Cranberry Thyme Pork Chops with Scalloped Potatoes

Credit: Catherine Roscoe Barr

Save time and dishes by preparing both the pork and potatoes in a slow cooker

Combine cranberry and thyme for flavour-packed pork chop

It may seem strange to have made a roast dinner in the middle of summer, but on this particular day it felt more like winter, so I thought a comforting meal was in order. I left the pork chop in my roaster-oven-style slow cooker in the morning so that it was ready to eat at the end of the day.

The combination of cranberry and thyme is so fragrant and delicious, and the creamy scalloped potatoes were the perfect accompaniment. I made Brussels sprouts but any green vegetable would be a good side. Steamed green beans with a squeeze of lemon is another fantastic option.

The scalloped potatoes recipe is from one of my favourite cookbooks, The Complete Canadian Living Cookbook. There were enough leftovers for lunch the next day plus enough to make a frittata for breakfast (pictured above).

I just heated up the potatoes in a frying pan, poured three beaten eggs over top, added a layer of thinly sliced tomato, and topped it off with fresh cracked pepper and a sprinkle of salt. I cooked it for about three minutes on medium on the stove and then I finished it off under the broiler for about three minutes on high. 

This meal serves 6

Scalloped Potatoes Ingredients

• 6 Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 2 1/2 cups milk

Scalloped Potatoes Instructions

1. In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
2. Add flour, salt pepper and thyme, stirring constantly for 1 minute. 
3. Gradually whisk in milk, whisking constantly for 5 to 8 minutes or until boiling and thickened.
4. Arrange one third of potatoes in one half of slow cooker, spread half of the onions over top.
5. Repeat layers and top with remaining onions. Pour sauce over top.
6. Cook in slow cooker at 250F for about 6 hours.
7. If cooking in oven, bake, covered, at 350F for 1 hour, and another 30 minutes, uncovered.

Pork Chop Ingredients

• 3 pork chops
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 can of cranberry sauce

Pork Chop Instructions

1. Add oil to large frying over medium heat.
2. Season pork chops with thyme, salt and pepper and brown on both sides for about 3 minutes per side.
3. Add pork chops to other half of slow cooker and top with cranberry sauce.
4. Cook for same amount of time as potatoes.
5. If cooking in oven, cook for about 45 minutes or until no longer pink in middle.