Gluten Free Friday: Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Going gluten free back in 2004, there were certain things I had to give up.  Back in 2004 options were seriously lacking.  One of those things was a satisfying and easy to make shake and bake pork chop. Now, these pork chops are so good Sasquatch confirms it's the same as the box mix with less preservatives.

One of the great resources for finding gluten free recipes is looking at low carb food boards.  This is one such recipe tweaked from two recipes I've found.  



 I forgot to reduce the cooking time when using the convection feature.  Convection helps with overall crispness.


Makes 6-8 pork chops.


Recipe:


6-8 pork chops between 1/2 to 1" thick
1/2 bag to full bag of Pork Rinds (1.5 to 3 oz), the more the better
Parmesan cheese (optional)
DANDR Cajun Pork Chops seasonings.  Use all or some of the DANDR.  I like to use all or most, but my daughter's prefer it to be lighter closer to half used.


DANDR Cajun Pork Chops seasonings -
2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp sage
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)


Cooking instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In food processor, put in the pork rinds and pulse until just all processed.  Add in the DANDR seasonings and give it a final pulse.
3. Pour pork rind mixture on a large plate.  Add 2-3 tbs Parmesan cheese, if using, and lightly blend.
4. Wash pork chops and pat dry with paper towel.
5. Cover pork chops with mixture and place on parchment paper on a cooking sheet.
6. Bake for 35 minutes or until pork is done.

recipe sources:

http://forum.lowcarber.org/archive/index.php/t-35649.html

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1246754

Updates to my workroom

On Black Friday, I purchased a roll of warm and natural batting at Joann's for 50% off.  I love buying lots of it. I hate having to unroll it to measure it and roll it back up.  Even if I'm not the one doing it!  Takes forever.  I also wanted a lot of it.

After I got the beast home, it was a giant short stacked pillar taking up precious floor space.  My girls got it decided they were going to slowly move it away.  Su would throw her body into it and knock it down just to walk all over it.  

  

New Home - The giant toilet paper roll.  The cost was free for us.  All the screws, 2x4s, and the gas pipe was what we had on hand.  The big decision.  Do I want it to roll over or under?  Sasquatch is a wonderful husband helping me in setting up my workroom.

Next, was the tables.  My table edges are in poor shape.  We are cash poor right now so buying good wood to refinish was out of the question.  Sasquatch sanded the edges down.  I duct taped.  Smooth.  No jagged edges to snag on.  He also cut down an inset for my machine.  More to come on that next week.

Time to decide..  Should I finish up the table and duct tape all of it?

Quilt suspension system

These materials have been hanging around for some time.  Remember this Leah Day quilt hanging project?  I have a slight variation in the materials I've chosen based on cost effectiveness and usage changes.

My biggest hold off was placement.  Commitment to the location of the hanging around where the work table would be.  I can't put the rings up and then move my workroom setup and have everything still work.

After some time of testing out a few work room table layouts, I found my happy place and then started pestering Sasquatch about hanging the rings.  Yes, I could have put the rings in myself.  Dragging around a ladder.  Climbing up with my drill, bits and more.  Being married to Sasquatch has the perks of never needing a ladder again.  

The rings went in quickly and it was time for testing it out with bungee cords, the clamps and a quilt.

Here's how the clamp, S-hook, and adjustable bungee cord are all connected.  

Is it worth it?

Close up of stitching

Check out the difference. FMQ on left of blue sash.  Walking foot  lines on blue sash.  Left line on blue sash made with same stitch length as right line.  The left line was using the suspension system.  Right line did not have the suspension system.  I made the mistake in thinking I'd be saving time.  The quilt isn't that big to need the suspension but it slipped right off the table and the weight of the quilt made a difference.  A big difference close up.  Not too much at arm's length.

Cost break down:

$14 for the set of 4 clamps
$8 for the 4 rings
$5 for 2 - 2 packs of adjustable bungee cords
$1 for S hooks

Total : $28

Totally worth it!

Quilting in Progress: Baste on Carpet or Hardwood?

I'm still trying to figure out how blogging and internet time can fit into my current schedule.  However, I'm getting lots done in the work room. Here's the medallion commission quilt.


For years, I've been basting on carpet.  I don't know why.  I remember reading about how basting on carpet is nice cause it's better at gripping the fabric plus you can pin into it.  I really don't know if any of that is true.

I don't use basting sprays or special techniques other than to start in the middle and work my way out.  Last year, I invested in nice safety pins.  My straight pins were too painful.  I'd easily get pricked a couple hundred times before completion of a FMQ project. Safety pin technology for quilt basting has come a long way.  Smaller, less noticeable holes.

Forget carpet as being a superior surface!  I tried the hard wood in the living room with some painters tape.  I loved being able to feel the smoothness. I'm OCD.  Both my daughters are OCD.  The smoothness achieved on hardwood is amazing.

*The carpet is still a good option for Flynn frame drag and grip is important.

Quilting is going well.  More on the workroom updates in the week.