Day 8: Crockpot Ranch Porkchops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

Courtesy of: Real Mom Kitchen
Serves: 6
Prep time: 1 hour for garlic, 10 mins for potatoes
Cook time: 4-6 hours for pork, 30 mins for potatoes

6 porkchops, 1/2 inch thick
1 packet dry ranch dressing seasoning
10 oz can cream of chicken soup
4 lbs peeled, cubed potatoes
5 tablespoons real butter
1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
6 cloves roasted garlic (directions are below)
1- 1 1/2 cups warm skim milk (any milk will do, I used skim)
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, or to taste

Place porkchops, ranch seasoning and soup into a medium sized crockpot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours.

Place potatoes into a large pot of cold water. Bring to boil over high heat. Once boiling, cook for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain and transfer to the work bowl of a stand or electric mixer. Mix on low until potatoes are mashed then add butter, Parmesan, garlic, milk, salt and pepper.

Scoop mashed potatoes onto plates and top with porkchops and gravy.

Roasted Garlic
Preheat oven to 350. Wrap garlic bulb (skins on) lightly in foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove from foil and let cool for 15 minutes. Remove garlic from skins, place in a bowl and mash with a fork before adding to potatoes.

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Yep — back to my trusty old cream of something or another soup. And kind of weird about porkchops in the crockpot, huh? But this was super simple and so good! The meat got really tender, the gravy was yummy, and the potatoes were quick and tasty. Nate devoured it. A few tips:

1. Double the soup and ranch (at least double...maybe double and a half). I actually halved this recipe and only used three porkchops, but even with three it didn't seem like enough gravy – especially for my sauce-loving husband. I'm glad I doubled it.

2. Watch the cook time. Remember how I said my crockpot cooks super hot and fast? Well, I put this on the six hour setting and it was done in three. When the meat starts falling off the bone and the gravy looks thin and well-combined, it's ready.

3. Go a little lighter on the salt when making the potatoes. I thought a tablespoon was too much...luckily I thought of that before I added it.

4. Serve with bread. This kind of meal calls for bread. Lots of it.

A yummy, homey, quick and easy dinner!