The Versatility of Pork

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Back in 1987 Pork^® The Other White Meat^® was aggressively campaigned in the United States. Until that time pork was deemed to be the fatty protein and in order to increase sales and consumption they bombarded us with lots of televised advertising and print campaigns. Although I never had to be coerced into buying, cooking and eating pork I suppose others had shied away. During that time the roasts were trimmed down to almost no fat cap which I personally was not fond of. Thankfully our local store started a few years back adding some fat cap back on because many of us requested it. I am not an expert by any means but my personal opinion is that fat adds flavor and the fat seals the meat when seared properly.

Pork is incredibly versatile as it can be prepared with various cooking methods and the result is a very tasty piece of meat. Common methods of cooking include grilling, oven roasting or using a rotisserie oven or an outdoor rotisserie for the grill as well as pan sauteing, using pork in a stir-fry recipe, slow cooking in a crock pot or braising in a pot.


I have made pork in a myriad of ways and have lots of recipes in this blog. No matter which way I've cooked it, the pork has always been juicy, tender and full of flavor. The pork cutlet takes just a couple of minutes or so per side depending on the thickness so dinner is ready in a snap. I've done cutlets several ways and two are represented here in this post. You can search out the other recipes for pork on the blog as well by going to the entree menu.

Starting at the top left and going right and down each row, here are the links to each recipe.

• BLACKBERRY BRAISED PORK CHOPS - what a dinner treat this was and it was inspired by a jar of blackberry preserves I picked up while out shopping. A little fresh thyme and some port wine added such great flavor to the dish. An out of the everyday kind of pork chop recipe you and the family will love.
• PORK CUTLET MARSALA - this is one of my favorite pork dishes that I make time and again. The mushrooms coupled with the hint of Marsala wine in a chicken broth based sauce give this dish a lift. It's a play on veal Marsala but far less expensive. Don't let the little bit of Marsala scare you off. The wine cooks and reduces down so it is a great family recipe.
• STUFFED PORK LOIN - The pork is butterflied, stuffed and oven roasted to perfection! A boxed stuffing mix and apple sauce combined with other savory ingredients makes this a wonderful Sunday dinner for family and friends.
• GRILLED ASIAN PORK CHOPS - I think this was first attempt at grilling pork chops and the beautiful flavors of the mirin and cast of ingredients kept these chops flavorful and tender and juicy. We grill year round outside but you could also do these using your indoor grill or grill pan. It's a wonderful way to cook pork.
• ROTISSERIE HONEY GLAZED PORK LOIN - Inspired by a fellow blogger I made my own version of this rotisserie honey glazed pork loin and it was so juicy and delicious. Your family will love the flavors in this dish and the wonderful taste of the outer bark of the loin. It's an easy recipe to put together.
• SHAKE AND BAKISH STYLE PORK CHOPS - This one is a new family favorite. The bread crumb coating is so tasty and makes a nice crunchy crust on the outside of juicy pork chops. Panko bread crumbs with spices you all ready have in your pantry. Simple and easy to make and the chops cook in 30 minutes!
• ROSEMARY AND THYME BRAISED PORK CHOPS - Fresh herbs make this such a delightful dinner. Braising the chops in liquid makes them fall off the bone tender. You will love this recipe and probably will want to add it to your dinner line up.
• OLD WORLD DUTCH OVEN PORK - This is a family dish that I've made over and over and added a new spin on it using a spiced apple cider. While the pork ribs braised in the spiced cider liquid with sauerkraut and caraway seeds they become fall off the bone tender and the succulent flavor of the pork and the cider shine through. Definitely a slow cooked meal for the weekend. It's hearty and delicious and can be served over mashed potatoes.
• PORK CUTLET MILANESE - What can I say about pork cutlets except that these thin little cutlets are so much fun to work with. This is a great family meal that you can make any night of the week. Except for panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese all you need are some pantry spices to make the coating. An excellent and easy way to cook pork with the result being fabulous flavor!