Double Cut Pork Chops with Tamarind Glaze, Green Mole Sauce and Caramelized Sweet Potatoes

Green Mole Sauce, recipe follows
Caramelized Sweet Potatoes, recipe follows

To prepare glaze: Combine tamarind, molasses, ketchup, water, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of Southwest Seasoning in a food processor; blend until it forms a smooth paste. (Makes a generous 1 1/4 cups)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Rub both sides of pork chops with the remaining 6 teaspoons of Southwest seasoning. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add chops and sear until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes each side, then transfer to an ovenproof baking sheet and bake until a thermometer registers between 145 and 150 degrees F, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let chops rest slightly before serving.

When ready to serve, place a pork chop with some of the sweet potatoes on each plate and spoon 1/3 cup of the Green Mole Sauce over all. Place the tamarind glaze in a squeeze bottle and drizzle over the top of the chop in a decorative manner. Serve immediately.

1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows

In a saucepan combine all ingredients except parsley, cilantro, and cream and bring to a slow boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Pour sauce into a food processor or blender, add the parsley and cilantro and process, stopping once to scrape sides of bowl. Strain sauce through a fine sieve into a small bowl. In a clean saucepan, heat the heavy cream until it comes to a simmer and reduces by about 1/3. Add the mole base to the cream and bring sauce up to a simmer. Serve hot.

Yield: about 3 cups

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

Note: any leftover sauce may be kept in a non-reactive bowl, covered, and refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Rub potato skins with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast until just tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Peel potatoes while still warm and cut each into several pieces. Butter a small baking dish and arrange potato pieces in a single layer. Sprinkle potatoes with sugar and dot with butter. Return to oven and bake until sugar melts and potatoes are glazed, about 15 minutes.