Pork & Fig-Butter Pan Sauce

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Medium dice the potatoes. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Separate the kale leaves from the stems; discard the stems, then roughly chop the leaves. Roughly chop the dried figs. In a bowl, whisk together the fig spread, half the vinegar, and 1/3 cup of hot water; stir in the chopped figs.

Add the diced potatoes and half the chopped garlic to the pot of boiling water. Cook 17 to 19 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Add the crème fraîche; season with salt and pepper. Using a fork or potato masher, mash to your desired consistency. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover to keep warm.

Meanwhile, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the remaining chopped garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until slightly softened. Add the chopped kale and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly wilted. Add the remaining vinegar (carefully, as the liquid may splatter) and 1/2 cup of water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the kale is wilted and the liquid has cooked off. Transfer to a bowl. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover with foil to keep warm. Wipe out the pan.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season on both sides with salt, pepper, and the spice blend. In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned chicken. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a cutting board.

*The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 165°F for chicken.

To the pan of reserved fond, add the sauce (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly and scraping up any fond, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Turn off the heat and stir in the butter until melted and combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Slice the cooked chicken crosswise. Serve the sliced chicken with the mashed potatoes and cooked kale. Top the pork with the finished sauce. Enjoy!