The phrase “apple sauce on pork chops” refers to the practice of serving apple sauce as an accompaniment to pork chops. While the combination may seem ubiquitous today, especially in American cuisine, the origin of the phrase is not entirely clear.
The History of Pork Chops and Applesauce
Pork chops and applesauce have long been paired together in various cuisines. Pork has a natural sweetness that complements the tart flavor of apples. Applesauce in particular works well as the apples’ texture provides a nice contrast to the chops.
The first known published recipe for pork chops with applesauce appeared in “The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book” by Fannie Merritt Farmer in 1896. The recipe calls for broiling pork chops and serving them with stewed applesauce.
Throughout the early 20th century, applesauce continued to be recommended as an accompaniment for pork in American cookbooks. In 1939, “Joy of Cooking” by Irma Rombauer suggested serving sauteed pork chops with tender tart applesauce. The 1951 edition also specified applesauce as the accompaniment for breaded pork chops.
The popularity of pork chops and applesauce expanded during World War II when meat was rationed. Applesauce helped to make the rationed pork chops seem more plentiful. In addition, apples were abundant during the fall harvest which coincided with pork slaughtering season. Serving pork with applesauce was an economical and practical combination.
Possible Origins of the Phrase
The precise origin of the phrase “apple sauce on pork chops” is not known. However, here are some theories on how it emerged:
Children’s Rhyme
One possible origin is that it came from a children’s rhyme or game. The rhyme “applesauce on pork chops” follows a similar cadence and rhyme scheme as other common children’s rhymes like “peanut butter on celery”. Children likely made up silly rhyming phrases like this for games long before the phrase appeared in print.
Advertising Slogan
Another theory is that the phrase originated from an advertising slogan promoting applesauce as a complement for pork chops. Canned and jarred applesauce became readily available in the 1920s. An applesauce company could have easily coined the catchy phrase for marketing purposes. However, no surviving advertisements using this phrase have been found.
Rhyming Reduplication
The phrase also employs a rhetorical device called rhyming reduplication where a phrase is repeated using rhyming words. The repetition of “pork chops” and “apple sauce” makes it very memorable. The rhyme scheme gives the phrase an almost singsong like quality. So it may have emerged organically from the language itself.
Early Use of the Phrase
While the exact origin is unknown, here are some of the earliest documented uses of the phrase “apple sauce on pork chops”:
- In 1935, a newspaper in Mansfield, Ohio published a piece titled “Apple Sauce on Pork Chops Again” about people relying on old solutions instead of new ideas.
- The September 1941 edition of the Reveille student newspaper of Texas A&M University mentioned students enjoying a meal of “apple sauce on pork chops”.
- In November 1941, the phrase was used in a figurative sense in an op-ed in the Russellville News-Democrat of Arkansas critiquing new taxes as “apple sauce on pork chops”.
These early uses suggest the phrase was already well known by the late 1930s and early 1940s when these articles assumed readers would understand the reference.
Pop Culture References
After World War II, the phrase “apple sauce on pork chops” was increasingly referenced in American pop culture, cementing its place in the American lexicon. Here are some notable examples:
Li’l Abner Comic Strip
In a September 1947 edition of the comic strip Li’l Abner set in rural Appalachia, Mammy Yokum declares: “Ah is savin’ up the apple sauce fo’ the pork chops!” This early pop culture usage brought the phrase into millions of reader’s homes.
The Honeymooners
In a 1953 episode of The Honeymooners titled “Ralph Kramden Inc.” Jackie Gleason’s iconic character Ralph Kramden excitedly tells his wife Alice he got a raise: “How’d you like to be married to the president of the National Association of Apple Sauce on Pork Chops?”
Tom Swifties Wordplay Genre
The phrase was also used humorously in Tom Swifties, a form of wordplay where an adverbial pun is appended to a quote for comedic effect. For example: “I’ll have apple sauce on pork chops,” Tom said gravely.
The Brady Bunch
A 1972 episode of The Brady Bunch called “The Liberation of Marcia Brady” references the phrase. Marcia becomes a radical feminist and refuses to do traditional women’s work including making apple sauce for pork chops.
The Phrase Today
While not as ubiquitous in pop culture today, the phrase “apple sauce on pork chops” is still used occasionally to invoke nostalgia or Americana:
- An October 2022 article in The Wall Street Journal on comfort food recipes is titled “Apple Sauce on Pork Chops in Trying Times.”
- The menu at Seattle restaurant Skål Beer Hall features a dish called “Classic American Pork Chop with Apple Sauce.”
- An article praising traditional American cooking in Cooking Light magazine says “Can you top the all-American delight of applesauce on pork chops?”
So while the precise origin is unknown, the legacy of “apple sauce on pork chops” lives on more than a century later as this classic food pairing maintains its place in American cuisine.
Conclusion
In summary, the origins of the phrase “apple sauce on pork chops” are uncertain but it likely emerged in America sometime in the early 20th century. The phrase brought together the popular culinary combination of pork chops with applesauce in a catchy rhyme. It became a mainstay in American pop culture especially after World War II. While not as pervasive today, the phrase still conjures nostalgia for classic American fare. So next time you pour applesauce on your pork chops, appreciate the tasty tradition behind this enduring food pairing.