Food

Jalapeno Pork, Tomato Chutney & Guacamole.

bgibson135

Well, I came up with a meal that works well together. It started with me fixing a version of Jalapeno Pork. I had chunks of pork that were large diced like you do beef for stew beef. To this I added several mild peppers that I sliced and diced in various sizes, and one jalapeno. I think I added some chopped onion to this also and put it all in a pot on the stove top along with a little chicken stock, S&P and probably some garlic powder. This turned out relatively good.

Trying to think of something that might go with this, I decided upon fixing a tomato chutney, which might also be called spicy stewed tomatoes with some onion, garlic powder, red wine vinegar, a little Balsamic vinegar, Equal sweetener and some Agave Nectar.

Finally, I fixed a form of quacamole in which I included a half of a small avocado, one chopped tomatillo and a little diced sweet onion. For seasoning I added S&P, some ground cumin, celery seeds, Duke mayo, and sour cream. This became the perfect foil to the spicy jalapeno pork. Very cooling.

And, I also had some flat corn chips from Mission that were salty.

Jalapeno Pepper
Ajicitos Dulces Peppers

I hope I can remember what all I put in this meal because it was “spot on.”

Jalapeno Pork

  • boneless pork chops cut into chunks
  • a jalapeno diced
  • a red cayenne type pepper, diced (frozen also)
  • a couple of the Ajicitos Dulces Peppers diced (these I bought at Compare & froze several)
  • diced onion
  • Green Chilies
  • Splenda & some Agave Nectar
  • S&P

Cabbage Slaw

  • Green cabbage shredded
  • Sweet Onion diced
  • Half-n-Half (just a smidge)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Fenugreek Powder
  • Dukes Mayo
  • Splenda
  • S&P

[04/13/25]: Tonight I added some Mung bean sprouts (I grew myself.), some sweet red bell pepper and a little Agave Nectar. And I had a few blue corn tortilla chips and this worked well also. [end]

[04/27/25]: Red cabbage works well as slaw. High is Vitamin C and antioxidants. More nutritious than green cabbage. I added Mung bean sprouts again, and they are crunchy like the cabbage, and their color looks good in the slaw with the red cabbage. [end]

Jalapeno Pork Recipe (Smaller Portion)

Ingredients:

  • 0.75 lbs boneless pork chops, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1/2 jalapeno pepper, diced (remove seeds for less heat)
  • 1 red cayenne pepper (or similar), diced (adjust amount to your spice preference)
  • 2 Ajicitos Dulces peppers, diced
  • 2 oz can of diced green chilies
  • 1 tablespoon Splenda (or brown sugar for a richer flavor)
  • 1 tablespoon Agave nectar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (or your preferred cooking oil)
  • Optional: 1/4 cup chicken broth (or water)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Pork:
    • Cut the boneless pork chops into 1-inch chunks.
    • Season the pork chunks with salt and pepper.
  2. Sauté the Vegetables:
    • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
    • Add the diced onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the diced jalapeno, cayenne pepper, and Ajicitos Dulces peppers. Sauté for another 2-3 minutes, until fragrant.
  3. Brown the Pork:
    • Add the pork chunks to the skillet and brown on all sides.
  4. Add Remaining Ingredients:
    • Add the diced green chilies, Splenda, and agave nectar to the skillet.
    • If the skillet seems dry, add a 1/4 cup of chicken broth or water to help create a sauce.
    • Stir everything to combine.
  5. Simmer:
    • Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the pork is tender and cooked through.
    • Stir occasionally.
  6. Taste and Adjust:
    • Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add more salt, pepper, Splenda, agave, or peppers to your preference.
  7. Serve:
    • Serve the jalapeno pork hot, with rice, tortillas, or your favorite side dishes.

I was in the IGA and saw this pork chop on sale. I knew I had a couple of thick cut pork chops thawing in the refrigerator, but this looked so good and I knew it would make the jalapeno pork (without chunking it up) and it did. .69 lbs. would be a little over 11 oz. of meat (with bone) so even cutting it in half would yield about 4.5 oz. for two meals at about a dollar a meal.

Cabbage Slaw

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups shredded green cabbage (about 1/4 of a medium head) Option: Red cabbage for green.
  • 1/8 cup diced sweet onion (adjust to your preference)
  • 1 tablespoon Half-n-Half (just a “smidge” for creaminess)
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (adjust to your preference)
  • 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek powder (start with 1/8 and add more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds (adjust to your preference)
  • Option: Mung bean sprouts
  • 2-3 tablespoons Dukes Mayo (adjust to your desired creaminess)
  • 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon Splenda (or other sweetener, adjust to your preference)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Vegetables:
    • Ensure the green cabbage is thinly shredded.
    • Finely dice the sweet onion.
  2. Combine Ingredients:
    • In a small to medium bowl, combine the shredded green cabbage and diced sweet onion.
  3. Make the Dressing:
    • In a separate small bowl, whisk together the Half-n-Half, garlic powder, fenugreek powder, celery seeds, Dukes Mayo, and Splenda.
    • Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  4. Dress the Slaw:
    • Pour the dressing over the cabbage and onion mixture.
    • Toss everything thoroughly until the cabbage and onion are evenly coated with the dressing.
  5. Chill (Recommended):
    • For the best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the slaw for at least 20-30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
  6. Adjust Seasoning:
    • Before serving, taste the slaw and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Tips and Considerations:

  • Fenugreek: Since you mentioned fenugreek again, I’ve suggested a slightly broader range. Remember it has a distinct, slightly sweet and sometimes a little bitter flavor. Start with the smaller amount and add more if you enjoy it.
  • Celery Seeds: Celery seeds add a distinct aromatic and slightly bitter celery flavor. Adjust the amount based on how prominent you want this flavor to be.
  • Balance: Taste the dressing before adding it to the cabbage to ensure the flavors of the garlic powder, fenugreek, and celery seeds are balanced to your liking.

Makes 1-2 portions.

Approximate Nutritional Value per Serving:

Jalapeno Pork (estimated for roughly 1-2 servings):

  • Calories: 300-450 (This can vary significantly based on the fat content of the pork chops)
  • Protein: 30-45 grams
  • Fat: 15-30 grams (again, highly dependent on the pork)
  • Carbohydrates: 5-10 grams (mostly from onions, peppers, and the small amounts of sweetener)
  • Fiber: * Calories: 100-150 (primarily from mayonnaise and Half-n-Half)
  • Protein: 1-2 grams
  • Fat: 8-13 grams (mostly from mayonnaise)
  • Carbohydrates: 5-10 grams (from cabbage, onion, and sweetener)
  • Fiber: 2-3 grams (from the cabbage)

Combined Approximate Nutritional Value for One Serving of Jalapeno Pork and Cabbage Slaw:

  • Calories: 400-600
  • Protein: 31-47 grams
  • Fat: 23-43 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 10-20 grams
  • Fiber: 3-6 grams

Important Notes:

  • This is a rough estimate. To get a more accurate nutritional value, you would need to:
    • Weigh all your ingredients precisely.
    • Use a nutrition tracking app or website and input the exact quantities and brands of each ingredient.
    • Account for the cooking oil used.
  • The fat content of the pork chops will have the biggest impact on the calorie and fat estimates. Leaner cuts will result in lower values.
  • The amount of mayonnaise used in the slaw will significantly affect the calorie and fat content.
  • Adding blue corn tortilla chips will increase the overall calorie and carbohydrate count.

My Long Pepper grinder has stopped working and I don’t know how or why. *I figured it out. The microplane was rotating with the grinder handle, so no grinding was taking place. I used a small amount of Gorilla Glue on the outside of the grinder and it seated the microplane again, and now it is working once again. **I just did one drop of glue on the outside and not glue all around.

I was in the mood to fix some Jalapeno Pork today and found some boneless, center cut pork chops at IGA. I cut them in long strips and then crosswise to form small cubes. I ate some Blue Corn Tortilla Chips with the Jalapeno Pork I made today. I also ate some cold refried Black Beans and they were very good.

I drove to Lee’s Fresh Market near Benson today (06/25/25) in hopes that I could buy some of the thick cut pork chops I’ve bought there before. I hoped they would have some for sale, and that the price per pound would be low. It was probably about 10 am when I arrived and there were probably 10 customers around the store. I took a red plastic shopping basket and walked around to where the pork was located. I saw a package of thick cut pork chops, but I think the price was about $3+ a pound. Fortunately I continued to look and there was a package at $1.98 per pound, and then I found another at the same price. I think they said something like “Weekly Special” or “Manager’s Special.” But as I put the third package in my basket I noticed that they had another special sticker… “Buy One Get One Free.” Wow! Not only a good price per pound but a great price at half that amount. So I got four thick cut pork chops at about $4 total (plus tax) for the four. I bought 4 packages. I was planning to keep one. To take two packages down to Mary Ann’s and Ray’s tomorrow, and to see if Jeff wanted a pack. I’m not sure if Jeff or Robin eat pork chops, But when I got to Jeff’s and rang the bell and knocked on the front door, I couldn’t get anyone to come to the door. There were no automobiles visible, and although I heard the dog inside, Ashlyn never came to the door. She may have been away.

I ended up leaving a check, and a couple of bags of books for Ashlyn near the front door. I try to get her art related books that might give her ideas for when she becomes a graphic artist. One book was a small one on glass objects. One about brass doors. One about Indian (India) art, and one was a history of England during one or more of her periods of history. I also had a few of the advertising magazines that you find at the front of certain grocery stores like Wegman’s and or Whole Foods. But now that I think about it, I haven’t seen these magazines the last few times I’ve shopped at either store. Odd, I thought.

But, I’m not sure what Ashlyn expects to do as a graphic artist, but I think it would be an interesting profession to work for one of these local color magazines in some U.S. City. You would always be writing copy, or stories, and illustrating each in some way and creating other ads.