Pork chops in the time of Covid

 For this week's meal, I picked something fairly simple: Stuffed Pork Chops and "Chocolate Dessert."  The dessert was suggested by Grandma Wagner, that was one of her favorites.  There aren't a lot of main dishes, and most of them are kind of complicated.  I may save recipes that call for roasting a whole chicken for when we're allowed to be in large groups again.  On that note, I was lucky enough to get the first dose of the Covid vaccine a few days ago.  One step closer to normal.  I was thinking about that earlier, because Lottie survived both malaria and typhoid in 1908.  She was a tough woman.

    The stuffed pork chops were fairly easy, minus the usual guesswork.  The pork chops I bought came in a pack of four.  I wasn't able to have them "cut with a pocket" because I did grocery pick up.  I'm a modern woman, I cut my own pork chops, thank you.  I cheated a little bit, because I didn't see the stuffing recipe on the previous page, so I used the boxed kind.  Next time I'm feeling ambitious, I'll make my own.  Actually, it took me a minute to figure out my grocery list for that one.  I saw "dressing" and for a few minutes, I thought she meant mayonnaise.  It took me a minute to realize it was actually what we call "stuffing."  In my defense, every other recipe in the book has mayonnaise, why would this one be any different?  Halfway through, I suddenly remembered that it came out a few years ago that you weren't supposed to stuff raw turkey and then bake it, maybe it was the same with pork chops.  Unlike the egg situation, there really wasn't another way, so I decided to risk it. It's been six hours, so far so good.  I wasn't worried about portion sizes, we're supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow overnight, so if I can't get out all week, I'm ok.  They turned out well, and in less than two hours.  I used a cooking thermometer at an hour and 40 minutes, and they were fine.

Stuffed Pork Chops

Have pork chops cut with pocket.  Put 1 or 2 T. dressing in pocket and secure with a toothpick.  Fry on both sides, place in roaster with 1/2 inch water and 1/2 cup sherry wine.  Roast 2 hours at 375 degrees.

I told Grandma about what I was doing, and she was excited.  She wanted me to try the "Chocolate Dessert."  It was probably the easiest dessert I've done so far.  Except that there's no baking temperature.  The cake mix box said 350, so that's what I used.  I taste tested it right out of the oven, but it was better after it cooled almost to room temperature.  Right out of the oven, it tasted a little like a molten lava cake.  Not bad.  Maybe next week I'll get brave and try a candy recipe.

Chocolate Dessert

1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa, stir in 2 cups water.  Put in 13x9 cake pan.  Scatter marshmallows over this.  Spoon over this Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake, mixed according to directions.  Sprinkle nuts over top and bake 45 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream.