Back in the kitchen (for a night at least)

Yum.

Finally, a day off.  Not only could I take care of some chores (dishes!), but I could finally cook a meal for my roommates (whom, conveniently enough, would also be free in evening.)  I’ve been waiting to cook both potatoes au gratin and pork chops with apples & onions—as well as gingerbread cupcakes—for over a week.  I found a few recipes online, and made my selection based on shortest preparation time.  Everything turned out well, but perhaps would have been better if I’d used the longer-timed ones.  For example, cooking the potatoes longer on a lower heat—and not adding the final cheese topping until the last minutes.  Or with the pork, doing a longer braise (an actual braise, that is) in the oven, after searing the meat.  Well, this is how we learn.  Unfortunately for you, you may only observe the results best experienced in person. 

pork, apples, onions

taters ... a little too crispy