Eagle Scout Apple Cider Pork Chops

I had a guest chef in the kitchen with me over the weekend.  I had my very own Eagle Scout that cooked outside in a dutch oven. It was a great experience.  If you don't have your own Eagle/Boy Scout or a dutch oven you could make this recipe in the oven. 

This is the finished product.  It was really good and didn't take as long as I had thought.  I thought cooking over coals it would take several hours but it didn't. 

You can use thiner pork chops or even more pork chops whatever your needs are.

The rain really messed up our plans.  Getting the coals ready.

Adding a little paper to get the fire started.

Smoking a little.

Starting the prep while the coals get ready.  Start with 1 cup flour.  We are going to put this in a zip lock bag to coat the chops.

2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

Mix that up in the bag.

Put the chops in to coat.

I was the assistant and cup up about 3 Granny Smith apples.  You can put more or less apples.

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup raisins

Put the apples, raisins, cranberries in another zip lock bag.

Add 2 cups brown sugar.

Mix that up well.

2 cups apple cider

Line the dutch oven with foil for easier clean up.  Add 6 Tablespoons of butter to the oven.

The coals are ready to time to get cooking.  I was informed that you put twice as many coals on the lid as you put on bottom.

We are letting the butter melt right now.

Got this handy dandy tool for lifting the lid.

Our view while we cook.

Lift the lid to check.

Butter is melting

See it is all melted.

Put the chops in the butter to brown.

We are going to cook them on this size for a few minutes.

Place the cover back on.

Time to check them.

Turning them to get the other side brown.

Cover back to get the second side brown.

Now they are getting brown but not as brown if you were cooking in a skillet on the stove.

Time to add the other ingredients.  The 2 cups apple cider,

The fruit and brown sugar.

It is colorful.  Cover again and let cook for 15-20 minutes or so.

It is done.  You can check your pork chops to make sure they are cooked all the way through. 

Now it is time to eat.  It was a great meal.  We added some fresh veggies and we had a nice meal.  We want to thank Jackson for bringing his dutch oven and cooking for us.  And I also want to thank him for allowing me to share this on my blog.

Apple Cider Pork Chops Recipe

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

pork chops ever how many you need

6 Tablespoons butter

Granny Smith apples, thinly sliced.  Use as many as you want.

1 cup raisins

1 cup dried cranberries

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups apple cider

Minion Munch Chex Party Mix

They make a chex mix for just about every occasion these days including a movie premiere. Those of you with young kids or those of you that are young at heart will know that the Minion movie comes out this week.  Seems I have done several movie inspired foods this summer.  I found this recipe in an email last week and knew I would have to try it.  My minions loved it this past weekend and I bet yours will too.

It makes just enough.

 I must admit that I did not know there were these flavors of cereals.  I don't go down the cereal isle that often.  But these were really good.  Might need to start liking cereal again.

 In a microwave safe bowl put in 1/4 cup butter

 1/4 cup brown sugar

 1/4 cup peanut butter.  You can use either creamy or crunchy. Set this aside for a few minutes.

 Now you are going to need a pretty big microwaveable bowl for the cereal part. Add 2 cups honey nut chex.

 2 cups chocolate chex

 2 cups banana nut cheerios.

 1 cup dry roasted peanuts

 Toss them around a little.

 Put the butter mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir and if you need to heat more heat for 10 seconds and stir again.

 Now pour over the cereal.

 Stir until all is coated. Place in the microwave and heat on HIGH for 1 minute.

 Take out and stir.  Heat on HIGH for 1 more minute.

 Take out and stir.  Heat on HIGH for 1 more minute.

 Take out and stir.

 Have a parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet and spread out the mix to cool.

 After 5 minutes add 1 cup dried bananas.  I broke them up a little.

 Sprinkle them over the top.

 Add about 1/2 cup M&M's on top.  I think Reece's Pieces would be good too.  These are mini M&M's.

 The snack enjoy you will. I found these pop corn bowls this summer and had to get them because well it's Star Wars.

Look at that yummy snack mix. Any leftover mix put in an airtight container.

In case you were wondering what a Minion looked like here's one.  Isn't he cute?

Minion Munch Chex Party Mix Recipe

2 cups Honey Nut Chex
2 cups Chocolate Chex
2 cups Banana Nut Cheerios
1 cup dry roast peanuts
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup dried bananas
1/2 cup M&M's

BBQ Pork Tenderloin

I think I have found my new favorite way to cook a pork tenderloin.  If you have never cooked one you don't know what you are missing. They are very easy to cook, they are very lean, and you can find them on sale all the time.  All I had to do was mix up a simple rub to go on them and then put them on the grill for a few minutes.  Doesn't get any easier than that.  Also it doesn't heat up the kitchen. 

I can almost smell them now. 

This tenderloin becomes 2 pieces when you open it up.

I had to share my lilies with you.  The rain knocked them over and so I just had to cut them.

So I am enjoying them in the kitchen.

Start with 2 Tablespoons brown sugar.

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon thyme

The directions say to cut off that thin layer of fat/skin.

It comes off very easily.  This is a very lean cut of meat but it still is very flavorful, not dry.

Brush the tenderloin with olive oil.

Then cover it with the rub.

One piece is covered.

I ended up mixing up another batch for the second piece.  The second batch I left out the thyme.  Not a big fan.  Let this sit for 30 minute before you put it on the grill.

Place on the grill and grill each side for about 8 minutes. It doesn't take very long.

Some fresh corn or other veggies along with this pork and you have a meal fit for a king.

BBQ Pork Tenderloin Recipe

2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon kosher salt
1 Tablespoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoon or so olive oil