BALSAMIC CRANBERRY ORANGE GLAZED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• 2. Bring pork chops to room temp, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper (on both sides) before cooking.
• 3. Pour oil in large, heavy skillet. Heat over medium-high heat until really hot (sorry, I didn't measure temp but it was searingly hot).
• 4. In bowl, combine cranberry sauce and orange peel. Stir until well blended. You'll only need about half of this mixture, So, put 1/2 of this cranberry/orange mixture in sealed plastic container, refrigerate and save for later (it makes a TOTALLY yummy spread for your toast).
• 5. To the remaining half of cranberry/orange mix, add balsamic vinegar and stir until blended.
• 6. Arrange pork chops in hot skillet and sear just until browned then flip over and sear other side (about 2 min per side). **NOTE** This stuff splatters so be careful not to get burned!
• 7. Transfer seared pork chops to 8x8 baking dish. Add 2-3 Tbsp of water in the bottom of the pan. Spread pork chops, generously, with cranberry mixture.
• 8. Place on middle rack of preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
• 9. At the very end of baking time, switch oven to broil to "caramelize" cranberry glaze. Watch it closely... this only takes a minute or so.
• 10. Remove from oven, let rest 5 minutes before serving.