Brown sugar and butter create a sweet sauce that marries well with pork chops and apples. Choose a tart apple for more flavor and contrast.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless pork loin chops, cut 3/4 to 1 inch thick
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup thinly sliced red apple (1 medium)
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

Procedure

1. Trim fat from chops. Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper; set aside.
2. In a large skillet melt butter over medium heat until it sizzles.
3. Add apple; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
4. Push apple to sides of skillet.
5. Add chops; cook for 4 minutes. Turn chops, moving apple aside as needed.
6. Spoon apple slices over chops.
7. Sprinkle with pecans and brown sugar.
8. Cook, covered, for 2 to 4 minutes more or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of chops registers 145 degrees F.
9. Serve chops with apple slices and cooking juices.