Farmers' Pork Chops with White Sauce

Contributed by Shannon Montoya-Castro, Martinez Ward

Ingredients:

8 center cut pork chops about 1/2 inch thick

8 Medium potatoes
1/2 medium onion

Salt (to taste)
Ground black pepper (to taste)

1 cup all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons Lawrys seasoned salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

White sauce ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 cups milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or chives

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  
• Peel potatoes and slice 1/4 inch thick then cover with cold water in a separate bowl.
  
• Slice onion into very thin slices then cut slices in half and set aside.

Prepare white sauce as follows:

• Melt butter over medium low heat on stove top in saucepan. 
• Remove from heat. 
• Stir in flour.
• Add salt and pepper.
  
• Return to saucepan to heat and cook stirring constantly until mixture is bubbling. 
• Add milk one cup at a time. 
• Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring frequently. 
• Reduce heat and simmer 1-2 minutes. 
• Then let stand off heat for 1-2 minutes.
  
• Stir in parsley or chives (if desired).

While white sauce simmers and then stands off heat, prepare potatoes and onions as follows:

• Drain water off potatoes.
  
• In well-greased 15x10-inch casserole dish, layer half of the potatoes. 
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. 
• Scatter half the onion slices on top of potatoes. 
• Repeat with another layer of remaining potatoes and then another layer of onions.
• Pour white sauce over potatoes and onions, covering the layers.
• Set casserole dish aside.

Prepare pork chops as follows:

• In a large bowl or dish, combine flour and seasoned salt.
  
• Dredge pork chops in flour mixture.
  
• Lightly brown chops in vegetable oil in a skillet on stovetop.
  
• DO NOT COOK PORK CHOPS COMPLETELY!
  
• Remove pork chops from skillet and place directly on top of potatoes in casserole dish.
  
• Bake casserole in preheated oven for 45 minutes (Note: the juices from the pork chops will drop down onto the potatoes.)
• Serve and enjoy!