Trim excess fat from the chops, season with salt and pepper and brown very gently on both sides in 50 g – 1,75 oz. butter for 10-15 minutes.

Put the browned, half-cooked chops in a shallow casserole, sprinkle them with the lemon juice, add the parsley, juniper berries, and rosemary, and season with salt and pepper.

Arrange the peeled and sliced apples over the chops and pour the melted butter over them.

Cover and cook in a medium to hot oven for 30-35 minutes or until the chops are cooked.

Serve directly from the casserole.

Makes 4 servings.

Source: A Taste of the Belgian Provinces, Enid Gordon and Midge Shirley (published by The Tuesday Group, rue Frans Merjay, 1060 Brussels).

FOR THE PASTRY

First make the pastry: sieve the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Put in the butter cut in small pieces, the egg and a good pinch of salt. Work quickly together with the fingertips, then add just enough water to make the dough moist. Shape the dough into a ball, put it on a floured board and flatten it with the heel of your hand. Then shape it into a ball once more and repeat the process. Finally, shape it again, wrap it in greaseproof paper and put it in a cool place for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to a moderately hot temperature. Peel and core the apples and slice them thinly; drain the canned chestnuts and chop them up roughly. In a bowl, mix thoroughly but delicately the minced pork, the apples, the chestnuts, the port, and one egg. Season with salt and plenty of fresh-ground black pepper.

Break the second egg into a small bowl and beat it lightly with a fork. Butter the pie dish. Roll out two-thirds of the dough into a round shape about 5 mm thick and slightly larger in diameter than the pie dish, and line the dish with it, pricking the bottom with a fork. Spread the filling into this. Roll out the remaining dough in a round shape with the same diameter as the pie dish and cover the pie with it, pinching the pastry edges together. With a pastry brush dipped in the beaten egg, paint the whole surface of the pie and make a couple of long incisions in it to let the air in. Cook the tourte in a moderately hot oven for 45 minutes and serve hot.

Makes 4 servings.

Source: A Taste of the Belgian Provinces, Enid Gordon and Midge Shirley (published by The Tuesday Group, rue Frans Merjay, 1060 Brussels).

Heat the butter in a casserole with a thick bottom and fry the onions until they have browned (about 7 minutes). Heat the oil in another pan and brown the meat.

Transfer the meat to the casserole with the onions. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir for about 3 minutes.

Then pour in the wine and porto (2/3 wine-2/3 porto) so that the meat is just covered. Stir continuously untill the sauce has thickened. Add salt, pepper, 2 cloves mashed garlic, the lemon peel and the piece of cinnamon bark.

Simmer for one hour.

Then add the dried prunes and simmer 45 minutes more. Remove the lemon peel and the cinnamon bark, check seasonings and serve.

I am not sure abouth the amount of flour. But if the sauce is too thin, you can always add a portion of butter mixed with an equal amount of flour. Stir well when you add it.

Makes 4 servings.

Source: my collection.

1 tablespoon butter
12 oz boneless lean center loin pork
9 oz fresh pork fat cut from loin, fresh
3 medium eggs
6 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 cup tawny port
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
2 1/2 tablespoon currants, minced
9 feet sausage casings, rinsed inside
1/4 cup butter

Bring milk, onions, carrots, celery, parsley, 3 shallots, garlic clove, bay leaves, salt, cloves, pepper, nutmeg and thyme just to boil in heavy 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Remove from het, cover and let stand 30 minutes. Refrigerate until mixture is well chilled, about 2 hours.

Meanwhile, melt 1 Tbsp butter in heavy small skillet over low heat. Add remaining 4 minced shallots. Cover and cook until very soft, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Puree with on/off turns in processor with pork, pork fat, eggs, flour, Port and 1/4 tsp garlic until smooth. Strain milk into processor, pressing down on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Blend into puree. Transfer to large bowl. Stir in currants. Refrigerate 1 to 8 hours. (If processor has small capacity, puree in batches.)

Cut sausage casings into 3-foot lengths. Tie knot at one end of each. Gather 1 piece around tip of pastry bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain tip. Spoon pork mixture into pastry bag, pressing down to prevent air pockets. Pipe mixture into casing, twisting casing every 6 inches to create individual sausages. Tie know at end of casing. Repeat with remaining pork and casings. Tie twists in sausage with string.

Bring 8 quarts water to boil in stockpot. Remove from heat and add sausages. Return pot to heat, adjusting as necessary to maintain water just below simmer (180 F). Cook until sausages are firm to touch, 20 minutes, turning occasionally. Cool in cold water to retain plumpness. Cut into individual links. (Can be prepared ahead to this point. Wrap and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months.)

Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium heat. Lightly brown sausages on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Serve hot. (Sausage can also be grilled.)

Source: my collection

To prepare meatballs, soak bread crumbs in milk until thoroughly moistened; squeeze dry with hands. Combine bread crumbs, ground meats, eggs, shallots, parsley, salt, pepper and nutmeg in medium bowl. Form mixture into 6 to 8 balls or patties (2 inches in diameter and 1/2-inch thick); dust with 2 tablespoons flour.

Heat butter and oil in deep, heavy Dutch oven, until hot but not smoking, over high heat. Add meatballs; cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes, making sure butter does not burn. Remove meat balls to platter; keep warm.

To prepare sauce, discard all but 2 tablespoons of fat in pan. Add onion and endives. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes. Add sugar, salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons flour to vegetables; cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Add beer and broth; heat to quick boil, scraping up all brown bits from bottom of pan.

Reduce heat to simmer; return meatballs to pan, placing them on top of vegetables. Simmer, partly covered, until meat is cooked through, 45 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

4 servings.

Source: Everybody Eats Well in Belgium Cookbook by Ruth Van Warebeeck; printed in the Chicago Tribune, October 2, 1996

This recipe originates in Flanders where Savoy cabbage is much loved. The stock is made into a quick pea soup and served as a first course. It is similar to the French Pot au Feu although the former has peas and the latter garlic and leeks.

Cover the beef, pork, pork bone, bay leaves and peppercorns in water in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Skim the foam away and cover; simmer 2 1/2-3 hrs until the meats are tender. Add the salt during the last hour.

Prepare and reserve the vegetables. Wash the potatoes; do not peel if new. Wash, trim, core and cut the cabbage into 8 wedges. Peel and quarter the turnips. About 30 min before the meat is done add the potatoes and turnips. Remove the meats and vegetables from the broth; arrange the vegetables around the meat on a large platter, cover with foil and keep warm. Discard the pork bone.

Strain the broth through cheesecloth and reserve 2 cups for the pea soup, returning the rest to the pot to cook the cabbage in. Simmer the cabbage 5-7 min until tender and remove; arrange on the meat platter.

Meanwhile cook the peas in a separate smaller pot; puree in a blender with the reserved broth in small lots until smooth. Strain through a wire sieve discarding the pulp. Re-heat and serve as a first course garnished with croutons and chives. Then bring the hot platter to the table; slice meat and serve with mustard and horseradish.

To adapt to a crockpot I would suggest [but have not tested] about 10-12 hrs on low for the meats, perhaps 4 hrs for the potatoes and turnips and do the cabbage with the meats and vegetables say the last 30 min. Do the peas separately on the stove at the last minute.

Remarks:
8 servings.

Source: Adapted from a recipe in the Sunset Cook Book for Soups and Stews by Jim Weller – Intercook

Mince the juniper berries, mix with the basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Rub into the pork chops.
Heat some butter and brown the chops very carefully on both sides. Make sure that the herb mixture stays on the meat. Transfer the chops to a crockpot.

Colour the onion and carrot in the same butter, add the wine and reduce to half. Add stock and pour everything over the meat.

Fry breadcrumbs in the remaining butter and mix with ham, parsley and some lemon juice. Put this mixture on top of the meat. Cover crockpot, put in a cold oven, set temperature at 400 °F and bake for 1 hour.

Remove chops. Pour remaining liquid in a small pan and reduce to 1/2 cup over high heat. Put the chops back into the crockpot and pour the sauce over them.

Makes 4 servings.
Source: my collection

In a mixing bowl, stir together the pork, beef, salt, onion powder and pepper; divide into 12 portions. Form each portion into a sausage shaped, 3-inch long piece. Divide the bread dough into 12 equal portions. Flatten each portion into a 4 x 3-inch rectangle. Place a portion of meat lengthwise on each piece of dough. Fold in the sides of the dough; roll up. Moisten and pinch the seams closed. Arrange the dough-wrapped meat, seam side down, in a greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes until the doubled.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the meat is done inside. Serve warm.

To reheat baked, chilled worstenbroodjes, cover loosely with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or until heated through. Or place on a microwave-safe plate and heat on medium power for 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 minutes for 1 piece.

Makes 4 servings.
Source: my collection

4 sirloin steaks (3/4 lb each)
3/4 lb lean ground pork
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup butter

Popular in Belgium and Holland, these steak roll-ups, which resemble small birds, are often prepared by the butcher and cooked at home. Buy steaks that are about 1/2 inch thick.

Between 2 pieces of waxed paper, pound steaks to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 8 X 4 inch pieces. Combine pork, bread crumbs, parsley, lemon juice, pepper, salt and nutmeg. Shape into 8 balls. Place one portion of pork at short end of each steak. Roll up steaks to enclose pork. Tie rolls with string at 1 inch intervals.

In a large heavy bottomed Dutch oven or 2 skillets, melt butter over high heat; brown roll-ups all over, in batches. Cover and cook over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally or until pork is no longer pink. To serve, remove string, slice and spoon pan juices over top.

Remarks: 8 servings.

Source: Canadian Living, November 1993.

Season the pork cubes and fry together with the sausages and the onions. When browned, add beer and beef-tea cube. Stew for 20 minutes.

In the meantime slice the cabbage, put the cabbage on the meat and stew till soft. Cook the potatoes.

When the meat stew is ready, add the hot potatoes and mix carefully. Season with pepper, salt and ground cloves, if you wish.

Serve with beer.

Remarks: 4 servings.

Source: my collection