Warming Sticky Sweet and Sour Pork Chops

 It is so cold and they call this Spring! When you are indoors with the heating still on or a fire burning in the stove, looking out of the window at the snow falling, yes snow, you know that you need something warm and comforting on the table at the end of the day. Out comes the slow cooker, in go the ingredients and voila, a few hours later a delicious meal. Of course, if you don't have a slow cooker this works just as well in a casserole dish, either in the oven (for longer cooking) or on the stove top (for a quicker fix).

A note on the slow cooker as we are on the topic. We asked for this as a Christmas present some years ago (I know exciting aren't we!), as we were both working long hours and wanted a 'proper' meal quickly when we returned home and have never looked back. You can't beat returning home from a long, tiring day at work in the bleak, mid winter (or Spring) when it is cold and dank, to the enticing smell of a warming, cooked meal and you don't need to lift a finger. I also purchased a slow cooker cookbook which I would recommend (New Recipes for your Slo Cooker by Annette Yates) as this demonstrated how versatile the slow cooker can be. It includes various recipes from soups and sauces to sponge puddings and chutneys.I have tried many of these and can vouch for their results. Slow cookers can be found in a variety of sizes relatively cheaply, I would recommend giving them a go for a quick and easy substantial meal. Here is one of my favourites:

Warming Sticky Sweet and Sour Pork Chops

1 tbsp Plain Flour
Salt and Pepper
A little oil 
4 Pork chops (excess fat trimmed off)
2 Onions finely chopped (or 1 large)
150ml vegetable stock (I tend to use low salt Kallo cubes)
4tbsp Soy sauce
4tbsp Tomato Puree
4tbsp Soft brown sugar
4tbsp Dry sherry
1 Green Pepper sliced
1 carrot chopped into matchsticks (or bought julienned at the supermarket)
4tbsp pineapple juice (from a tin, a sprinkle of chunks can be added from this at the end also, optional)
1 tin of stir fry vegetables (optional, these can be found with the oriental foods in the supermarket and contain beansprouts, water chestnuts and baby corn. If using add at the end and let heat through.)

This could be made using any meat of choice, or even mixed vegetables for a vegetarian option.

1. Sprinkle some flour into a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Coat the chops each side in the flour shaking off any excess.
2. Heat some oil in a frying pan and brown the chops quickly over a high heat on each side. Before placing in the slow cooker.

3. Add a little more oil to the frying pan if needed and cook the onions, pepper and carrot for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Stir in the other ingredients and bring to the boil. Pour over the chops in the Slow Cooker.

4. Cook on medium for 5-8 hours.
 5. Serve with some plain boiled rice or noodles.

This is such an easy dinner which really does itself. It is great for the kids, especially if they are not too keen on meat like my eldest. The Pork Chops come out meltingly soft and just fall apart which makes them one meat that she will actually eat willingly.