Pork Chop Hot Dish (Casserole)

I am laughing at myself for titling this post "Hot Dish" because while I was walking and talking during my recent 5K, the woman I was walking with asked if I was from Minnesota because of my "accent".  "No," I replied, "but I guess that comes from going to a Lutheran church!"  Lutherans and Minnesotans (who also happen to be primarily Lutheran) call "hot dish" what the rest of the country calls "casserole".  Since I feel very Lutheran every time I make casserole, I am now going to call it "hot dish".  This was a good, stick to your ribs kind of meal that you can just throw in the oven.  Definitely not French, but it could be with portion control.  It was still comforting on a blustery night at any rate!  I burnt it a little, so learn from me and finish it either in the oven, or let the heat of the dish finish it.  Don't finish it under the broiler!

Pork Chop Hot Dish by Joie de vivre

6 boneless pork chops

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 can cream of celery soup

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1 (2.8) oz. can french-fried onions, divided

1 (24-26oz.) package frozen, shredded hash browns

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

Yield:  6 servings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil.  Brown both sides of the pork chops.  Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the soup, milk, sour cream, pepper, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar chees, 1/2 can french-fried onions and stir until combined.  Add the package of hash browns and stir until coated.  Spoon hash brown mixture into a greased 9 1/2 by 11 inch baking dish.  Arrange browned pork chops on top, sprinkle with season salt, cover with foil, and place in oven for 45 minutes.  Uncover dish and broil until hash brown mixture is bubbly and slightly browned.  Remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining cheese and hash browns.  Either let cheese melt from the heat of the dish, or place dish back in oven for 5 minutes (make sure broiler is off or onions will burn!)