Produce with Amy

“O, Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” ~Percy Bysshe Shelley

It has been a long, brutal winter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and we are absolutely buried in snow. When the wind is howling off Lake Superior and the driveway needs clearing for the third time in a week, comfort food isn’t just a want. It’s a need.

And sometimes, comfort food is how you say thank you.

When you come home from work and your husband hasn’t just cleared snow for your family and the neighbors, but has also mopped, vacuumed, hit the grocery store (including dark chocolate and sea salt caramel for your moody self), and is in the middle of putting together your new makeup vanity, you make an epic dinner.

Not just dinner.

A spread.

Smothered pork chops with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted asparagus and broccoli. The whole works.

I hit the jackpot with this man. He might come off intimidating and a little “don’t-mess-with-me” to some, but to those in his pack, he’s a protector, a provider, and the kind of man you’re damn lucky to have in your corner.

And at the same time? He’s been patiently assembling furniture with approximately one million tiny parts.

I am a lucky woman. ❤️

So here’s the meal that matched the moment.

---

Smothered Skillet Pork Chops with Portabella Gravy

Ingredients

• 4-6 pork chops
• Salt, pepper, and garlic (to taste)
• ¼ cup sliced onion
• Baby portabella mushrooms, halved
• 1 packet McCormick brown gravy mix
• 1 ½ cups water
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

---

Directions

I like to use a large cast iron skillet for this meal because there’s something about that golden sear you just can’t beat. But if you don’t have one, a baking dish works just fine.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Season the pork chops generously with salt, pepper, and garlic.
   Sear each side in your skillet for about 4 minutes, until lightly browned.
3. Top each pork chop with sliced onion and halved baby portabella mushrooms.
4. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip the pork chops over.
5. In a bowl, whisk together:
   • Brown gravy mix, 1 ½ cups water, Cream of mushroom soup, Ketchup, Worcestershire sauce
   Mix well and pour over the pork chops.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, flip again, then bake an additional 15 minutes, until tender and smothered in that rich, savory gravy.

Serve over mashed potatoes with stuffing and roasted veggies for the full comfort-food experience.

---

There is something sacred about these meals in the middle of winter. When the snow piles high and the winter feels long and relentless, a hot skillet, a full table, and the people you love most become everything.

And yes — I now have the most beautiful new makeup vanity. The photo doesn’t do the color justice, it’s a beautiful blue. (you can see it here 👉 https://creatorlink.shop/4aN3GP6). It may have had a million parts, but watching him patiently put it together for me? That’s the real luxury.  #ad #Wayfair #WayfairCreator and @wayfair

Stay warm, friends. Take care of yourself, each other, and feed the people you love well. 💚

Sophomore Alayna Soyring (Gwinn High School) was selected as the designer for my husband John’s K-9 for the Marquette Police Department’s K-9 Valentine!

This is the 7th year of this tradition with the MPD’s K-9 Unit. Each year an Advanced Digital Design Applications student is chosen to create a special piece of artwork for the Valentine tradition.

K-9 Odin will deliver the cards to local elementary students!