Carrie's Experimental Kitchen: Spinach & Garlic Herb Cheese Stuffed Pork Chops

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Spinach & Garlic Herb Cheese Stuffed Pork Chops

First, I want to thank you for your wonderful comments on the Giveaway Entries so far this week. Don't forget~you have until Sunday to enter if you haven't already. :)

This past weekend, I attended an adult Halloween party. I really don't like dressing up, (it's not really my thing) but I found a Queen of Hearts costume and purchased a Mad Hatter's Hat for the hubby to go as. After hosting a birthday breakfast for my father in law, pulling weeds, blowing leaves and installing new molding, the hubby was in no way going to wear this hat (it had orange hair sticking out of the back of it), so I had to go it alone. I asked the host what I could bring and she had commented recently on my Facebook page that she wanted to try the Garlic & Herb Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms and since they are soooo easy to make, I made those. But, I had some leftover Alouette® cheese.

My nine year old is finally starting to get her culinary creative juices flowing (amazing since she would only eat Chicken Dino's 6 months ago!) because she actually had this conversation with me:
Gab:"Mom, what are you making with those pork chops?"
Me: "I'm not sure yet, why?"
Gab: "I think you should use that leftover cheese from when you made the mushrooms in them."
Me: "Great idea Gab!"
Gab: "I also want spinach so can you throw some of that in there too?"
Me: "Absolutely!"

And....dinner was decided! It's kind of nice to have some help every now and then when your mind is running in 20 different directions isn't it? These pork chops were juicy, delicious and so easy to prepare (bonus!).

Spinach & Garlic Herb Stuffed Cheese Pork Chops
4 Center Cut Pork Chops
1-10oz. Package Frozen Chopped Spinach, defrosted and drained
4 tbsp. Alouette® Light Garlic & Herb Spreadable Cheese (you can use the regular one also)
1 c. Flour
Egg Wash (2 Eggs + 1/4 c. 2% Milk)
Panko Breadcrumbs + 1 tbsp. Parsley + 1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
Cooking Spray(I use Canola Oil)

Trim any visible fat from the meat and horizontally, make a slice in center of the pork chop; careful not to cut all the way through. Spread 1 tbsp. of the cheese into each pork chop, then divide the spinach into four and put each portion on top of the cheese; stuffing it in to the open slit. Next, dip your meat into the flour, then into the egg wash, then into the breadcrumb mixture. Place a rack on a baking sheet and add your breaded pork chops. Spray with cooking spray and bake at 350°F for approximately 35-40 minutes (depending on the thickness of your pork chops). Serves 4.

And, if you're stuck for some costume ideas, here's some of my crazy, fun loving friends and their great ideas!