ow, my grilling arm

My other half has been getting up in the morning at the same time I do. It's unusual and mildly annoying because I have to stumble over him in the kitchen when I’d ordinarily have the joint all to myself. And he's discovering all sorts of things about me. Things that amuse him.

For instance, he thinks it’s hilarious that I blow dry my hair in the morning with my eyes closed, standing there half-asleep. And because the hair dryer is so loud, I can’t hear him coming. And he thinks it’s doubly hilarious to sneak up and poke me in the stomach to startle the bejeezus out of me.

It was mildly funny the first time he did it last week.

This morning when he did it, I had both arms up over my head, drying the back of my hair, and when he poked me I jumped so hard that I kinda sorta popped my shoulder out of joint.

Yeah.

Neat.

My arm was stuck up in the air like one of those Sesame Street puppets that can't pick up the fruit and I couldn’t bring it back down till I reached the other arm up and yanked it back in place. It didn’t hurt very much but it revolted me to the point where I had to go collapse on the couch and moan somewhat coherently about 'my grilling arm.'

You see, I'm looking forward to grilling alot of stuff this summer.

Alot.

And that was the arm I plan to use for skewering, flipping, and basting.

I even went to the market on Sunday and loaded up on large quantities of meat to stick in the freezer. You wouldn't believe how much meat I got on sale for $20. I could barely carry it to my car. I felt like such a drooling carnivore.

My latest project: grilled pork chops with a maple-cranberry glaze.

You toss together a rub with paprika and chile powder and dry mustard and four (count them: four) kinds of salt -- seasoned salt, celery salt, sea salt, and garlic salt. That's alot of salt so I cut it way back. Good thing, because they were still a bit too salty for my taste but oh-so-good. The glaze has cranberry sauce and juice, maple syrup, triple sec, dijon mustard and grated orange peel.

Really good.

Oh, and we both agreed that there will be no more stomach-poking. Mostly because that night we watched Fight Science and I learned some moves that could really put a hurtin' on belly-pokers.

 

Grilled Pork Chops with Maple-Cranberry Glaze

Serves 8

Spice rub
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon paprika (hot and smoked, Pimentón de la Vera, if you can find it -- I couldn't and used regular paprika)
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground chipotle chile powder or ancho chile powder   

Glaze
3/4 cup jellied cranberry sauce (about half of one 16-ounce can)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup cran-raspberry juice
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon triple sec or other orange liqueur
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
8 3/4-inch-thick center-cut pork rib chops

For spice rub: Mix all ingredients in small bowl.

For glaze: Mix first 8 ingredients in small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, whisking until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

Do ahead: Spice rub and glaze can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store spice rub at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate glaze. Rewarm glaze just until pourable before using.

Spray grill rack with nonstick spray and prepare barbecue (medium heat). Sprinkle spice rub generously over both sides of pork chops (about 1/2 tablespoon per side), pressing to adhere. Place pork chops on grill, cover, and cook 5 minutes per side. Brush generously with glaze. Move to cooler part of grill and continue to grill, uncovered, until cooked through, brushing frequently with glaze, about 3 minutes longer per side. 
   

Comments

[stephchows]

oh my lord you had me rolling on the floor with that story!! I hope your arm feels better for grilling season! I'm asking for a grill for my birthday... hopefully I get it! mmmmm grilling :D

[grace]

ah, the perils of making good food. :)

that glaze sounds ridiculously scrumptious and i must try it immediately.

[nina]

I love grilled pork chops. Have you tried pork neck chops or pork rump - our favorite. Love the glaze and will try it soon!!!

[mari]

Those look so good, I'd happily eat them for breakfast! Tell your man to lay off the shenanigans, cause a girl needs her grilling arm to be in good shape!