Lazy days of summer

It’s hard not to be lazy when it’s this freakin’ hot. Yesterday it hit 106. Today’s not supposed to be much better. Even if you work indoors mostly, this kind of heat can still get to you because you still have to get to and from work and to and from the house as you run various errands or whatever. It just plain zaps your energy… and your willpower to do anything constructive. It’s so oppressive that you try to do anything to avoid being outside — or at least I do.

However, yesterday I braved the extreme heat to cook some pork chops on our gas grill. Between the 500-plus degree heat emanating from the grill and the 100-plus degree heat bearing down on me from the atmosphere, I was baking almost as thoroughly as the pork chops. Several times I had to come inside because I was feeling very faint and about to pass out. But I can tell you — and the rest of the family will agree — it was worth it! The pork chops were amazing.

I was using a recipe from Anne Burrell from Secrets of a Restaurant Chef on The Food Network. It was Brined Pork Chops with Soft Parmigiano Polenta, served with Sauteed Swiss Chard with Bacon. OH. MY. GOSH. It was absolutely amazing… I don’t think I’ve had better pork chops in a five-star restaurant. Seriously.

The key to the success, I believe, was brining to the pork for at least three days. The recipe called for three days, but we actually waited an extra day (because we weren’t ready to do it on Saturday). The pork chops were amazingly tender and very juicy. Amazingly juicy. And the pork chops had a wonderful flavor without adding any sauces or anything else to it after the brining of it. I mean, if Ashley, who’s not a big meat eater at all, rolls her eyes in delight and says, “oh my gosh, this is amazing,” then it had to be extra special.

This was the first time I’ve ever brined pork. In the past, I’ve brined turkey and chicken, always with great success. I’m a big believer in and passionate proponent of brining. Now I can add another meat to my list of incredible brining success! We will definitely be doing this again!

So, despite the oppressive heat, it was all worth it in the end. But, because of spending that time in the extreme heat and because of the incredibly satisfying meal, I was pretty much worthless the rest of yesterday afternoon… and evening… doing my part to define what it means when people talk about “the lazy days of summer.”