Monday, January 9, 2012

Cooking All Day

It's a new week.  School is back in session.  And I felt like cooking today.  What did I make?  Well, my daughter Gennifer called me the other day from Sam's Club because she was looking for a pork shoulder to make Pioneer Woman's Spicey Pulled Pork.  She could only find the great big two pack and decided not to get it.   I have had pulled pork on the brain since then.  I have done pulled pork in the crock pot before, and I liked it. But this beat the heck out of any I have ever had before.  Truly, a terrific recipe!   Usually I am a bit of rebel when it comes to following a recipe.  I change things around to suit our taste, using the recipe as a guide.  This calls for  a 5 to 7 pound pork shoulder.  I bought a 4 pound pork loin which worked just fine.  Not the small tenderloins you usually buy in a two pack, this was one large whole piece of meat.  The rest I followed pretty much as written, except I was out of white wine vinegar and used sherry vinegar.
The recipe for the Spicy Pulled Pork  is as follows:
One 5 to 7 pound pork shoulder
1 onion, quartered
4 cloves garlic, peeled ( I used about 8 )
1 T chili powder, 2 tsp. ground cumin, 1 tsp. dried oregano, 1-2 T salt, to taste, freshly cracked pepper
1/2 cup brown sugar ( I used dark, it has a much richer flavor)
3 T olive oil
2 T white wine vinegar ( I used sherry wine vinegar )
Lime wedges, flour tortillas
Preheat oven to 300.  Using Cuisinart, blend onion, garlic, spices, sugar, olive oil, and vinegar until smooth.   Set roast into dutch oven or roaster, and rub mixture over roast, covering all sides.   Add 2 cups water, put lid on pot and let cook in oven for 6 to 7 hours.  Her recipe says to turn every hour.  I did turn once, but it was so tender that it just broke apart, so I didn't turn it anymore.  I checked mine at about 5.5 hours, since my roast was a bit smaller.  It was quite tender and ready to finish off.  To finish, increase heat to 425 and uncover roast for about 20 minutes, or until it is brown and crispy.  Remove from oven, letting pork rest about 15 minutes.  Then, taking two forks, shred the meat.  It will shred very easily,  Her recipe says to lay shredded meat onto platter, pouring juices over top and with fresh lime wedges around platter and serve with warm flour tortillas.  I left mine in the pan, shredding meat, and the juices were absorbed into meat.  I served it on large warm tortillas with a little bit of refried beans, and crisp shredded cabbage, with plenty of fresh lime squeezed onto top.  It was TO DIE FOR DELICIOUS!!  I mean...as my husband calls anything that is outstanding, "CRAZY GOOD!"  Here is what it looked like after cooking for 5 1/2 hours, and before shredding it.
 Here is the pot of pork all shredded.
 And here is how we had them, served in tortillas, burrito style, with shredded cabbage and beans and lots of fresh lime juiced squeezed onto it.
My husband and I both agreed that this was by far and away the best pork we have ever had!!!  Melt in your mouth delicious, and packed with flavor!  Wow!  I can't wait to get Ree's next cookbook!!!  I have made lots of things from her first one, and loved just about everything.  A lot of what she makes is good old fashioned home style cooking.  The kind I grew up on. My Mom cooked much the same way, and so do I.  There are some excellent recipes in her book, so if you don't have it yet, I recommend it highly!
After the pork came out of the oven, I made another batch of homemade granola.  There are so many recipes out there for this.  It is easy, and WAY cheaper to make it than to buy it. I start with whole oats. Some of my favorite things to add or chopped pecans, chopped almonds, coconut (although I didn't have any today ) and dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin seeds, and/or spice.   I use about 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and have also used agave syrup.  I like to add fresh vanilla, and dried cherries, cranberries, or other dried fruits. 

I keep it in a pretty jar on my counter and add it to my yogurt every day. 
Then I had a hankering for chocolate chip cookies.  My neighbor Sue gave me this new paddle for my Kitchen Aid mixer that has a rubber scraping attachment to it.  I love it.  It keeps scraping the bowl for you, keeping the dough all together.  This is the attached card that it came with.
 See the rubber sides that meet the edge of the bowl to scrape it?  It works great!!!
One of my many cute rooster dishes, holding two fresh eggs that Noah had just brought in from the coop for me. 
I made the dough, and then put it in Tupperware to make the cookies tomorrow.  I got tuckered out. 
Feels great to get back to having some routines again.   We are still having incredibly beautiful weather here in So. California.  Yesterdays gusty winds made for crystal clear skies today.  I can't imagine it will last too much longer, but for now we are enjoying this outside weather.  Surely there is some rain and colder weather in our future!!
See you soon.
XO  Kris

19 comments:

Teresa Kasner said...

Two night owls? Hoooooot!! What a busy bee you are! I went to a DAR meeting today and then went swimming for an hour. I've been relaxing ever since. :-)
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Unknown said...

Wow, what a busy gal! That granola looks wonderful! So do your girls...eggs!

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Wow Wee, you are a cooking machine! It all looks GREAT and such lovely comfort food! I'll be right over.
xoRobin❤

Holly said...

I made her pulled pork a couple of months ago and you're right, it was crazy good! Now I want it again. Brian loves chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk before bed so I mixed up a huge batch of them. I make enough dough for about 4 dozen cookies and then I freeze them in 1 dozen batches. I can just bake one batch at a time without having to mix and measure again. The temps here are back into the mid sixties and the mornigns are sooo cold but I'm thinking we have one more really cold spell coming before it starts to warm up for good.

Sunny Simple Life said...

Where did you find the blade? I looked at Macy's the other day and couldn't find one.

NanaNor's said...

Hi Kris, That's alot of cooking but everything looks so good. One of these days, I'll have to try my own Granola. We have friends that give us a huge bag every Christmas and I love it but it doesn't have any dried fruit it in. Also love the new beater you got for your K.A.
We are having the most wonderful weather-so spring like but snow if due tomorrow. Hope you have a great Tuesday.
Hugs, Noreen

deb said...

ok..that pork looks so good Im gonna make it SOON!!! I have her book too and everything I have tried is yummy!!!!! I made her cinnamon rolls for Christmas!

Charlee said...

Kris- I don't sell anything I knit! I use them as gifts for family though and my aunt asked for an infinity for her up coming trip in late spring with the Crovette club. THough it is a crochet pattern I bet I could work it into a knitting pattern! My email is c.pensak@verizon.net

Wow you are a cooking woman! I still want to learn more I am on the hunt for a cooking class out my way to add to my skills!

everyday katie said...

Pulled pork is now on my grocery list for next week. That looks divine.

I've never made homemade granola but it's been on my mind lately. I think I better cross that off my to do list. Looks yummy.

Heather - The Good Life said...

You were busy-busy with all your cooking. It all sounds great. I've made shredded pork before, but usually "cheat" and use the crockpot seasoning packet to do it. I'd like to try making granola, but would need to find a low fat recipe. Have a great day Kris. Heather

Nicolle said...

I am usually a rebel when it comes to recipes as well. :) I change things up, rarely actually measure anything, etc. That pork does look to die for! You are giving me so many delicious recipe ideas. I have also wanted to make granola for a while now. Yum! Enjoy your day. :)

Kerri said...

Oh man! Now I need to run out and get the indredients for this recipe! We tried your recipe from last week (the roast and peppercini) and it was AWESOME!!!! We loved it! Can't wait to try this one! Thanks for sharing!

Naomi said...

That pork looks great! I use the pork sirloin roasts from Costco for dishes like that - they are a little cheaper and also very lean.

Linda said...

Everything looks wonderful...you are a cooking machine!! I usually make the pork in the crock pot...I'll have to try it this way...sounds yummy!!

Ivy and Elephants said...

Hi!
Just found your blog and already I feel at home. That pulled pork sounds way good! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I might even make some off that yummy granola now that you told me I can put it in a pretty jar on the counter! LOL
Patti

Unknown said...

I'm always late to the party. Just look at all those yummies. We tonight are trying Champagne Corn Beef. Bet you haven't heard of that. Well, I only had two glasses on NYE and the bottle was in the frig. So, instead of water, I poured in the Champagne so the bottle could go out tonight in the recycleables. We shall see. Now, about that blade. I totally want one now.

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

OH my goodness...that looks SO delicious! I love all of her recipes...I have to try it!

Val said...

All of a sudden I'm starving!!! YUM

Stacey said...

All I have to say is... Yummmm!!! To everything :)