Italian Breaded, Baked Pork Chop Recipe

When it was Hailey's night to cook, she chose a simple Italian Breaded, Baked Pork Chop Recipe that we saw posted on FB. We all loved it because the pork chops were moist and flavorful. She only required minimal guidance with this recipe and kept reassuring me that she "had it". OK, OK, I'll back off, LOL! She's very independent and just loves that she gets a night to cook along with her older brother. She never wants to be outdone by him ;)

Italian Breaded, Baked Pork Chop Recipe:

4 pork chops (1 inch thick, bone-in or boneless)

2 TBL olive oil or coconut oil

2 large eggs

salt and pepper

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 Tbl fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)

1 cup Italian bread crumbs (click on link for my homemade whole wheat Italian bread crumb recipe)

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 F. In a 9x13 pan, add the olive oil and spread it around the bottom of pan. Salt and pepper pork chops. Combine rest of the spices, bread crumbs and cheese in a shallow dish and mix well. Beat eggs in another shallow dish. Dip pork chops in egg, then generously coat both sides of chops with the bread crumb, cheese and spices mixture. Place breaded chops in 9x13 pan. You can sprinkle more of the crumb mixture on top if there is any left. Place in oven, after 15 minutes, flip chops over (again sprinkle with more crumb mixture if you so desire). Cook another 15 to 30 minutes or until inside is no longer pink.

Enjoy!

Cheesy, Smoked Sausage and Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe

I've shared with you before about how I've been having each child plan a night to cook each week, with the incentive of "if you cook, you don't have to do the dishes". They are loving it. I thought I'd start sharing some of the simple but healthy recipes the kids have made lately. Josiah made this yummy pasta dish and everyone loved it. He made it with all the ingredients we had on hand. He opted to leave all the veggies out -if he is cooking that is his prerogative. Of course he had to serve this with a delicious salad and home-canned grape juice, all under candlelight for that awesome Italian feel.

Cheesy, Smoked Sausage and Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe:

16 oz of whole wheat pasta (cooked as directed with 1 tsp of Celtic Sea Salt)

1 lb of smoked sausage, diced and sauteed in juices

4 garlic cloves, pressed

Optional: Sauteed mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, kale, spinach

15 oz of canned tomato sauce

1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp sucanat or brown sugar

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups diced (queso fresco, mozzerella or feta) cheese

Directions:

Cook pasta as directed. Saute smoked sausage, keeping juices in the pan. Then add garlic and any optional veggies. Add tomato sauce and all the spices and sugar to the same pan, stir well and let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in cheeses. Serve immediately over pasta.