Bourbon Gingersnap Ham (Alton Brown's City Ham)

Easter Ham!  They're plastered all over the grocery ads and commercials right now, but you weren't quite sure what you'd do with one this year.  Right?  How about something a little different, but a lot delicious?  And easy, to boot?

Enter Alton Brown's "City Ham."  This recipe has been floating around in my head for - I kid you not - at least 7 years.  And I finally just got around to making it!  I'm not sure why on earth I stalled in making it; it's awesome stuff.  Bo even declared it the best ham he's ever had.  And I have to say, I loved that it was easy to make and didn't involve any guesswork.  But that's what's wonderful about Alton Brown's recipes; they are science-y and detailed and easy to follow.

Grilled Pork Chops with 2 Melon Salsa

Grilled Pork Chops with 2 Melon Salsa

 David Bonom, Cooking Light, JULY 2010

 

Ingredients

• Salsa:
• 1  cup  chopped seedless watermelon
• 1  cup  chopped honeydew melon
• 3  tablespoons  finely chopped sweet onion
• 1  tablespoon  finely chopped jalapeño pepper
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lime juice
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 
  Pork chops:
• 2  teaspoons  canola oil
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  chili powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  garlic powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 4  (4-ounce) boneless center-cut pork chops, trimmed
• Cooking spray

Preparation

1. To prepare salsa, combine the first 7 ingredients; set aside.
2. To prepare pork chops, heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Combine oil and next 4 ingredients (through black pepper) in a small bowl. Rub oil mixture over both sides of pork chops. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Serve with salsa.


This was fabulous. We would have given this more than 5 spoons. The mix of oil, spice, sweet melon and cilantro was just out of this world. I had to talk the kids into trying the salsa - they weren't as big fans as Hubby and I - but they did eat it.