Lemon-Parsley Pork Chops and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Work lunches are always hard to make when you have the same thing all the time. These pork chops were a simple way to change it up a bit and only takes 25 minutes to make!

You will need:

1 lemon, zest removed*

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 garlic clove, minced

Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 bone in loin pork chops

1Combine the minced lemon in a small bowl with the parsley, garlic, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp ground pepper. Set aside.

2Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Season the pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper. Cook in the skillet until browned, 2-3 minutes per side.

3Add 1/2 cup water to the skillet; bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low;cover and simmer gently until the pork is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Transfer the pork chops to a platter or serving plates; drizzle with the pan juices as desired, and sprinkle with the lemon parsley mixture.

* Use a vegetable peeler to remove the lemon zest in long strips. Use a sharp knife to cut into smaller strips, then dice, cutting crosswise.

For the garlic mashed potatoes:

about 6 russet potatoes

1/4 cup milk

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp garlic powder/salt

Cut potatoes in half, and then quarter them. Do not peal the skin off. Using a large pot, boil water and add potatoes, cooking until soft, 10-15 minutes (they will fall apart when you stab them with a fork). Then, in mixer put cooked potatoes, milk and butter. Turn on a high speed and mix until smooth. Then add about 1 tsp garlic powder or salt, and mix again for about 15 seconds. If needed add more garlic to taste.  Enjoy!