Minecraft Pork Chop Dinner

When my son started asking for pork chops for dinner, I had absolutely no idea where he had even gotten the idea. I don't think I have ever actually made a pork chop and, in fact, I don't even remember eating them growing up. It turns out that he came up with the idea all on his own while playing, what else—Minecraft. Who knew that a video game—where a cooked pork chop is a dietary staple—would help me in my meal planning?

My six-year-old son was convinced he wanted a Minecraft dinner, so I googled Minecraft Food and came up with Minecraft Wiki (who knew that even existed!) where there was a helpful menu of food available in the game and the points associated with it.

I learned that:

Pork Chop = 8 points

Baked Potato = 6 points

Carrots = 4 points

I put my dinner strategy into place and now you can make the perfect Minecraft Pork Chop Dinner, too!

First, my friend Leslie taught me this tinfoil trick—when you're baking breaded meat, crumple up your tinfoil then spread it out onto the baking sheet.

This way, both sides of the meat get crispy without turning over!

I know, she's a genius . . . now on to the pork chop.

Simply mix your breading.

Dip your pork chops in egg.

Cover them in breading.

Bake, then serve with potatoes and carrots, and VOILA!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup bread crumbs (I use whole wheat)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 to 1-1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning (depending on how much your kids like it)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 egg, lightly beaten

4 boneless centre loin pork chops (approx. 4 oz and 1/2-inch thick each)

Directions:

Cover baking sheet using crumpled tin foil method above.

In bowl or pie plate mix bread crumbs, cheese, seasoning, salt, and pepper.

In separate bowl, beat egg.

Cover each pork chop in egg, then cover in breading on both sides. Repeat with remaining pork chops.

Place on foil-lined baking sheet and bake in pre-heated 425F oven for 15 minutes.

BONUS: Cake is the highest scoring food item in Minecraft, so if you really want to score the highest dinner points, end your meal with one of my kids' favourite cakes—Oreo Brownie Cake, Cake Batter Cookies, or Gingerbread Cake.

BONUS #2: If you're throwing a Minecraft party, check out these super-cute Minecraft TNT Boxes we made for Valentine's Day that could easily be used as party decorations, as part of a Minecraft party game or even in place of a loot bag!