Assembling Dinner in a Pinch
Assembling a meal with sirloin pork chops
Assembling dinner in a pinch comes about when you don’t have a clue what to serve. You may have a faint idea of what you want, but not a complete meal.
I knew I wanted to fix a pack of boneless sirloin pork chops for dinner. When it came to side dishes, not so sure. Then I remembered there was a spaghetti squash in the refrigerator and a pack of Betty Crocker Homestyle Stuffing Mix in the pantry.
I cut the spaghetti squash length-wise and removed the seeds. I rubbed it with olive oil and turned it cut side down in a casserole dish and put it in a preheated 375 degree oven to cook for 15 minutes.
While the squash cooked, I put the chops in a 2-quart baking dish. I then sprinkled them with Lawry’s Garlic Salt, onion powder, paprika and drizzled them with olive oil. I rubbed this into the chops and then drizzled Worcestershire sauce over the top of them and let them marinate while the squash cooked.
When the squash came out of the oven after 15 minutes, I put the chops in to cook for 30 minutes. The oven was still set at 375 degrees.
Sirloin pork chops, stuffing mix and spaghetti squash…yum
Once the squash cooled, I scraped it from the skin using a fork. Then I toss the squash with 2 tablespoons butter, Lawry’s Garlic Salt and fresh julienned basil. I topped it off with fresh grated Parmesan cheese right before I served it.
I prepared the stuffing mix according to the directions on the package.
All in all the meal came together quite well. In the end there was leftover stuffing mix, which I put in the fridge to use with another meal (recipe to come later).
Thanks for dropping by today. Do you plan your meals ahead of time or just put dishes together as they come to you? Hope you’ll give this recipe a try. If you do, please be sure to drop back by and let me know how it went or if you post it online tag it with #thesurprisedgourmet.com. I’m always happy to hear how a recipe turned out for you.
Cucina Felice!
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Serves: 2 Servings
- 1¼ Pounds boneless sirloin pork chops
- Garlic salt (to taste)
- Onion powder (to taste)
- Paprika (to taste)
- Olive oil
- Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
- Put the chops in a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle them with garlic salt, onion powder, paprika and drizzled them with olive oil. Rub this into the chops and then drizzled Worcestershire sauce over the top of them.
- Put the chops in a preheated 375 degree oven and cook for 30 minutes.
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I often cook the same way — peer into the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry and see what’s there. Often come up with something completely different than what I originally thought I was going to cook! Really good post — thanks.
John/Kitchen Riffs recently posted…Italian Pork Ragu for Pasta or Polenta
John, that’s how I sometimes find my best meals – just and see what’a one hand and what comes together as I start putting ingredients on the bar to prepare.
Considering how much of what I cook is planned for my blog – it is amazing how many times each week – I have nothing planned and just have to be creative! I have never cooked a spaghetti squash myself as I got REALLY burned out on them as a child. One of the first years they appeared in the seed catalog, my dad ordered them, and MAN how they grew!!! We ate those things every night all that summer. Too much!!! So, I have avoided them as an adult. However, reading your recipe intrigued me and made me think that I might just have to try one!. You just cut it in half and bake? Your preparation seemed simple enough – I believe I can do it! Thanks for sharing!!
Wendi recently posted…Caring for Your Kitchen Knives
Wendi, it’s as simple as cut in half, clean out the seeds and bake. I can understand being burnt out on spaghetti squash, but hopefully you’ll give it another try. It’s good prepared so many different ways. And I know what you mean about just having to be creative when it comes to preparing a meal. Even when I know what I want to cook, it sometimes turns out to be something completely different when I’m finished. Let me know how the squash turns out.
I love how this came together so quickly. And I love the squash recipe with the parmesan on top. Speedy meals are so convenient! xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted…Rosie Campbells, Surry Hills
I love a speedy meal too Charlie.After a long tiring day,in and out of the kitchen is a blessing.Thanks for the comments and sopport.Cucina Felice!
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