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What's for dinner? How about pork chops, blueberry muffins and fruit crumble for dessert? Reliable recipe researcher Sheila Kern has come up with tasty alternatives to "dinner as usual." And the best part - many of the ingredients are on sale this week.

Pork chops are on sale at Safeway for $1.99 a pound. And most of the other ingredients are either in the refrigerator or  the pantry.

Apple Pork Chops www.allrecipes.com

PREP TIME 10 Min

COOK TIME 45 Min

READY IN 55 Min

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

4 (1/2-inch thick) pork chops

1/2 teaspoon salt

ground black pepper to taste

2 apples - peeled, cored and sliced

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

3/4 cup hot water

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Heat oil in large skillet. Saute onion in oil for 1 minute, or until tender. Remove onion and set aside. Brown pork chops on both sides in oil.

Place chops in an 8x12 inch baking dish and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Cover the chops with the apples and cooked onion.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, mustard, cloves and water. Pour over chops. Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes. Enjoy!

Easy Baked Pork Chops www.cooks.com 

 4-6 boneless pork loin chops

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 soup can water

1 pkg. onion soup mix

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chops in baking dish. In bowl, combine soups with water. Pour mixture over chops.

Cover with foil and bake for 30-45 minutes, depending on thickness of chops.

This dish creates its own gravy and is great served with rice!

You can get blueberries at SaveMart for $2.50 a carton.

JORDAN MARSH BLUEBERRY MUFFINS www.cooks.com

1 1/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter

2 eggs

2 c. flour

1/2 c. milk

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/2 c. blueberries

Sugar for top

With mixer at low speed, cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, one at a time. Add 3 dry ingredients alternating with milk. Mash 1/2 cup blueberries and stir in remaining berries by hand. Pile high in cupcake tins (lined or greased). Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.

Here's a dessert that's quick and easy. Cranberries are plentiful and apples and pears are available at less that $1 a pound.

Fall Fruit Crumble / www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Fall-Fruit-Crumble

Gourmet | November 2008

yield: Makes 6 servings

active time: 15 min

total time: 50 min

Ingredients

2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries

2 firm-ripe pears such as Bartlett, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 apples such as Gala, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 cup sugar, divided

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle.

Stir together fruits, 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla and place in a buttered shallow 2-quart baking dish.

Stir together oats, flour, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture forms small clumps. Scatter over fruit and bake until juices are bubbling and topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.