Main Dishes for the Family Starring Apples

Make Apple Burger and Apple, Apricot, Cranberry Pork Chops

© Deborah Harding

Nov 12, 2009

Making main dishes with apples is a good way to get an apple a day into your family members. Apple main dishes can be quite elegant for use when guests come to call but they can also be “down home” and simpler for family eating. Cooked apples with some meats are absolutely delicious and not even the pickiest eater will turn their nose up to these recipes.

Most kids love burgers so here is a burger made with apples.

Apple-Pecan Burger

Is the family tired of just plain burgers. Here is a twist they will love and it might fool them because there is no meat involved. Give it a try and see what they think.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cup cooking apples, shredded (Jonathan or Cortland work well)
• 3/4 cup carrots, shredded
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1-1/2 cup cooked brown rice, cold
• 1 cup pecan pieces, toasted
• 1-1/4 cup dry bread crumbs, unseasoned
• 3 egg whites
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon rosemary, crushed
• 6 buns
• 6 tomato slices
• Leaf Lettuce

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine the apple, carrot, onion, garlic, rice, pecans, and bread crumbs. Mix well.
2. Add the three egg whites and mix well.The egg whites act as a binder so the ingredients should start to stick together. If it doesn’t add a little water.
3. Add the salt, pepper, and rosemary and mix in.
4. Form into 6 patties and grill until brown or you can fry them in a little olive oil in a frying pan on the stove.
5. Grill or fry until both sides have been brown then place each patty on a bun and top with a tomato slice and leaf of lettuce. Serves 6

The next recipe imparts a sweet flavor to pork chops and your kids will really love it, not to mention the adults in the family. It is made with apples, dried cranberries and apricot jam.

Sweet Stuffed Chops

Ingredients:

• 6 pork chops, about 1 inch thick
• ½ cup onion, chopped
• ½ cup celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup soft bread crumbs (2 or 3 slices of bread in the blender or food processor)
• 1 cup apple, chopped (use a cooking apple)
• ½ cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
• 1 rounded tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ cup apricot jam

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Prepare chops by cutting a deep horizontal pocket in which to put stuffing and set aside. You can also use two thin chops and put the stuffing between.
3. In a large skillet cook the onion and celery in melted butter until slightly tender.
4. Add the bread crumbs, apple, dried cranberries, brown sugar, ginger and 2 tablespoons of the jam. Mix well. The mixture should be sticky.
5. Stuff each chop with about ¼cup or more of the mixture.
6. Place stuffed chops in an ungreased 13 x 9 inch baking dish and cover with foil.
7. Bake for 45 minutes.
8. Uncover and spread the tops of the chops with the rest of the jam.
9. Bake uncovered for 15 to 20 more minutes.

Three Apples

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