WEEKNIGHT PORK CASSEROLE...VISITING THE PAST

 

Imagine a time in 1865 if you can. The Civil War was raging.

 

 

We set out on a woodland journey in Sweetwater State Park in Georgia, to find an old Civil War ruin known as The New Manchester Manufacturing Company. This was originally known as Sweetwater Manufacturing Company and was built by former Georgia Governor, Charles McDonald and Colonel James Rogers. The men had purchased the land in 1845 and opened their factory, which produced thread, cloth and yarn, on December 21, 1849.

 

The factory was built by slaves.

 

 

 

The factory was in full production when Federal troops from the 1st and 11th Kentucky Calvary, arrived at 10:00 AM on July 2, 1865, and captured all of the mill workers, including women and all the children.

 

On July 9th, the Kentucky Major, who had just destroyed the woolen mill over in Roswell, Georgia, gave the order to burn the factory to the ground. All of the mill workers were kept as prisoners and deported to a prison in Kentucky. They were forced to sign papers pledging their allegiance to the Union and then all were sent across the Ohio River and required to stay there until the end of the war.

 

These are the remains of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company.

This recipe is from Holly Chute, the head chef at the

 Georgia Governor's Mansion

WEEKNIGHT PORK CASSEROLE

 

1 pound of boneless pork loin cutlets

1 sweet potato, peeled and thinly sliced

1 Fuji apple, peeled and thinly sliced

1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced

1 cup apple cider

1 t. ground cumin, divided

salt and pepper to taste

olive oil cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In an ovenproof skillet, spray liberally with olive oil cooking spray. Heat skillet to medium high heat. Season pork with salt and pepper. Sear on both sides to seal in the juices of the pork. Turn off the heat. then layer the sweet potatoes, onion and apples over the pork chops, seasoning each layer with salt, pepper and cumin. Pour apple cider over top, cover and bake for 45 minutes.