A Driveway and Pork Chops with Cilantro Paste

Phase I of TBHITW and The Good Cook move to the country:

We have a driveway:

Looking up the driveway, toward our eventual home site

TBHITW and I spent yesterday driving up to our land and inspecting the newly installed driveway on our property. Who knew a driveway could be so exciting? It is beautiful. It brings us one step closer to living our dream of life on a small farm.

Looking down the driveway, toward the road

The meadow is in bloom, it is full of wildflowers and clover  and other stuff that grows in a unmowed meadow- and my Pumpkin Patch is growing!

There is always a slight breeze blowing through the meadow. We are dreaming of many years of gentle breezes to cool us.

Pork Chops with Cilantro Pesto: serves 4

Cilantro is growing everywhere right now. Fresh and vibrant green it will add a little kick to anything you chop it into.

4 boneless center cut pork chops, patted dry with paper towels.
4 strips bacon
4 toothpicks
2 cups cilantro (thin, tender stems included)
2 cloves garlic
Juice of 1/2 a lime
pinch of salt, grind of pepper
pinch of red pepper flakes
olive oil

Pat the pork chops dry using paper towels. Wrap each chop with a piece of bacon (this is called larding) and secure with a toothpick.

Place cilantro, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper in the bowl of your food processor. Process until finely minced. With motor running, add lime juice and drizzle enough olive oil into mixture until a loose paste forms.

Paint both sides of chops with cilantro paste. Grill or bake at 350 until internal temp reaches 150 degrees F. and the bacon is crisp (about 30 minutes for mine, but cooking time will depend on thickness of chops)

A Cook's Notes: The cilantro paste is also delicious on shrimp, chicken or painted on fresh ears of corn which are then grilled. Oh and cilantro toasts are fabulous appetizers! Just smear on lightly toasted baguette slices. Amazing...