CROCK POT PORK AND APPLES

A few months ago, I tried Katy's recipe for "Simply Great Chicken" at Food for a Hungry Soul. The sauce was excellent, so I decided to try it with pork. The inspiration for today's post comes from that recipe with a nod to my cooking buddy Katy!!
2 pound LEAN pork roast
½ cup brown sugar
.7 ounce DRY Good Seasons Italian dressing
¼ teaspoon black pepper
pinch of red pepper flakes (or to taste)
2 large granny smith apples

Trim the roast of all big fat. I used a 2 pound sirloin pork roast that was ultra-lean. Cut it into 2" cubes. Peel and core the apples and cut them into large chunks. Toss everything together well and place in a crock pot that you have sprayed with vegetable spray.

Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, depending on how large your meat cubes are. Stir the meat and sauce a few times during the cooking time.

After the mixture has cooked for about 4 hours, the apples will start to break down and turn into something like an applesauce-gravy. Sounds strange, but it is delicious. Pork is done when it is fork tender. Serve over rice.

NOTE: If you use more than a two pound pork roast, add enough apples to equal one large apple per pound of pork.

NOTE: The .7 ounce packet of DRY Good Seasons brand Italian salad dressing comes in several varieties. Make sure you use the "regular style" one. Mix the dry powder with the brown sugar and spices.