Quick and dirty bachelor pork chops.
For a bachelor, timing is everything.
Start with a cut of the several varietys of pork chops available that you prefer (I choose butterfly) and then,
1 pork chop per person.
One portobello mushroom per person (or one half)
A lot of butter.
Fresh garlic.
Paprika.
Oregano.
Basil.
Veggies to suit, something with a strong flavor like spinach or asparagus.
The form of pasta you like.
Start up a big pot of water to boil. Wait till it gets to just beginning to steam.
Melt enough butter in a deep frying/saute pan to cover the bottom with just a bit more.
Add freshly smashed (trim the ends, peel the jackets and split the cloves so they have a flat edge, lay them down on a cutting board, put a wide bladed knife horizontally over the clove(s) and drive your fist down with authority) garlic cloves. I usually use one half clove per chop.
Saute the garlic till translucent or it smells really, really good, whichever comes first. Add a generous pinch of paprika, a small pinch of oregano, and another small pinch of basil. In the butter, in the pan. Add butter as needed to keep it just above "barely coating the bottom of the pan". Keep stirring.
Start the pasta now.
Cook the seasonings for at least a minute and a half. Then add the mushrooms (sliced if you prefer) Saute the mushrooms for about 5 minutes, flipping them once or twice. Remove the mushrooms from the heat and store them till needed later. (All this happens while the water is boiling happily away).
Using the same pan you used for the mushrooms (that's right, no more seasonings get added), crank up the heat, sear both sides of the chop(s), reduce the heat to simmer, cover the pan and let the chops cook for about 8-12 minutes flipping them once or twice (depending on thickness).
Start up the veggie when you have about 5 minutes left on the chops. If spinach, I prefer it sauted with with lemon pepper, if asparagus, I like it steamed (microwave in a covered dish with maybe 2 tablespoons [30 cc's] of water on high for 2 minutes.)with red pepper only.
When you have about 2 or 3 minutes left on the meat (cut a slice in one of the chops to check for pinkness) flip the chops one last time and lay the mushrooms on top of them and then cover with a lid again.
Let simmer while you prepare the pasta. Drain the pasta and throw it back in the pot and then add 1 or 2 teaspoons (5-10 ccs) of butter and 1 clove of smashed uncooked garlic, put it back on the heat at simmer with a lid till the chops are done to personal preference.
Once the chops are done, pour off any remaining liquid in the chops pan over the pasta.
Serve, eat, sleep.
This takes no more than a half hour. Salt and pepper for the philistines can be added. I won't complain.
