KJL's TV Dinners: Pork Chops & Applesauce - "The Brady Bunch"

Fifty years ago on September 26, 1969, America was introduced to their new favorite TV family: The Brady Bunch. We met Carol (the lovely lady) and her three lovely girls with hair of gold (Marcia, Jan, and Cindy, the youngest one in curls). We met Mike Brady and his three busy boys (Greg, Peter, and Bobby), and they lived all alone together--until one day when Carol and Mike met each other and they knew their children could all be one big happy family.

They became the Brady bunch.

For five seasons, audiences fell in love with the Brady family--feeling like they were their own family. The Brady kids were their siblings. Mike and Carol were their parents. Alice was a good friend. People laughed and cried along with the Bradys, and the show became a pop culture phenomenon. Who can forget when the Brady kids became a music group and Peter's voice was changing due to puberty. Or, when Jan wore a black wig to a birthday party. Or, when Jan famously said, "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia." Or, when Peter hit Marcia with a football--"Oh, my nose!" When the Brady family went on vacation to Hawaii and there was an "evil Tikki." When the boys broke Carol's vase and Bobby reminded everyone that "Mom always said don't play ball in the house." When Davy Jones guest-starred on the show.

There are many memorable moments from the iconic 1970s show. It's a show people can't forget--for all the right reasons. Yes, it was cheesy at times (or a lot of the time), but it was a wholesome family show we will always love, no matter what.

The cast of The Brady Bunch (photo/brittanica.com).

So, in honor of the special anniversary, I'm starting my new series on my blog: "KJL's TV Dinners." TV dinners (also known as a frozen meal) are packaged meals that usually come portioned for an individual. Popular in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, the meals were ready-to-eat and you could have "TV trays," where you could sit in front of the television set and eat your meal while laughing along to your favorite shows.

This series will focus solely on recreating famous recipes from TV shows. Food is mentioned many times on television. There are a number of memorable recipes from the shows we love. It should be fun to take a walk down memory lane once a month on the blog.

First up, when you think about food and The Brady Bunch, it should be obvious which recipe I selected: pork chops and applesauce. In a famous episode of the '70s sitcom, Peter Brady studies Humphrey Bogart's accent and decides to mimic him. He walks into the kitchen, approaches Carol and Alice and tries his best to impersonate Bogart's distinct lisp. They find it odd, but America has remembered the moment ever since.

Pork Chops & Applesauce Recipe

Pork chops and applesauce.

To make pork chops and applesauce, you will need the following ingredients for the pork chops:

• 4 (5-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork chops
• 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. canola oil 

For the applesauce, you will need the following ingredients: 

• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 3 apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 
• 1/2 c. water
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/8 tsp. salt, to taste

To prepare the pork, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the flour in a small dish. Sprinkle the pork evenly with salt and pepper, and then dredge the pork in the flour until both sides are evenly covered in flour. Add oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Add the pork to the pan and cook for approximately five minutes, or until the pork chops are golden brown. Turn the pork over and cook for about three minutes, or until the pork has reached the desired degree of doneness.

Pork chops

To prepare the applesauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the apples to the pan and cook for approximately four minutes, stirring frequently. Add the water, sugar, juice, and salt to the pan and cook for 25 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Cover and cook for 25 minutes, or until the apples are nice and tender. Mash gently with the back of a spoon and sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top for an extra sweet flavor (optional).

Applesauce

Serve the pork chops and applesauce together. Now, isn't that swell? 

-KJL-