My Red Pesto

This  is a quick recipe for a red pesto which I created in order to use as a  kind of a dip for a Cordon Bleu pork chop which I wanted to serve with Pasta. I also wanted to put some taste into the Pasta but I did not want a sauce which would run into the pork chop. So the following recipe was the result of these thoughts, which I must admit, I usually get when I am swimming or sitting in the hot tub afterwards.

This is very quick to make.

Note: I did not use dried but fresh tomatoes

Ingredients 

1 red pepper

8 small vine tomatoes, chopped

Or three medium one

1/2 chili the long  mild one no seeds, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped 

Handful fresh Basil, 

50 to 70 g Parmesan, grated

Some olive 0il

Some salt and pepper to taste

Method

Put all ingredients into a bowl and blend until you have a smooth paste. 

Serve with Pasta and/or with any quick fried meat, especially Pork and chicken

Southern Comfort ( Pork Chops)

I had written the story of this creation a few weeks ago and was quite happy with the result and then something or somebody took my attention and I forgot to save it. So here I go again. I do not know if the second version will be as interesting as the first, but I give it a try.

I could have called the pork chops Rocky Mountain chops as well, as I first made this dish in Breckenridge, Colorado. It was my first attempt of cooking at this altitude and the reason for using the Southern Comfort was simple, I like it, but I underestimated how alcohol reacted with me at such a high altitude. So I decided it was better to use it for cooking as the alcohol would eveporate!

On top of that I was challenged to create something tasty with very few condiments. The pictures show how few incredients there are. I decided to marinate the chops in a liquid made up of Southern Comfort, chicken stock, some freshly ground pepper and chopped up garlic.      

Ingredients

1 to 2 pork chops per person

2 cloves of garlic

150 ml chicken stock/broth

some fresdhly ground pepper

2 measures of Southern Comfort

some oil for frying

Method

Marinate the meat in the mixture for preferable 24hrs (in the refrigerator)

but at least for 3hrs.

Fry the pork chops until they are golden brown, put them into an oven proof dish, then

pour the marinate over the pork chops and bake for 30 minutes at a medium hot oven.

the finished result

Note: serve with mashed potatoes (my favourite) or Pasta with a green or mixed salad

I wish to thank Janet, Dave and Martin for being willing "guinea pigs". We had wonderful days together in Breckenridge