pork chops and gravy

[mlbrown76]

This is very good and very easy, and just great with mashed or roasted potatoes.

You need:
Pork chops, bone in. Regular size, not thin cut, and not really thick.
One beer
Fennel seeds
One onion, sliced
Cayenne pepper
Butter
Flour

Season the chops with salt and brown them on high heat in butter, or butter and olive oil (the oil keeps the butter from burning).
When brown, remove from the pan and add the onion and a good pinch of fennel seeds. Allow the onion to just soften then add about two tablespoons of flour. Lower the heat and cook until the flour is golden brown...it just takes a few minutes.
Add the cayenne...to your taste.
Add the beer, stir, and bring it up to a boil. Put the chops back in. If the chops aren't covered in liquid, add water just to cover.
Reduce heat to low-medium low, and simmer for about 30 min.
Done.

[newportstorm]

Any recommendations on a good beer to use in the recipe or to pair with the meal?

[noby]

I do something similair with either pork chops or good pork sausages. Instead of beer I use cider (based on the classic pork/apple sauce combination).

Pretty much the same procedure. Half cook the sausages in the pan. Remove and add onions, leeks, garlic, and whatever spices take my fancy (cayenne, cumin). I usually add half cider half stock. Reduce, add sausages again. At this stage I often pour everything into a dish, cover with sliced boiled potatoes, some cheese and nutmeg. Pop it in the oven for a nice sauasge pie.

[mlbrown76]

Using cider is fantastic. I've done it with cider and diced apples as well.
For beer, I generally use whatever's in the fridge at the time. Sometimes, if I use a really hoppy ale, I'll cut it with maybe a cup of stock, and maybe some brown sugar.
I drink a lot of Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale, which is great no matter what.

[chazwicke]

You guys have gone and made me hungry. I'll bet Smuttys Brown Ale would be great.

[mlbrown76]

Definitely. It's good to know you can get Smuttynose down in Va. They do a great job with all their beers. I live right near a great package store that carries a huge variety of beers, but I've been drinking Smutty (along with Hop Devil and Winter Storm) consistently for a while now.