Apples make a perfect complement to pork chops

APPLES, WITH THEIR TOUCH of sweetness, are a perfect complement to pork – in this case, pork chops. Both are local foods that you can easily source.

This Pork and Apple Skillet Dinner makes a delicious weeknight meal that comes together with little fuss – about 10 minutes of prep time, and about 10 minutes of cooking. Serve with mashed sweet potatoes or brown rice.

With the pork, you can buy larger packages of pork loin chops to save some money, freezing the extras for another meal. And there are many varieties of apples to choose from, so experiment by seeing what’s available at your local grocery store or farmers’ market. (To mix it up, you can even swap out the apples for pears.)

Pork and Apple Skillet Dinner

1 tsp. canola oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves 1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper 4 boneless pork loin chops, about 500 g/1 lb 2 red-skinned apples, cored and sliced 1/2 cup sodium-reduced chicken or vegetable broth 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp. cornstarch

In a bowl, combine oil, garlic, thyme and pepper; add pork chops and rub mixture all over.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat and brown pork chops on both sides. Remove to plate and add apple slices to pan; cook, stirring for 2 minutes.

Whisk together broth, mustard and cornstarch; pour into skillet. Stir to coat apples. Return pork chops to skillet and cook, turning once, for about 3 minutes.

Use a digital food thermometer to check that pork has reached an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F). Serves 4.