Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops

For the longest time in Casa de Steele, the main course options were rather limited. You see, my dear hubby grew up in the Land O'Lakes, where there is plenty of trout but not much in the way of seafood (or oceans, for that matter).

And thus, our beloved protagonist was prohibited from cooking "anything that swam in the ocean, oh, and also, I don't like ham."

So what are we left with? That's right folks, chicken and beef. Or beef and chicken. Or beef. Or chicken. Or spaghetti-O's. Or Kraft Blue Box. You get the picture...

Well, I am pleased to inform you all that in the past year or so, after a few too many episodes of Man v. Food and Anthony Bourdain, our picky eater has decided to be a bit more adventurous. We aren't talking mussles or squid or anything.



Just pork chops.

(Oh, and could you omit the "tree branch stuff" next time? It "tastes like Christmas trees." It was rosemary. It has been officially omitted from the spice rub for next time.)



Since making these over the stove earlier in the year, we've since made them on the grill, and they are stupendously awesome when grilled. I believe I grilled them over foil to keep the juices from dripping down into the flames too much. Flare-ups are scary, and I prefer my eyebrows un-singed.



The best part about this recipe? I guarantee you have all the ingredients in your pantry right now. Add some frozen veggies and rice, and you've got dinner in no time at all.



(In a typical twist of Steven-irony, we will now eat pork chops and bacon, but we do not like ham, either honeybaked or deli-sliced. I am still slightly baffled by this.)



Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops: adapted from The Kitchn (sans "trees," or rosemary, of course)
4 pork chops, bone-in or boneless
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cumin

Mix spice rub ingredients together in a small bowl and generously coat chops on both sides. Place on aluminum foil covered grill grates and grill 4-5 minutes per side, or until done to your liking. Whip up some sides, call it a meal. Ponder how someone could like bacon and pork chops but not ham. But don't think too hard about it -- its sort of like the chicken-and-egg question -- there's no real answer.