Cajun (Not So Spicy) Pork Chops and Pear Salad

Cajun Pork Chop with Pear Salad

This is a great option for those nights when I get home late or get wrapped up in a very involved game of hide and seek with the twins.  Basically, the prep time is simple, and we're eating within 15 minutes.  Awesome.  The original recipe is pretty toasty on the pallet, but since the boys aren't as willing to go spicy as we are I've tamed it.  If you're a fan of heat, go with the added cayenne.  Served with a unique salad, this meal rocks.

1. Bring out 4 boneless pork chops from the fridge and let them warm up a bit on the counter while you prep salad
2. Salad, courtesy of kraft.com is a neat one.  First, toss a couple handfuls of pecans onto a microwave safe plate.  Spray lightly with cooking spray and then sprinkle the nuts with cinnamon.  Toss and repeat.  Microwave 30 sec, stir and another 30 sec, stir.  You'll do another 30 seconds just before serving, so just leave the plate in the microwave.
3. The rest of the salad is simply a bag of salad greens, handful or two of craisins, handful of shredded cheddar cheese, and a sliced pear.  The recipe indicates that you should toss this wonderfulness with some light Italian dressing, but I've never thought it needed it. 
4. Back to the chops, courtesy of allrecipes.com, start with another plate and mix together the seasonings: 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp black pepper, (1/2 tsp cayenne pepper for heat), 1/2 tsp sage, 1/2 tsp garlic salt.  Drop the chops on the spice mixture and make sure you have a nice coat on both sides.  I sometimes stack my chops in the process so they "share" with each other.  (Maybe that's the twin mom in me... over focused on sharing and jealousy)
5. Heat up some olive or canola oil (about 2 Tbs) in a pan and turn the heat to high.  Once your oil is hot (when it gets those ripples in it) place the pork chops in the pan and drop your heat slightly.  Flip after 3-4 minutes.  The chops will look burned, but it's just the seasoning that gets that lovely dark color.  A meat thermometer should get to 160. 
6. Put your nuts in the microwave on for another 30 seconds while you're dishing up plates of chops and salad.  Top each salad with the warm nuts and then sit down at the table and get prepared for the flow of compliments.

Enjoy!!