Pork Chops with Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Peel the onions, cut them in half, and thinly slice. Place 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

   Step 2

   Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and cut into chunks. Place the potatoes in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and add the salt. Bring to a boil and then simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, or until a fork slides easily into the potatoes.

   Step 3

   While the potatoes are cooking, remove the onions from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and add the pork chops. Season the chops with salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned. Place the beef bouillon and flour in a small bowl and slowly stir in the water a little at a time until all of the water is incorporated and the mixture is smooth. (If you put all the water in at once the flour will get lumpy and your gravy will never get smooth.) Add the mixture to the pan and stir well. Stir in half of the caramelized onions, cover, and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.

   Step 4

   Drain the potatoes and add the milk and butter to the pan. Cook over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the milk comes to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and mash the potatoes with a fork until fairly smooth. Stir in the remaining caramelized onions and season with salt and pepper.

   Step 5

   Place a pork chop and some of the mashed potatoes on each plate and top with some of the gravy.

2. Bargain Shopper

   Step 6

   Boneless pork loin chops can cost over $4 per pound, but whole or half pork loins often go on sale for under $2 per pound. They are boneless so they are easy to cut into chops and you can make them any thickness you want. You can put as many as you want in a resealable bag and freeze them for later use.