boneless pork tenderloin in one piece

Marinade:

1 teaspoon fresh ginger
2 cloves of garlic
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
4 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon sherry
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt to taste–With the soy sauce this really isn’t necessary

Make up the marinade by mincing the garlic with a press, mincing the ginger with a grater, and then mixing all together in a shallow, non-metal casserole or baking dish.

Cut the pork tenderloin lengthwise into four or more long strips about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Place the pork strips in the marinade, coat on both sides and set aside for 4 to 6 hours. Turn occasionally. Save the Marinade to baste the meat while cooking.

Grill for about an hour 3 to 4 inches from the fire on a charcoal grill, or bake or broil in the oven. Every 15 minutes baste the meat with a basting brush, and turn with tongs. Do not use a fork as this lets the juices out of the meat. The edges of the meat should be crisp and brown.

To serve, slice the pork strips into 1/4 inch slices. Serve with rice and salad.

This is an excellent Marinade for any pork, or chicken Chinese style stir-fry dish.

If you are grilling some vegetables like onions, squash, or asparagus at the same time as the pork, try brushing a little Marinade on them as well.