Since I now have an official cookbook on my bucket list, I’ve been hard at work thinking up new healthy creations to include in it. Once again I used my crock pot so that I could make dinner while out running errands this weekend. Because the cooking times are extended, most crock pot recipes use fattier cuts of meat like chicken thighs or pork roast to keep the meat from drying out.
I don’t have room in my eating plan for higher calorie meats, so I use leaner chicken breasts and sirloin chops and add alcohol with the cooking liquid. The alcohol both adds flavor and keeps the meat moister. Plus most of the alcohol burns off during cooking so you can safely eat it and drive afterwards. 😉
Crock Pot Blueberry Pork Chops
- 1 lb bag of carrots
- 1 ¼ – 1 ½ lbs pork sirloin chops
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup blueberry vodka (or alcohol of choice)
- 1 lime
- ½ tsp ginger
- ¼ cup frozen blueberries
Remove the ends and cut the carrots into large chunks (Mine were about the size of my thumb). Toss into the bottom of your crock pot. Place the pork chops on top of the carrots. Slice the lime into thin slices and lay them over the chops. Pour the water and vodka in, and sprinkle the ginger on top of the mixture.
Cook on low for about 7 – 8 hours. A half hour before the chops are done, pour the frozen blueberries in so they thaw out and warm slightly in the juices. It makes a nice topping for the chops. Carefully remove the lime slices before serving because they tend to be mushy after cooking for that long. Makes about 6 servings.
Since I was going with a tropical theme, I fully intended to sprinkle some unsweetened coconut flakes on top. I got so excited about eating it that I completely forgot the coconut. If you don’t have blueberry vodka in the house, you can substitute any flavor vodka or even just plain vodka. Fruit flavors (or coconut rum!) would be great in this recipe. You could also sub more water or chicken broth if you want it alcohol free.
I served my chops and carrots with a side of steamed broccoli. I’ve been eating the leftovers sliced and wrapped in lettuce with chopped tomatoes for a quick low calorie lunch!
Have you ever gotten so excited to try something that you forgot to finish the last step? Enjoy and let me know what you think! Happy eating.
Speak Your Mind