[ingredients title=”Cast of characters”]

• 6 1-inch thick pork chops
• 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 10 slices of bacon, diced
• 1 large or 2 small shallots, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Method to the madness”]

1. Carefully cut into the fatty side of the chop, make a pocket to hold the stuffing.
2. In a large skillet on medium-high heat, cook bacon just before crispy. Remove bacon, and add butter to the pan, then cook the apples and shallots. Add garlic and stir for 2 minutes.
3. Remove stuffing from heat, transfer to bowl and set aside. Salt and pepper each side of pork chop, stuff it with as much stuffing as you can fit and use a toothpick to close and prevent spilling (about half of the stuffing will be leftover).
4. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sear pork chops on each side for 5 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Transfer chops to a baking dish and bake uncovered for 25 minutes. When serving, top each chop with some of the remaining stuffing.

[/directions]