Apples and Pork

I’ve always been a fan of the combination of apples and pork. Dates back from a childhood where my mom never served pork chops without a side dish of applesauce. You do know the easy way to peel fresh ginger, right? With a teaspoon? Just lightly scrape off the peel? Like I said, easy.

Apple-Blue Cheese Rings

Sadly, as is happening more and more these days, I don’t remember where this recipe came from originally – but it’s a great snack or pre-dinner bite. I love, love, love apples and blue cheese. The candied nuts are a bit more elegant than just using plain nuts, although that would be a quick and easy alternative.

Homemade Refrigerator Pickles

The contents of a box like this one just beg to be turned into refrigerator pickles. You should have just enough cucumbers for this recipe. You’ll use a pepper or two, and if you’ve still got an onion around (mine are all gone – sadly), then you’ve got most everything you need. This makes a sort of bread-and-butter pickle. Other fresh refrigerator pickles don’t use sugar and add garlic and dill to make a kosher style pickle. There’ll be a million recipes online.

Pepper Jelly

Those gorgeous peppers make me think it’s time to make pepper jelly. If you think you won’t use it, see the next recipe for a yummy vinaigrette. If you don’t have enough peppers in this week’s box, maybe you still have a few from last week? Or save this week’s and cross your fingers we’ll have some in next week’s box.

This is a recipe from Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene.