Five-Spice Powder Gives Pork Chops a Kick

A lighter, more sophisticated take on “pork chops and applesauce,” this one-pan meal is quick to pull together and sure to impress.

Five-spice powder is a spice blend that typically contains star anise, cinnamon, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel seeds. Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

By Meredith Deeds From Star Tribune

I love a shortcut in the kitchen, if it makes sense. Bottled lemon juice, jarred minced garlic and bags of pre-grated cheese are all subpar versions of their real deal counterparts and, in some cases, have the potential to ruin a dish. For that reason, for me, they land in the “don’t make sense” category.