Apple Cider Pork Chops with Light Cream Spinach
A match made in heaven!

This cold-weather comfort meal will be a hit with the whole family, It may take a couple hours (at most) to prepare, but well worth the effort. It is not overly spiced but is full of flavor. I would prepare the creamed spinach first. You can keep it warm in the oven while you prepare the pork chops.

The creamed spinach is a culmination of many recipes I researched. It is one of the best cream spinach recipe I have tried (minus the calories).

The apple cider pork chops is a recipe I found online by Pillsbury. It is simple and easy to make, yet has a delicious flavor.

These two recipes served together is a match made in heaven. The flavors and textures complement each other very well.

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Light Creamed Spinach
Ingredients:
16 oz. bag of frozen chopped spinach, thawed. Press excess water out with paper towels.
1 cup lowfat cottage cheese
2 green onions, chopped into large chunks
1/2 cup milk, lowfat or use almond milk
2 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons flour
4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1 teaspoon salt 
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1. Put cottage cheese and green onion into food processor and puree until smooth. Scrape down the sides and process for another 30 seconds or so. 
2. Melt butter in heavy saucepan at medium heat. Add flour and whisk. Cook until frothy about 2 minutes or so. Add milk and whisk until thickened. Add salt and pepper and stir. Lower heat to simmer.
3. Add white wine and dijon mustard. Gently whisk until combined.
4. Add cottage cheese mixture and stir to blend. 
5. Add Parmeson cheese and stir to blend. 
6. Add spinach and gently stir to blend.

Fold into oven proof serving dish, cover with foil, and set aside. To heat up, place in oven at 200 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Apple Cider Pork Chops
Ingredients:
4 pork chops, bone in.
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups apple cider
2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

Directions:
1. Pat pork chops dry with paper towel. sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook pork chops in oil about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove from skillet and place in oven to keep warm.
2. In same skillet, add apple cider and brown sugar. Cook to a thick, syrupy glaze and until reduced by about half. 
3. Stir in mustard and season with salt and pepper.
4. Place pork chops on serving platter and drizzle with sauce.