Baked Pork Chops with Apples

by Emily
from Virtuous Daughters, December 2009~Volume 9, Number 9

• 4 red-skinned apples        
• 1 T. sugar
• Pinch of ground cinnamon              
• 4 boneless pork chops, 3/4 inch thick
• 2 T. butter, cut into small pieces   
• salt & pepper to taste

 
Preheat oven to 375. Have ready an 8-inch square baking dish. Set 1 apple on cutting board and cut in half length-wise. Cut each half in half again to make quarters. Place each quarter on its side and cut away the core. Cut each quarter lengthwise into 1/2 inch-thick slices. Repeat for each apple. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon evenly over the apples, in the baking dish. Season each pork chop with salt and pepper (to taste). Tuck the pork chops into the pile of apples in baking dish, arranging apples around the pork chops. Scatter the butter pieces over the tops of the pork chops and apples. Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until pork chops are lightly browned and the apples are tender, about 20 minutes longer. Serve with apple slices placed around pork chops on each plate.