This is a really simple recipe I clipped out of a magazine years ago – I’m not sure which one. It turns a simple pork chop into something really special. The crust is a wonderful mix of nutty parmesan, warm sage and the brightness of lemon. The meat is perfectly crisp outside and juicy inside. It’s tastes surprisingly light and is perfect for spring! I serve mine with sour cream mashed potatoes and roasted garlic asparagus with a little balsamic reduction.

Parmesan Lemon Sage Chops

1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs

1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon dried sage

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 eggs

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 bone-in center-cut pork loin chops (I used boneless, they were about 1 inch thick)

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, sage and lemon in a pie dish. Whisk eggs in a medium bowl to blend. Place flour on a plate, season with salt and pepper. Coat pork on both sides with flour, shake off excess. Dip chops into eggs, then coat on both sides with breadcrumb mixture.

Melt butter with oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork chops and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until crispy and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Serve, garnish with lemon if desired.

The total cost to make the above recipe came to about $5.00, mainly because of the cost of the pork. This could definitely be lowered by purchasing the pork on sale. I did save money on the breadcrumbs, since I had some slightly stale bread – and I always have the cheese, eggs and spices on hand. I usually save money by making things myself, but I need to find more affordable sources of meats, cheeses and bulk items. This can be challenging living in a small town!

What about you – where do you purchase you groceries? Do you buy in bulk? If so, do you buy all items or just specific ones?

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