So I will admit I did not make this recently. I made this for the first time a little under a year ago. It was the First Meal after I moved to a new city to prepare for my little one (I was 3 months pregnant). I was finally on medicine to not get morning sickness so I didn’t want to waste that beginning. Please keep in mind all recipes are flexible (except most baking) and the informal format is for better understanding and so you can adjust to your taste. All amounts are adjustable based on how hungry you are and you can leave out stuff if you make it and find you don’t want it in there. I promise I won’t be offended. My significant other does not like pork (I mean he really doesn’t like pork) and he even liked it!

Easy Pork Chops and Fuseli “Salad”

What you need: (each amount is per a person and can be changed to your preference without sacrificing taste)

2 Pork  lion slices or chops about 1/4 inch thick. (I cut standard boneless pork chops from the grocery in half)

About 1/2 cup of Fuseli pasta

About 1/4 cup of tomatoes chopped into pieces slightly larger than your pieces of pasta

About 1/4 cup of baby bella mushrooms sliced thin

A 1/2 cup of baby spinach leaves torn to same size as tomatoes or bigger

Vegetable Oil (or other cooking oil of your choice)

Rosemary leaves

Black Pepper

Parsley flakes

Ground Sage

Salt (I like Kosher salt but any salt will do)

How it’s Done:

~First things first…You need to boil some water. The bigger the pot the longer it will take to boil. Make sure you have about a quart of water for every 1/2 cup of pasta. Put you stove on high to achieve boiling fast (But you knew that)

~Add a bit (about a tablespoon) of oil to the water. You don’t want more than that or you will have greasy pasta and that is gross.

~Sprinkle about 2 pinches of salt into the water. Remember the only time you can season pasta is while it is boiling.

~While you are waiting for the water to come to a rapid boil sprinkle your pork chops evenly with Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, and black pepper on both sides.

~get out a skillet that will give you wiggle room for your two pork chops and put enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. Turn the heat to med-high. If your stove runs hot like mine does lower it to medium.

~Your water should be boiling. If not then it will very soon. Add your pasta to the boiling water and stir it. Continue boiling your pasta for about 7 minutes (check the instructions on the box as some pasta cooks faster than others)

~While you pasta boils add your pork chops to the skillet. Don’t forget about your pasta while you are cooking though.

~Don’t touch the pork for at least 3 minutes! If you do it won’t get that nice seer on the outside. After 3 minutes if your pork is white over halfway up the sides it is time to flip and cook for at least 3 more minutes. if it is not ready to flip don’t rush it. The thicker the pork the slower the cook.

~Remove the pork chops when they are done on to the serving plate (so you can eat them soon)

~Drain your pasta well and put back in your pasta pot. Put your stove on low.

~Add your mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach to the still hot pasta and stir it up thoroughly until everything is evenly distributed. cook on low for only about a minute or 2. then stir it all one more time and serve!

 Cheats/substitutions

 You can substitute the fresh tomatoes and mushrooms for canned that are drained EXTREMELY WELL however especially with the mushrooms you will lose some texture and flavor just a little bit. I do not recommend using a different kind of spinach with this meal as it changes the taste greatly.

You can also use any shape and type of pasta you want that is short.

You can have your pasta salad cold if you prefer in which case after you drain your pasta let it cool or make it ahead of time then simply add the other ingredients cold and serve.

You can have this with chicken if you like. I personally think that the pork taste better with our salad.

WHAT ABOUT THE LEFTOVERS!

If you actually have any leftovers, I have a solution for both your pork and your salad BUT you have to wait till tomorrow for those ~_^ that is why they are next day!