I don’t know about you, but some things I cannot understand. (now I sound like my mother – hmmm, not necessarily a totally bad thing) Like, why aren’t people at home at dinnertime and sitting down and eating a proper meal? I see kids on the bus eating 6 mini powdered sugar covered doughnuts at dinnertime. Kids running on the street with 2 packs of Milk Duds grasped in their hands. I, for one, happen to hate cocktail parties or small plates the whole night long. At some point, I want to sit down, eat some real food, a real dinner, on a plate. My five brothers and me, we’re all the same. It drives some of my sister-in-laws crazy. I have friends who LOVE cocktail parties/small plates as the whole dinner. I was taught to not spoil your appetite and have a real dinner, so I hardly eat anything at those events, and then if there’s nothing more, I’m in trouble!
Once, when we were kids, we took a family vacation down south. One of my Dad’s close business friends had a daughter getting married. Now at that time in the South, (maybe it’s still true today) they believed that a fancy wedding consisted of an endless champagne fountain (probably of very good champagne), cucumber sandwiches and cake! Well, here we were, 6 kids, and starving for dinner. I remember that EVERYONE got really drunk, except my mother, who didn’t think it was very funny. She was so angry and in her opinion, I remember her saying to my Dad, “John, these children are starving for dinner. Can’t these rich people feed anyone?” and begging him to leave to go anywhere to get some food for all of us. I must have been about 5 or 6 years old but it made such an impression on me.
And here I am, quite the same today. Tomorrow, we will go to a cocktail party benefit at The Apollo Theater, starting at 6:30 and I will want to leave soon after to come home to eat a dinner that I will make – Buttermilk Roast Chicken that has been marinating since Saturday. Easy, if you plan it!
Last night I threw together this combo – pork chops with peaches, sweet onions, and shallots with some roasted zucchini. It was delicious. And we were sitting down.
PORK CHOPS WITH PEACHES, SWEET ONIONS AND SHALLOTS – serves 3
3 pork chops with tenderloin section, 3/4” thick
11/2 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 Tbs. olive oil
Mary’s cocoa spice rub on one side of chops, S + P on the other side
1/2 large Vidalia onion, cut in 1/4 “ thick slices
2 small shallots, peeled and cut into 1/4” slices
3 smallish white peaches, washed, cored and cut into 8 slices
1/3 cup dry white wine (I used a Vouvrey)
Parsley, chopped for garnish
This spice rub is just terrific to have around for use on pork, duck, or chicken. Use a mini spice grinder and keep it in a tightly closed glass jar or plastic container.
MARY’s COCOA SPICE RUB
1 tbs. raw cocoa nibs/cacao
1.5 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. whole black peppercorns
8 juniper berries
4 whole cloves
Combine everything in a mini spice grinder and pulse until finely ground.
Wash pork chops and dry with a paper towel. Season one side of the chops with a heavy sprinkling of the spice rub.
Melt the butter in the oil in a large skillet on low heat. Add sliced onions and shallots, cover for about 10 minutes. Raise heat to medium high. Add chops, seasoned side down and let cook for 4 – 5 minutes, uncovered. Salt and pepper the top side, turn the chops and add the peaches all over. Cook for another 2 minutes, then add the wine and cook for another 2 -4 minutes, uncovered, until just done, 140 degrees. Remove the chops to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes. 
Keep the sauce and peaches warm on low heat and slightly covered.
After meat has finished resting, pour peaches, onions and juices overall, garnish with chopped parsley and serve with LOVE.
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Testing New Products for our Winter MARY’s secret ingredients Subscription Box
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Birthday dinner!
I share your thoughts about everyone sitting together to eat. I have 2 young boys; 4 and almost 2. Our older boy is a handful and for a long time we allowed him to eat watching TV to make it easy. That’s creating issues and now we are making sure we all eat together; breakfast, lunch and dinner at least on the weekends when we are at home. I guess people get trapped in convenience and can’t be bothered. I love sharing a meal with my family. My parents brought us up the same way as your family. Thankfully, my husband was brought up the same way. I am hoping that in a couple of years when my boys are older, eating a proper meal together will not be challenging and a joy. Thanks for the rant. I enjoyed it and your recipes.
You will get there Eleni. Don’t give up on your boys as it will definitely pay out in the long run. My boys, now 26 and 30 love cooking and entertaining and they are very very good at it – getting better than me!!
The pork with peaches looks wonderful. Amazing.
Danny and I aren’t the type to go to Cocktail Parties. We love our time at home. We also love home cooking and eating at the table.
That said: I love finger foods and have no trouble eating all night like that.
Have a good night. Sarah.
Thanks Sarah!! 🙂
I totally agree. Good meals at home with the family makes for a healthy family in all ways. Love peaches with pork and your recipe looks delicious.
Jovina Coughlin recently posted…Pasta Dinner Salads
Exactly Jovina!!
Love your pasta salad recipes. We had a nanny when the boys were young who also made a simple terrific one, very similar to your first recipe!
Mary this dish is gorgeous and so much better than powdered donuts or cucumber sandwiches. Its warm and nourishing and full of delightful spices and love your Mary’s cocoa spice rub – will have to try that for sure. I know it is not often but it so important to have a family warm meal to share together.
Bam’s Kitchen recently posted…Seared Steak Salad with Strawberry Cucumber Dressing
Absolutely Bobbi!!
Hope you try the spice rub soon – I know you’ll love it!
Great article Mary !
Thanks Charlie! I believe these are your pork chops!!
I am so with you, I like to eat a proper meal, at the table, especially if I am drinking 🙂
Tandy | Lavender and Lime recently posted…Recipe For Potato Frittata
Exactly Tandy!! I’m with you!
I am really intrigued with that cocoa spice rub. The pork chops look very juicy and tender.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted…Green Smoothie Raspberry Popsicles
The cocoa spice rub is a keeper. I hope you try it soon Angie!
Best thing about cocktail parties that serve very little food is it gives you a good excuse to leave early — so you can get something to eat! Like these pork chops, maybe — really nice. Thanks!
John/Kitchen Riffs recently posted…The Bijou Cocktail
🙂 🙂 🙂 Thanks John!!
Pork Chops are one of my favorite things and these look delish. And, I’m with you – I like to sit down to a proper dinner with my family and actually not only enjoy the meal but the conversation! +1 Mary Frances!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen recently posted…Ancho Chili Rubbed Pork Chops
Exactly Kristi!! Thank you!
Dear Mary Frances,
I would love this recipe coz pork is such a versatile meat with seasonal sweet fruit like peaches. I am also not one to enjoy if the entire party is made up of finger food.
ChopinandMysaucepan recently posted…Hugos Bar Pizza, Kings Cross
Then we would definitely be friends!!
Ohhhhh those pork chops will definitely be lovely with those peaches, definitely better than using apples. Yum!
Raymund recently posted…Salt Village Fish & Chips (Kingscliff NSW, Australia)
Apples are good too – but this was more unusual for sure!
I agree with you. I’m doing my best not to eat between meals and a grazing party is just eating between meals for me. I would like to sit down, have good conversation and a tasty food. That’s a meal for me — Like these pork chops would be.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted…Dump Bar Blondies
Exactly Maureen!!!
How’s your back?
Hahahaha! Love your rant! Personally, I’m the opposite, because my daughters and I could just live on hors d’oeuvres! And sometimes when they are visiting, we do! But there’s nothing more wonderful than sitting down to a fabulous meal with your family. Of course, we’re the ones doing the work, aren’t we? I guess we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t love it!
mimi recently posted…Almond Herb Pesto
You’re right MImi – we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t love it!
I do love me some small plates and cocktail foods but I agree that families need to sit down for a meal. My daughter is 19 and my son is 15 so it is hard sometimes but we have dinner together every night and usually a Sunday Brunch each week. It is important. Love pork and peaches.
Chef Connie Gordon recently posted…How to make FANTASTIC Bacon
It is definitely important. You’re on the right track Connie!!
My mom used to do this delight, but instead of using peaches she used apples! I have to try your version! Looks soo delicious!
Cat
Cat recently posted…Lasagna with Pesto & Cherry tomatoes
Apples are great too – peaches are more surprising!!
You are 100% right.. sitting around a table for dinnertime is a must for me. I need to eat real food but every now and then we have pizza for a change:). Loved your recipe, looks so delish.
Amira recently posted…From Palestine : Djaj Mahloos
Pizza and a nice salad can be real food too!!
Hope you get to try this recipe, Amira!
Oh, boy, between your buttermilk roast chicken and these chops, I might stop my grazing and prefer a big meal! P.S. My hubby is much more like you than me, so I do make a full dinner each night 🙂
🙂 Good to hear Liz. Honestly, if you eat 3 balanced healthy meals, you don’t need to snack!