Current Obsessions including Grilled Pork and Pineapple Tacos

In case you were wondering about any of my current mania, I've made a comprehensive list. This is only applicable to Summer 2009, because come Fall, a new set of mania will make my eyes turn into flying saucers. For now, my Current Obsessions:

John Adams, the HBO series. Abigail Adams is my new role model. Except I'm not sure that I want to work that hard. Or give up mascara.

Breaking Away. If I wanted to pretend to be someone else, an Italian exchange student would be top on my list too. Except now I'm thirty something and I don't think anyone would buy it.

The Art of Winslow Homer: Makes me want to go run outside and play in the grass. But then I get sweaty and hot and change my mind, and come inside the house and just look at Winslow Homer's artwork instead in the air conditioning.

The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. According to Gladwell, you have to spend about 10,000 hours on any given activity to become an expert. It's too late for me, but I'll bet the charges are wondering why violin practice suddenly got about three hours longer.

Attack Uno: I just like pushing the card-shooting button. It's thrilling; a bit like Russian Roulette, except with the huge bonus of getting to stay alive. And you get to keep playing Uno for the rest of your life too, cuz you just got yourself 72 new cards.

Scrabble: If you play my mom's way, then everyone gets 10 tiles instead of seven. With ten tiles, the finished board looks like the work of geniuses instead of the average intelligence display that I'm so accustomed to producing. I might use 11 tiles next time, and then email a picture of the finished board to my eight grade English teacher. Wouldn't she be suprised.

Cinnamon Frosted Mini Wheats. They're just like Frosted Mini Wheats. Except they have cinnamon. Cinnamon Frosted Mini Wheats. With Cinnamon. On the Mini Wheats. I never thought I'd get so excited about mini wheats, but did I mention that these ones come with cinnamon?

Ireland: I should have about $1000 saved for our trip by now. Except I keep stealing from myself. But I usually put back what I steal at some point, since I try to at least loosely keep the commandments.

And these Tacos. Well, not just these tacos. Any tacos. I can't get enough. But in all fairness, this is no ephemeral obsession. I think they must have put taco seasoning in the baby formula in the seventies. I'm hooked for life, an inveterate taco chomper. I think you'll love this version too, since it's ready in less than thirty minutes, is a great use of plain old pork chops, and comes with a zippy pineapple slaw. The word "zippy" is from the seventies too, in case you were wondering. What are your current obsessions this summer? Leave a comment and let me know what I should be hooked on next.

Money Saving Tips: I buy pork chops 2 for 1 at Albertson's. If large cans of crushed pineapple are cheaper than the itty bitty ones, buy a big can and throw the extra in your baked beans, zuchinni bread, or morning smoothie.

Pineapple Pork Tacos

Estimated Cost: $5.00 for four servings

1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, juice reserved

1/2 cup sour cream (If you use light, stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil)

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

juice of one fat lime

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1 lb. pork chops, about 3/4 inch thick

1 (6 ounce) bag coleslaw mix

1/3 cup sliced radishes

12 corn tortillas

1 tablespoon butter

Preheat grill for medium hot cooking. In a medium bowl, combine the JUICE of the pineapple, sour cream, chili powder, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove 1/4 cup of mixture and rub all over pork chops. Let stand for five minutes. Grill pork chops, about 4-5 minutes per side until only slightly pink in center. Let rest for five minutes, and slice into strips. Meanwhile, combine crushed pineapple with slaw and radishes and reserved sour cream mixture. (Grill tortillas about 1 minute per side and brush with butter and wrap tightly in tinfoil.) Assemble tacos with tortillas, slaw, and pork chops.

Up Next: Summer Thyme Corn Chowder