Porkchops and Spuds....a hug on a plate.

Did you a have rough day? Feeling cold, tired, and just plain unloved? Well try this little comforting beauty on for size, guaranteed to put a smile back on your face and sass in your step!

Ingredients:

4  One inch thick pork chops or loin.
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder ( not garlic salt)
1 cup Black Berries ( or whatever other berry you like, frozen works fine too, if that is what you have)
1 lemon
1cup white wine, or broth ( if you want to omit the alcohol)
1-2tsp of honey or brown sugar

4 Large Russet potatoes cut into large even cubes
1/4 cup Peas
1/4 cup diced Carrots
1 Tbl minced Garlic
1 cup Whole Milk
2 Tbl Butter
Salt
Pepper

Grab a pot (big enough to fit all the potatoes) fill it with enough water to cover the potatoes. Place on stove, bring to a boil, then crank the heat down to medium high, drop carrots and peas in boiling water with potatoes and cook until,  mainly potatoes are tender enough to mash, about 15 minutes.

While potatoes and vegetables are cooking, clean and marinate your pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and let it sit on the counter to rest for minimum of 15 minutes but no more than 30 minutes.

When potatoes and veggies are tender, drain water leaving behind potatoes and veggies remaining in pot.  Immediately sprinkle salt and pepper, then add butter, milk, and garlic. Mash mixture to the consistency you like ( I love mine lumpy and rustic looking!). Cover the pot to keep warm, and set aside.

Heat a large skillet, coat bottom of pan with olive oil.  When the pan begins to smoke ever so slightly, lay all your pork chops down.  Cook each side about 6-8 minutes on each side. Place cooked chops to rest on a plate.

Using the skillet that was used to cook the pork chops, you are going to create one easy fabulous sauce.  Heat the skillet on medium, de-glaze by adding berries, wine (if using wine, remove skillet for a second from flame, until wine is added, then place skillet back on burner), and juice of one lemon.  With a wooden spoon, stir and scrape all those delectable little bits of flavor up from the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce reduce by a 1/4 (should have a consistency of warm runny maple syrup).  At this point take a small taste of the sauce, if it is slightly to tangy for your, add pinches of brown sugar, stir and taste to your preference.

Enjoy your hug on a plate!