Apple-Smoked Crown Rack of Pork

TentHunter

Moderator
This past week was my Mom's B-Day so today was a combo Birthday/Easter dinner.

Apple-Smoked Crown Rack of Pork
with Braised Apples & Cornbread Stuffing


I picked up a 15 lb whole pork loin. it was big enough that I cut a whole roast off of the thickest end and trimmed the rest up into a crown rack. The Mrs. used some of the bones & scraps to make some pork stock.

I rubbed all sides with some Sage, Salt, Fresh cracked Pepper, Rosemary & Nutmeg. Put it on to smoke for a while using Apple Pellets for smoke flavor. You can see that because this was a whole loin section (not two rib sections), the bones in the thick end get too small to french (expose the bone for a dramatic presentation). That's OK... It still looks great.
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While it smoked a while, we mixed the cornbread stuffing: Wheat Bread, Cornbread, Onions & Celery sauteed with some herbs (Sage, Salt, Pepper, Rosemary), shredded Carrot, eggs, & pork stock. Stuff the crown roast & bump temp up to 350°.
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Cut up some apples & onions, sprinkle on the same herbs as the pork (Sage, Salt, Pepper, Rosemary & Nutmeg) then mix 1/2 cup beer, 1/4 cup each brown sugar & cider vinegar and add to the dish. This combo creates a savory, slightly sweet/tart sauce that compliments pork very well and the apples pick up smoke flavor oh so nicely.

Into the smoker to braise for an hour or so with the roast.
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When the roast's I.T. temp hit 156° I turned the heat off and let it ride. FTC'd and off to Mom's house for dinner.

While the roast is resting: Finish the apples/onions off in a hot skillet by adding a little water & corn starch then reducing the liquid down to a nice sauce. Turn off the heat and stir in a dab of butter right at the end (this adds a glossy sheen to the sauce).


It made a beautiful presentation.
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Slice into thick chops...
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Serve with some of the braised apples & onions right on top.
Plated with the stuffing, Sour Cream & Chive Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Carrots.
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It was tender, juicy & well worth the extra prep time!

Thanks for looking!
 

sparky

New member
same goes for you cliff. jeanie is staying in my sons room and i will gladly kick out my daughter and you can you her room. come on down cliff. FT in the outside frig. pool is a little chilly but ok. :)
 

TentHunter

Moderator
Thanks everyone!

Sparky that's a real tempting offer. Hmmm a life of sitting by the pool eating Spark's ribs with a cold FT every day and getting to cook with Jeanie...

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Oh sorry... I was in a daze :)!



I will tell you one more thing... After cooking this meal I am really beginning to see the attraction to the pellet cookers.
 
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