Perfect bourbon pork chops

Today is Secret Recipe Club reveal day. Secret Recipe Club is a gathering of food bloggers assigned a blog, select and prepare a recipe, and on the designated day, share whose blog we were secretly assigned and post about the recipe. It’s a great way to meet other bloggers and find new recipes.

This month I was assigned Amy's A Couple in the Kitchen, a site where she chronicles her food adventures with husband, Chris. A couple after my heart who love to cook, eat, and travel, the perfect combination of interests. Her blog has a ton of great recipes, and I appreciated the abundance of non-sweets, something that has challenged me with blogs I've been assigned with SRC in the past.

The bourbon pork chops immediately caught my eye, even thought I mostly have given up beef and pork since my last birthday. It is one of those recipes that stuck with me, and I kept coming back to it. Of course, Craig was delighted and up for the challenge of getting "TV-worthy grill marks," as Chris had barbequed them. Oh goodness, did Craig get it perfect. Not only do these look fabulous, they were melt-in-your-mouth tender, juicy, really - the perfect pork chop. Bon Appetit!

(I forgot to buy the suggested cipollini onions, which look to make a lovely side for these chops, and I used Penzey's smoked paprika.)

Bourbon Smoked Paprika Pork Chops

2 boneless pork sirloin chops

kosher salt to taste

freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/4 cup (or so) bourbon

Season the pork chops with salt and pepper and place in a large zip-type bag. In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, brown sugar, bourbon, and additional salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into the bag with the chops and allow to marinate for at least one hour. Place the pork chops on a heated grill. Grill the pork chops on both sides until cooked through, with the length of time depending on size of chops. 

(One of our favorite bourbons)