Hooray!  Summer came back through Chicago yesterday.  I had a miserable run in the morning heat, but I was happy to take it.  I enjoyed feeling the sweat again.  Summer in the Midwest always seems so short lived and I want to enjoy every possible moment.

After being in Wisconsin for a week and then Michigan the following week we have been suffering from eating out too much.  On Sunday we both agreed that our bodies need some home cooked and healthy meals for awhile.  So we sat down and wrote out a grocery list.  One of the first things we decided was that we wanted to start grilling again every night.

Typically when we grill we stick with the usual healthy fare, chicken breasts.  But we wanted to get out of our grilling rut so we went back to an old favorite that we sort of forgot about.

Somehow pork chops tend to fall off of people’s radar.  I always thought it was unhealthy but I couldn’t have been more wrong.  A 4 ounce serving of lean pork chops comes in at about 4 grams of fat and less than 140 calories.  It is packed full of protein as well as Vitamin B, Potassium and Zinc.  All of this makes pork a rather light meat as long as you prepare it in a healthy way.  In fact, it is just about as lean as a boneless, skinless chicken breast.

These spice rubbed pork chops pack a lot of flavor without adding in any breading or requiring other unhealthy preparations.  The rub has a touch of brown sugar in it which gives the chops a nice caramelization whether you do them on the grill or right on the stove top.  Put these on top of a salad or pair with some veggie sides and you have a very easy weeknight meal.

Spice Rubbed Pork Chops:

Ingredients:

2 Pork chops

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1-2 teaspoons garlic salt

1 teaspoon chili powder (more or less to taste)

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)

Optional: cumin, turmeric (teaspoons each)

Directions:

Heat grill or grill pan.  Combine sugar and spices and rub over pork chops on both sides.  Cook meat on grill or pan for about 5 minutes each side (times vary based on thickness of meat) or until thoroughly cooked.  Enjoy!

Keep in mind that the above directions will give you a mild flavored seasoning.  If you prefer a spicier kick you can add more chili powder or any other ingredient.  The combination of the spices with the sweetness of the brown sugar is so delicious.  And the best part is you can easily have this dinner prepared and on the table in under 30 minutes.

Paired with a cheese platter. Hey, we were rungry!