Shiner Smokehaus Pork Chops

I have this great cookbook called How to Win a Cowboy's Heart that I permanently borrowed from my mom. It has a great recipe for smothered pork chops, and is the only way I have ever made pork chops. They are really delicious, smothered in apples and onions after they have basically been fried. But we have been on a bit of a health kick lately, so I wanted to try a variation on the recipe, grilling them instead of frying them. And with a 6 pack of Shiner Smokehaus sitting in my fridge, what better starting ingredient for a marinade?

I want to emphasize the fact that this is a serious first for me. My own marinade? No recipe? Dangerous ground here. But I started with Shiner, how bad could it be?

If you have never tried Shiner beers, I recommend that you do so. Immediately. They haven't made a single beer that I don't like, and their special summer blend, Smokehaus, is no exception. I don't know how they did it, but it has this great mesquite-smoked flavor that is perfect for summer and grilling. If you live in one of those unfortunate places of the world that does not sell delicious Texas beer, first of all...I'm sorry. Secondly, I think Sam Adams Summer Ale would be a good substitute, or maybe a hefeweizen.

I did a little bit of reading on marinades before I made my own. Of course by research I mean I read what Alton has to say about it. His very first line under the marinades section? "Marinades have long been hailed as "tenderizers." They're not.

Huh. Really, Alton? I thought that was the whole point.

He goes on to say that marinades seem to tenderize because they add flavors to our meats, and those sweet/salty/acidic/spicy flavors activate our taste buds and create more saliva in our mouths, making food easier to chew and creating the illusion of a more tender meat.

So, with new found confidence from the knowledge that marinades are all about flavor and not necessarily the right combination to "tenderize," I gave it a whirl. And let me tell you, these pork chops were GOOD.

Shiner Smokehaus Pork Chops
Marinade:
1 bottle Shiner Smokehaus beer
2 tbsp honey
juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger

Apple Topping:
2 granny smith apples, quartered and sliced
half an onion, sliced
cinnamon
olive oil

Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together. (Be sure and use a large container for this...beer foams a LOT when you whisk it.) Put the pork chops and the marinade in a container with a lid, and refrigerate for 2-6 hours.

Fire up the grill! If you are fortunate enough to have a charcoal grill, then go that route. I don't even know how to tell you to use it so I'm not going to try. I have a gas grill (baby steps). Grill the pork chops until cooked through.

Meanwhile, heat up some olive oil in a frying pan at medium high heat. Add the apples, onions, and cinnamon, cooking until soft. Remove from heat.

Top the cooked pork chops with the apples and onions, crack open a Shiner Smokehaus and enjoy!