Tray Baked Pork Chops with Herbey Potatoes, Parsnips and Pears

Ingredients

• 4 medium to large parsnips
• 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, scrubbed and sliced
• 4 pears, firm
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Handful fresh thyme
• 8 to 10 cloves garlic, skins left on
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon, zested
• 4 pork chops

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a large tray in the oven to heat while you prepare your vegetables. Wash and slice the parsnips into quarters lengthwise then slice the scrubbed potatoes into 1/2-inch thick pieces and wash and slice into quarters lengthwise and add to the roasting tray. Dry them with kitchen paper, then place the parsnips, pears, and potatoes in a bowl and coat lightly with olive oil. Add some chopped or pounded thyme, all the garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Then place in the hot tray to cook in the oven for 5 minutes.

While the vegetables are in the oven, rub some thyme, lemon zest and seasoning onto the chops. Then place them in the tray with the parsnips and potatoes and add the pears. Cook for around 30 minutes until the meat is tender and the vegetables are golden.