Bacon-wrapped Stuffed Pork Chops

Common conversation in our house:

Me: What do you want for dinner babe?

Joe: I dunno, somethin' stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon

Me: Really, stuffed with cheese AND wrapped in bacon?
.
Sometimes, when I'm feeling nice and not caring about eating healthy (like around the holidays), I actually give in.

This time, he not only wanted something stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon, but that something was pork. Hmm...pork wrapped in more pork? Is that really necessary?

But alas, I gave in, and it was actually pretty delicious.


Stuffing

I make this stuffing a lot, great stuffing for chicken and beef as well. Sometimes I'll add pancetta or bacon (assuming its not going to be wrapped in it).

Bread crumbs (about a cup)
1 shallot
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup grated parmesean
minced Parsley
salt
pepper

Mix all that together in a bowl and drizzle olive oil over the mixture and mix together.


For the pork chops, make sure you get them cut about an inch thick. I just make slits in them, not all the way through and then stuff them with the mixture.



Then wrap them each in a piece of bacon. I seasoned the chops with salt, pepper and Giada's DeLaurentis' Italian herb seasoning*.

Sear them in a hot pan on both sides (about a minute on each side) and then transfer to the oven. Cook at 350 degrees for about 15 - 20 minutes.



* A note about this seasoning. We registered at Crate and Barrel and I had to give Joe the scanner to keep him interested the whole time. He is obsessed with Giada (of course) since she wears cleavage shirts when she cooks, so just to be obnoxious he registered us for a jar of her herb mix. I didn't think anyone would get it for us, but someone did. I wasn't expecting much because its just Italian seasoning but it is AMAZING. I use it ALL THE TIME.