Slow Cooker Pepper Pork Chops - Alton Brown

Ingredients

• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons black peppercorns, slightly crushed
• 1 pound ice
• 4 (1- to 1 1/2-inch thick) bone-in pork chops
• 3 ounces dried apple slices
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme