Marked Hoosier: Coca Cola Recipies???

Oh be still my heart... is there more we can do with Coca Cola than just drinking it???

(I should point out I am a Coca Cola collector, or I was. I have a collection of glasses, straw dispense, watch, bears, little bottles, sheets, etc. Yes, I am weird. Deal with it.)

You can find Coca Cola recipies here at INtake, a magazine from the Indianapolis Star.

The red-and-white can has long allured caffeineophiles. But Coke is good for more than just drinking. You can eat it, too.

"Coca-Cola has become such a part of our heritage, that it's no surprise, over the years, that people have become creative and developed ways to use Coca-Cola as an ingredient in tasty appetizers, entrees and desserts," said Phil Mooney, archivist for The Coca-Cola Company.

"Today people frequently use Coca-Cola and other great beverage products from The Coca-Cola Company to enhance many dishes and delight their friends and family with recipes that range from French toast to pork chops to chocolate cake."

With the Coca-Cola-sponsored Circle City Classic in town this week, try some of these tasty treats.

Pause for a break for my post-collapsing software. :)

Lemony-honey glazed pork chops

Ingredients:

3 cups Diet Coke with Lemon®

4 (about 1 3/4 pounds) pork chops, bone-in, cut to 3/4-inch thickness, about 7 ounces each, trimmed

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked

1/4 cup coriander seeds, whole

4 teaspoons olive oil

1 garlic clove, smashed

1 cup water

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon coriander seeds, whole, crushed

1 lemon, medium, peel and pith removed, sliced into 16 1/8-inch slices

Directions:

Reduce diet cola in a saucepan over medium-high heat to 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Set aside. Season pork chops with salt and black pepper. Place coriander seeds onto a plate or other flat surface. Coat the edges of the pork chops by gently pressing into coriander seeds.

Pour olive oil into a skillet and heat over medium. When hot, add chops and cook until golden brown, about five minutes. Turn chops over and continue cooking until second side is golden brown and pork is cooked through, four to five minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm.

Prepare glaze by adding garlic and water to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, scraping the drippings. Add cola reduction, bay leaf, lemon juice, honey and crushed coriander. Stir, return to a simmer, and reduce to a light glaze, about six to eight minutes. Remove garlic and bay leaf. Dip pork chops in the glaze and serve with lemon slices. Serves four.