Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops and Blackberry Muffins

I've had Giada's recipe for Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops on my list of recipes to try forever and finally made it last night. The pork chops lived up to all the glowing reviews I read. The meal was simple and delicious. I made them on the stove top last night but they would probably be great and a little less messy if cooked in the oven as well. I served the pork chops with Parmesan and Basil Orzo, a favorite recipe from Allrecipes.com. I also added a side of balsamic marinated green and wax beans. Additionally, I just purchased a Muffins cookbook at Williams Sonoma's annual sale, so I decided to make a batch of blackberry muffins. The muffins had a great crunchy topping and were really moist. This recipe is a great way to take advantage of the wonderful crop of summer blackberries.

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
Source: Giada de Laurentis

2 large eggs
1 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
3/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan
4 (1/2 to 3/4-inch thick) center-cut pork loin chops (each about 10 to 12 ounces)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon wedges, for serving

Whisk the eggs in a pie plate to blend. Place the bread crumbs in another pie plate. Place the cheese in a third pie plate. Sprinkle the pork chops generously with salt and pepper. Coat the chops completely with the cheese, patting to adhere. Dip the chops into the eggs, then coat completely with the bread crumbs, patting to adhere.

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a very large skillet over medium heat. Add pork chops, in batches if necessary, and cook until golden brown and the center reaches 150 degrees, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to plates and serve with lemon wedges.

Parmesan and Basil Orzo
Source: Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions:

1. Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo and saute until lightly browned.
2. Stir in chicken stock and bring to boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 - 20 minutes.
3. Mix in Parmesan cheese and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to shallow bowl. Garnish with basil sprigs.

Blackberry Muffins
Source: Williams Sonoma Muffins

Blackberry Muffins For the topping: 1/3 cup sugar 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour Grated zest of 1/2 lemon 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted 1/3 cup pecans, finely chopped For the muffins: 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup sugar 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon Grated zest of 1/2 lemon 1/4 tsp. salt 1 egg, beaten 5 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted 1 cup buttermilk 2 cups fresh blackberries or 2 1/2 cups frozen unsweetened blackberries, unthawed Unsalted butter for serving Preheat an oven to 375°F. Grease 12 standard muffin cups with butter or butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray. To make the topping, in a small bowl, stir together the sugar, flour and lemon zest. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture is crumbly. Add the pecans and stir to combine. Set aside. To make the muffins, in a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, lemon zest and salt. Make a well in the center and add the egg, melted butter and buttermilk. Stir just until evenly moistened. The batter will be slightly lumpy. Sprinkle with the blackberries and gently fold in with a large rubber spatula just until evenly distributed, no more than a few strokes. Take care not to break up the fruit. Do not overmix. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each to a bit above the rim of the cup. Top each muffin with the topping, dividing it evenly (the sugar will melt and produce a glaze effect). Bake until the muffins are golden, dry and springy to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Unmold the muffins. Serve warm or at room temperature, with butter. Makes 12 muffins.