Pork Chops with Smashed Turnip Sausage Collards

Not sure about you, but I'm learning to LOVE turnips. Roasted or mashed, these root veggies are mild and delicious. I was inspired to cook mashed turnips with their greens from watching A Chef's Life however I couldn't find turnips with their green leaves attached. So I grabbed some collards. I'll have to remember this during the summer and stop down at the farmer's market in Union Square to see if I can find some then.

The mashed turnips with collards and sausage can be a meal in itself but when working out hard at the gym extra protien is always a plus!

Shopping List:

5 medium turnips

1 bunch of collards

1 package sweet sausage links (you'll need 4-6 depending on how much you want in your dish)

pork chops

crushed red pepper flakes

whole nutmeg

1. Peel the turnips and cut them in half or quarters (all the same sized pieces). Boil them in some salted water until tender.

2. In a skillet, cook the sausages breaking them up as they cook in a drizzle of EVOO. Clean the collards and remove the rib. I chop mine. Add to the skillet when the sausage is cooked and let cook down. Grate a bit of nutmeg onto the greens. A bit of grated nutmeg always tastes delicous on any cooked greens!

3. Drain the turnips and mash them with a potato masher. Add to the skillet with the sausage and collards. Mix together. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, S&P.

4. I like a simply cooked pork chop. Grab your cast iron skillet. If you don't have one, this has the potential to be one of the best kitchen tools anyone will love! S&P the pork chops and cook in the cast iron skillet in a bit of EVOO.

Hope you enjoy my take on this! Its simple but delicious.