Slow Cooked Smother Pork Chops

Serves 6
These pork chops are so tender you will have to remove them from the slow cooker with a spoon.

4 slices bacon, chopped fine
6 bone-in blade-cut pork chops, about ¾ inch thick
Salt & Pepper
3 yellow onion, halved and sliced into ½-inch half-moons
1 tsp plus 1 TBS light brown sugar
¼ c plus 2 tablespoons water
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp minced fresh thyme
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 TBS soy sauce
2 bay leaves
1 TBS cornstarch
1 TBS cider vinegar
1 TBS minced fresh parsley

1. Fry bacon in large skillet over medium heat until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Remove from pan. Leave fat in the pan (you should have 2 TBS fat; if not, supplement with oil). Refrigerate bacon.

2. Heat fat over high heat until smoking. Meanwhile, pat pork chops dry with paper towels and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook 3 chops until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chops to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining chops.

3. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon fat from skillet; add onions, 1 tsp brown sugar, ¼ tsp salt and ¼ c water to now empty skillet. Using wooden spoon, scrape browned bits from bottom and cook over medium-high heat until onions are soft, about 6 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer. Pour onion mixture over chops in slow cooker. Add broth, soy sauce and remaining tablespoon brown sugar to skillet, bring to boil and add bay leaves. Pour mixture over onions in slow cooker.

4. Cover and cook on low until pork is very tender, about 8 hours (or cook on high for 4 hours).

5. When ready to serve, reheat the bacon in a large saucepan until crisp and transfer to a small bowl. Carefully transfer chops to serving platter with large spoon and tent with foil. Discard bay leaves and pour through mesh strainer into now empty saucepan.
Transfer solids to blender with one cup liquid and blend until smooth. Stir back into remaining liquid in saucepan. Mix cornstarch and remaining 2 TBS water together in small bowl and stir into sauce. Cook over medium heat until thickened, about 8 minutes. Add vinegar, season with salt and pepper, pour over chops, and sprinkle with bacon and parsley. Serve.