grilled pork chops with a citrus fennel salad

it's friday night!  friday night means movie night in our house and tonight we are watching crazy heart.  but first, it's time to make some yummy dinner!  super delicious and ultra simple is the description i will give this meal.  i hope that you enjoy it as much as we have!

grilled pork chops

seriously, you will laugh at the simplicity of this recipe, but trust me...with patience, it works beautifully!

rub 2 good-sized bone-in pork chops generously with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.  heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter in a cast iron skillet over moderate to high heat.  when the fats start to froth, add 3 cloves of lightly smashed garlic (it's okay to keep the skin on) and the pork chops.

this is where patience becomes a virtue...leave the chops to cook until good and charred (browned well).  then, using tongs, flip to the other side and char the same way.  once both sides are well browned, turn the heat down to medium and cook, flipping once, until no longer pink in the middle.  tah-dah...now they are ready to enjoy!

citrus fennel salad

prepare your salad while you are letting the pork chops char to a delicious brown.  peel and cut into chunks one pink grapefruit and one orange and divide evenly among two plates.  next, cut one fennel bulb into small slices and divide among the plates with the citrus.

now, prepare your vinaigrette.  whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of orange juice, 1 tablespoon of white balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon of whole grain mustard, and a dash of salt.  drizzle over salads before serving.

and, you are off to a happy weekend!