Sometimes, adults want to eat adult food. And with picky eaters, we don't always get to do this.

So, when I saw a recipe in this month's Healthy Cooking magazine that not only looked like the grown-up fare we used to enjoy, but also was gluten-free, I decided to give it a shot.
I made the simple recipe for Pork Chops with Ginger Maple Sauce, added a few touches of my own and looked forward to the interesting flavor combination of maple, ginger, cinnamon and chili powder. When all was said and done, my husband and I were pleased, but our kids were less so. And even though they merely nibbled on the pork, I am proud that they tried it.

From time to time, it's important to try new things, even on picky eaters, because you never now what they will enjoy. And I find exposing new flavors to those little taste buds can only be helpful down the road.

But just in case, I always make a side dish I know they will enjoy. This recipe calls for rice, so I just added some green beans and had some leftover grilled chicken on standby. In the end, it was a delicious meal for all.


















Adult Swim Pork Chops
1/2 an onion, chopped
4 teaspoons canola oil, divided
1 tablespoon ginger
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 pork chops (about 6 ounces each)
1/2 cup chicken broth (Pacific Naturals, Kitchen Basics)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1/2 a pear sliced into 6-8 wedges
2 cups cooked rice

Saute onions in two teaspoons oil over medium-low heat, until they are golden brown and very tender. Add ginger powder or minced ginger root and cook a few minutes longer. Remove from heat.

Combine next four dry ingredients and rub on pork chops. Heat other two teaspoons of oil in large skillet. Brown pork chops (about 3 minutes on each side). Add broth, syrup and onion mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 8-10 minutes. Remove chops and place on cooked rice. Bring sauce in pan to a boil and reduce until liquid is thick. Place pear wedges in sauce and warm both sides (about 2 minutes each side). Pour sauce and pears over chops. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Tip: If you want to be more kid-friendly, use less ginger and chili powder. If you want to be less kid-friendly, deglaze pan with 1/4 cup white wine after browning chops.