Rootbeer Pulled Pork

Louie, my naughty lobster, sneaked into the frame.    He watches everything I do in the kitchen.

•   3 – 5  pound pork roast
•   black pepper
•   salt
•   2 liter bottle of  root beer soda
•   Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce

Put a liner in your crock pot.  (Optional)  Otherwise, spray with PAM to make clean up a breeze.

Take a fork and deeply stab the roast all over (front, back, sides) so it will absorb the juices.  (click on movie at end of blog)

Mix up some black pepper and salt into the palm of your hand and rub it on all sides and ends of Wilbur.

Place the roast in the crock pot and pour in all the root beer soda that will fit.  Turn on the TV and catch up on the latest edition of “Fashion Police.”

Cook on high for 4 hours then reduce the crock pot setting to low and cook another 2 hours.  DO NOT REMOVE THE LID.

Pour the root beer soda out and discard.  Keep the roast in the crock pot.

Cut and remove the string from the pork roast and discard.

With two forks, flake and shred the pork.  It will literally just fall apart.

Add a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and mix it into the pulled pork.

Pulled Pork movie

Throw a heaping serving spoon of this schweeeet deliciousness on a hamburger bun to create the best pulled pork sandwiches you’ll ever taste.  This is just too easy to make.  There is nothing to clean up–especially if you use paper plates–and every bit is gobbled up.  Your guests will think you are Houdini in the kitchen.

What I love most is that a main dish like this gives me lots of time to prepare some fancy extras, like a corn and black bean relish and a big bowl of mustard potato salad made with Michigan potatoes and my farm fresh eggs.  For dessert, nothing but chewy gooey chocolate brownies will do!

Remember to stop and smell the flowers!

The Pig Whisperer

A city child came running into the farm house.  “No wonder that momma pig is so big!  There’s a bunch of little pigs under her, blowing her up.”

• (1)  Use scissors to cut the slab into 1-1/2″ sections.
• (2) Separate the sections in a frying pan, pop on a lid, and sizzle using medium heat.

• (3) Stir every so often.
• (4) Inhale deeply and let the aroma transport you to heaven and back.
• (5) Do not drain.  Watch and let it spark and pop in its own juices until a rich, deep crispy color is achieved.
• (6) Place finished pieces on a platter that is lined with a paper towel.  Enjoy!

De-Vinely Delicious

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup    (for dummies)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Use an 11×17″ baking sheet.  Fill it with tomatoes that are cored and halved.  I use a combo of Roma and red ripe ones (about 2.5 lbs).

Dump the roasted mixture into a big stock pot, including any liquids on the baking sheet.  To this add:  3 cups of chicken broth (I use Knorr in the little cups), and 1/2 stick unsalted butter.  Simmer 20 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves and puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth.  Alternative method:  puree in food processor.  Then add 3/4 cup heaving whipping cream and stir.  D O N E

Taco Salad Shells

Just saw this nifty trick on facebook!

I like to fill my shells with taco meat, shredded lettuce and cheese, black beans, corn, diced tomato,  and top it all off with sour cream.

Putting all the ingredients in the middle of the table, letting everyone customize their own salad makes each person happy.  Never any leftovers!

Another idea is to fill the crispy shells with diced ham, hard boiled egg, bacon pieces, spinach and romaine lettuce, and slivered almonds or cashews.  Top with ranch dressing.

Juice Pops

Dear Ben and Jerry,

It has been great over the years, but we’re through. You didn’t do anything wrong, it is me that has changed. I’ve been growing. I’m all done looking at a pint of ice cream and gaining ten pounds. It’s been real and it’s been fun, but it hasn’t been real fun–my pants don’t fit.

I’ve found someone new.  Mr. Juicer.   No more hiding out in a closet for a quickie. I’m going green (and red, and orange, and purple) with frozen juice pops!   These cold, sweet treats are full of nutrients and fun.  Admit it, I get points for using nutrients and fun in the same sentence.

Pass the Pineapple, Cherry, & Orange

My new favorite summer treat to make is homemade frozen fruit juice pops. Throw in a big carrot for good measure. Get yourself a lean, mean juicing machine and create new combinations all you want, guilt free.

I have to thank my cousin, Sandy, for introducing us.  She told me Mr. Juicer was interested in experimenting and would work with the touch of a button.   Now I make my own Cherry Garcia using my own cherries from the trees on our farm.  Our side yard has a mature grape vine that is loaded with seedless green grapes.  The strawberries and raspberries have already come in.   My pear tree is producing and I see blueberry bushes in my future this fall.

Just looking at these pops gets me excited.  “I’ll take two.”