Oink Oink We'll Be Pigs.....

So tonight instead of scallops, which is really what we should have eaten in honor of St. James, I decided on Fudge Farms pork chops (check them out at http://www.fudgepork.com/). I sautéed them for three minutes per side after having coated them generously with olive oil, salt, coarse tellicherry pepper, fresh thyme, a touch of basil, and lemon juice. I finished them off with a simple aioli with fresh pureed peaches. I can't say enough about Fudge Farms!

The reason Fudge Farms pork tastes so good is really very simple: they have a higher fat content (can you say "much higher fat content" without blushing?!?) than what we can get at the supermarche. Fat is not the enemy, friends! Say this three times until it sticks!

Theology has its place here for sure - no kidding. Pork and most religions have a well documented - and very rocky - history. Our Jewish history made consuming pork a first rate issue, especially in the early church, where they certainly wrestled with dietary norms. St. Paul wrote:

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.


Nevertheless, some of our Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters still remind the faithful to limit pork consumption. And given the abundance of Old Testament verses in support of this interpretation, it isn't all bad, is it?


Of course, some of you will remember that before Vatican II the faithful were instructed to avoid meat on Friday; not because it was impure, but as a sign of penance. A large part of me wishes that we could collectively rediscover this discipline (and others!). Again, not to say it's unclean or to fan our Pharisaic pride, but to remind us of God's supreme sacrifice on Golgotha. So much of our Christian identity is lost in each generation, cast out in the name of modernity.


A cooking note: I get my olive oil from a shop in Philadelphia, Di Bruno Brothers, Inc., http://www.dibruno.com/StoreFront.bok. Quite often now they have free shipping too! The price is not what you would think coming all the way from Philly. Actually, their house blend is what I get, and per ounce as compared to most retailers it's really reasonable.