Pork Chops with Fennel, Apple, Onion and Cider Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup cloudy apple cider
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons dark amber maple syrup
2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard
4 tablespoons butter, divided
4 bone-in pork chops
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
1 bulb fennel, quartered, cored and thinly sliced, reserve 1/4 cup finely chopped fronds
2 Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, quartered and sliced

1 onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1/4 pound extra-wide egg noodles
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Yields: 4

Preparation

Heat oven to 350°F.

Place cider in a small pot, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer. Reduce by half, 20 minutes. Add vinegar, syrup, mustard, 2 tablespoons butter and reduce heat to low to keep warm.

Bring a pot of water to a boil for the egg noodles.

Meanwhile, season chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a tablespoon of EVOO in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chops and brown on both sides than transfer chops to oven to finish cooking them through, 10-12 minutes.

Add another tablespoon EVOO to the pan and sauté the fennel, apples and onions to tender-crisp. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook egg noodles to just tender and drain. Toss with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, reserved fennel fronds, parsley, salt and pepper.

Top chops with sautéed fennel, apples and onions, spoon cider sauce over top, serve egg noodles alongside.