One-pot pork meal saves time

If it’s going to be one of “those” days, easy is where it’s at when it comes to getting dinner on the table. Throw in fast, and you’ve got it aced.

What luck, then. Today we have two different recipes from two different readers designed to do the job without fuss or frenzy.

Let’s start with this entree shared by Camano Island cook JoAnne Burklund, who tells us, “The recipe from Bonnie Teeters of Lynnwood for a stovetop or crockpot hamburger soup is a good one. Here’s another one-pot meal with potatoes and ketchup to enjoy while we wait for the seven-soup casserole recipe.”

Now, speaking of Bonnie Teeters, here she is again, this time chiming in with a nifty swifty homemade applesauce recipe. “This applesauce made in the microwave is so good,” she says. “I like to make it for pork dishes and serve it warm. I forgot about it until my sister, Sandy French of Big Lake, called. She couldn’t find her copy, so called to get the recipe as she had some apples ready to go.”

Bonnie adds, “I don’t like my applesauce smooth, so instead of putting it in the blender, I mash it with a potato masher so I have hunks of apple in it.”

Hawaiian pork chops

4medium pork chops

4onion slices

4thin lemon slices

4medium potatoes, peeled and quartered

1/2cup ketchup

1cup water

Brown pork chops in greased skillet; top each with an onion and lemon slice. Add potatoes. Combine ketchup and water and pour over meat and potatoes. Cover and simmer 45 minutes, basting a couple of times.

Note: If too tart for your taste, cook apple slices with the mixture.

Easy microwave applesauce

6apples, pared, cored and quartered

1/4cup water

1/3cup sugar

1/8teaspoon salt

1/8teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves (optional)

Turn apple quarters and water into 2-quart microwave-safe casserole dish. Cover and microwave on high 7 to 8 minutes, until apples are fork tender. Remove from microwave and turn apple mixture into blender container; add sugar, salt and cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves, if desired. Blend until smooth.

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The next Forum will appear in Monday’s Time Out section.