Le Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday in French. Fat Tuesday this year is February 16, 2021. Fat Tuesday is the last day to eat whatever you want. The rules of lent for everyone over the age of 14 must abstain from eating meat.  In addition to no meat, you are supposed to fast every Friday.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent (40-days) leading up to Easter.  The 40-days are supposed to replicate Christ’s sacrifice in the desert where the devil tempted him. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.  Are you going to honor, celebrate and give up something for lent?

No Carnival celebration this year in New Orleans. Let’s not forget the season.  I am asking everyone to decorate some portion of their house with Purple, Green, and Gold.  I am going to hang beads on the doorpost. 

TOMMY HAWK STUFFED PORK CHOPS

2 (5 oz.) package yellow rice,  2 green onions, chopped, 5 Tommy Hawk cut pork loin chops, seasoning salt, dried thyme, black pepper,  granulated garlic, 3 tablespoons butter, and 1 tablespoon shortening, melted.

Cook the rice according to the package directions, except replace the water measurement with chicken broth. Add the cooked rice to a bowl, add the green onions and set aside.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut a pocket in the pork chops, slicing from the fat side to the bone. Rub each chop with the oil,  sprinkle the salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic on the chops, rub in.  Get out a heavy skillet, add the butter and shortening, add the chops sear on both sides.  Remove the chops from the skillet, evenly divide the stuffing, and stuff each chop pocket.    Get out a baking dish, pour the butter from the skillet into a baking dish, add the chops to the baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the juices from the chops runs out clear.  Remove the foil the last 10-minutes of baking.  Pour the pan juices and 1/2 cup of white wine into a skillet, add 1 tablespoon of seasoned flour and stir together until the contents come to a boil. When it comes to a boil, the sauce will thicken, cook another 2 minutes on high.  When you are ready to serve, spoon this sauce over the chops.