Cooking pork with apples could be one of humanitys most ancient recipes. This combination appears in some of the oldest known cookbooks. Before that, though, long before people learned to write, people who lived in the Tien-Shan Mountains in Central Asia had access to both foods.
What is known today as Kazakhstans Sairam-Ugam National Park is home to incredible fruit trees. Their DNA has shown that they are the ancestors of the modern apple. In the fall, yellow, red, and green fruit tumble from their branches to the forest floor. Wild boars roam the wooded slopes of this nature reserve. Early people could have easily sat around an autumn fire and shared the day’s food, like apples picked from trees and a boar hunted with a simple spear tipped with a rock. They didn’t write down recipes on the walls of their caves, so archaeologists can only guess what they ate by looking at what they left in trash cans. No one will ever know if they ever combined boar with apples.
The more recent history of apples and pork is easier to figure out because European cooks started writing down their recipes around the fourth or fifth century AD. Early recipe books from the continent show how apples and pork were stewed together and how the fruit was sometimes crushed into sauces.
The quirky catchphrase “pork chops and applesauce” enjoys a unique place in American pop culture history. While the dish itself is straightforward, the origins of its associated phrase are more complex. Just who originally coined the memorable expression that became entwined with the classic sitcom The Brady Bunch?
Let’s take a nostalgic journey back in time to unravel the varied influences that shaped this iconic line.
A Traditional Meal Gets a Signature Phrase
Pork chops with applesauce has long been a beloved mealtime pairing. The tart sweetness of apples complements the savory chops beautifully. Some sources cite the dish being enjoyed as far back as the 1800s. An 1890 cookbook contained a recipe, indicating it was already a well-known combination.
The phrase “pork chops and applesauce” became forever linked to The Brady Bunch after an episode aired in 1971 called “The Personality Kid.” In it, Peter Brady impersonates Humphrey Bogart saying the line when asked what’s for dinner The moment struck a chord with audiences and quickly became the show’s most repeated quote.
But The Brady Bunch didn’t actually originate the saying Where did it come from before then?
Possible Literary and Theater Origins
While the Brady Bunch popularized the phrase on television, some clues point to earlier origins in theater and literature.
In the 1858 play Our American Cousin, a character says “apple sass” with roast pork, predating The Brady Bunch by over a century.
References are also found in the novels of renowned author Mark Twain. An 1868 book has a character requesting pork chops and apple sauce. This suggests the pairing was already familiar enough to be mentioned casually in popular fiction of the day.
So the phrase may have first emerged on the pages of classic American literature and on stage before being broadcast into living rooms nationwide.
Pork Chops and Applesauce as Nostalgic Americana
However the saying originated, it now evokes a touchstone of American culinary tradition. It conjures up nostalgic images of Norman Rockwell-esque families gathered for supper. The Bradys’ wholesome charm cemented pork chops and applesauce as a nostalgic symbol of home and comfort.
The line endures as classic Americana, conjuring up memories of homemade family dinners and simpler times. Even for later generations without firsthand knowledge of The Brady Bunch or old plays and novels, the phrase still rings familiar.
Its folksy, old-fashioned vibe transports us back to an idealized time of traditional family values. The Bradys gave the words new fame, but the meal’s timeless appeal was already widely established in America’s culinary landscape.
An Uncertain History, but Lasting Legacy
While the precise origins remain uncertain, “pork chops and applesauce” occupies a unique place in our cultural consciousness. The saying is referenced across all types of media, from songs to cartoons to movies.
The Brady Bunch undeniably propelled the phrase into pop culture celebrity. Still, it’s fun to imagine the different paths it traveled through literature, theater, and everyday conversations before becoming forever linked to the unforgettable Brady dinner table scene.
This beloved line will likely endure for generations as a quirky piece of Americana. Just like the comforting dish it has come to represent, “pork chops and applesauce” is a satisfying part of our shared traditions.
Pork and apple pie in German cookbook – 1350
Recipes with ingredients like bacon and apples appear in the first known German-language cookbook. It was written around 1350 and is called “The Book of Good Food” or “Das Buch von guter Spise.” Michael de Leone, a wealthy resident of Wurzburg, asked for a longer book to be written about how he ran his household. Some parts of the larger manuscript have been lost, but the recipe collection remains.
The book includes a recipe for “Heathen Cakes” or “Heidenische kuchen. When meat, bacon, apples, and eggs are wrapped in a thin crust, it’s hard to say what is wrong with it. Honestly, the combination sounds divine, but people in the Medieval Age had their own ideas about religion. Even though this recipe isn’t for pork chops and applesauce, it shows that cooks in the area often mixed the two.
Later in the ancient tome comes the recipe for “Apfelmus,” or apple puree. Cooks are told to chop apples and boil them. Then, mix in wine and beat in eggs. The text explains that this is a good filling, but doesnt say for what. Perhaps medieval cooks used it to stuff the roasted, filled young pig mentioned earlier in the cookbook. Whether or not they used it to dress pork, this is a precursor to modern applesauce.
Early mention in Danish cookbook – 1616
Æbleflæsk, or apple pork, is a traditional Danish dish, usually eaten around Christmas time. This dish is so important to Danish culture that the recipe for it is in one of the first cookbooks ever written, which was published in 1616.
“Koge-Bog,” the title of this early recipe collection, translates simply to “Cookbook. ” The book contains a recipe for eblegrød (applesauce) and instructions to prepare pork loin with apples. Read these and cut apples into quarters. Then, cook them in fat with pork that has been cut into small or large chunks. Cooks seasoned this dish with wine, saffron, ginger, pepper, and salt.
It is thought by the Ribe Viking Center that åbleflæsk is much older than the recipe book where it is first recorded. In fact, Vikings may have served this dish during their reign between 800 and 1050 AD. Archaeologists know they ate both pork and apples because of the things they found in their trash, but it’s harder to tell if they ate them together.
Peter Brady as Humphrey Bogart: ‘Porkchops & Applesauce’ | The Brady Bunch | TV Land
FAQ
Where does the term pork chops and applesauce come from?
Why do they say pork chops and applesauce?
Where did the phrase ‘pork chops and applesauce’ come from?
“Pork chops and applesauce” is a quote from the movie Little Shop of Horrors. In the movie, the character Seymour Krelborn (played by Rick Moranis) says the line to his boss, Mr. Mushnick (played by Jim Belushi), after being asked what his favorite meal is. Where did apple sauce and pork chops originate?
When did ‘pork chops & applesauce’ start?
The show, which ran from 1969 to 1974, was set in the then-contemporary era and dealt with issues that were relevant to the times. One of the most iconic episodes of the show is the “Pork Chops and Applesauce” episode, which aired in 1971. In this episode, the Brady kids are fighting over who gets to eat the last pork chop.
Where did apple sauce and pork chops come from?
Apple sauce and pork chops are two popular foods that have been around for centuries. Though their exact origins are unknown, there are several theories about where these foods came from. One theory suggests that apple sauce originated in China, where apples have been grown for over 4,000 years.
Which movie has the quote pork chops and applesauce?
The movie that had the quote pork chops and applesauce is the movie My Cousin Vinny. The character Vinny says the line when he is looking at the menu in a restaurant. Where did apple sauce and pork chops originate?