Apple Bacon Pork Roll-Ups

Name: Apple Bacon Pork Roll-Ups
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 1/2 pound bacon strips, chopped; 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided; 2 tablespoons butter, divided; 1/2 cup chopped red onion; 5 medium apples, peeled and finely chopped; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley; 8 thin-cut boneless pork loin chops (about 3 ounces each); 8 slices Swiss cheese; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 20 min. YIELD: 8 servings.

I am so proud of this delicious creation—it's easy to make, but impressive enough to use for parties. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida

Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon strips, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 cup chopped red onion
5 medium apples, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
8 thin-cut boneless pork loin chops (about 3 ounces each)
8 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Remove drippings, reserving 1 tablespoons for cooking pork chops.
2. In same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon each oil and butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 3-4 minutes or until tender. Add apples and brown sugar; cook and stir 4-5 minutes or until apples are tender. Stir in parsley and bacon; remove from pan. Cool slightly. Remove 1 cup mixture for filling.
3. Pound each pork chop with a meat mallet to 1/4-in. thickness. Layer each with 1 slice cheese and 2 tablespoon filling to within 1 in. of edges. Roll up pork chops from short side; secure with toothpicks. Sprinkle salt and pepper over roll-ups.
4. In same skillet, heat reserved drippings and the remaining oil and butter over medium-high heat. Starting with the seam side, brown roll-ups on both sides. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 15-20 minutes or until pork is golden brown and tender. Discard toothpicks; serve with remaining apple mixture.

Nutrition Facts

1 pork roll-up with 1/3 cup apple mixture: 370 calories, 20g fat (8g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 404mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein.