Mini Pork Rack with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

Real Simple, one of my favorite magazines, has a Valentine's Day dinner menu. You won't find many pork recipes on this blog, I just don't cook it very often with the exceptions of proscuitto & pancetta. This actually sounds wonderful & your Valentine would feel very special when you serve this up. (Especially if you did that in some saucy lingerie under your apron!)

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary, plus sprigs for garnishing
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 rack of two pork loin chops (about 1 1/2 pounds)
12 ounces (about 2 large) red-skin potatoes, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds
8 ounces green beans, stem ends removed

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and parsley. Reserve 2 tablespoons, and spread the remaining mixture over the pork rack. Place the pork on a plate, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use, up to 24 hours.

Heat oven to 450°. Heat a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over high heat. Using tongs to turn, brown the pork well on all sides, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. On one side of the pork, spread the potatoes in a single layer. Brush the potatoes with the reserved rosemary mixture. Pile the green beans on the other side of the pork and turn them to coat with the fat from the skillet.

Place skillet in oven. Roast for 10 minutes. Using tongs, turn the potatoes and green beans, and season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of a chop reads 165°.

Transfer the potatoes and green beans to a heat-proof bowl, cover, and place on top of the stove to keep warm. Transfer the pork to a plate, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and allow to rest 20 to 30 minutes.

Using a sharp knife, slice in between the bones of the pork rack to create two chops. Place the chops on a platter with the potatoes and green beans on the side. Spoon some of the pan juices over the pork and garnish with sprigs of rosemary. Serve with a medium-bodied red wine.