pulled pork

summer has me (and i'm sure you) running all over the place. bopping from pool to pool, and yoga class to cake delivery is definitely taking a tole on my time at home. which has taken a tole on my cooking time. but busy times like these are when i start to crack into 'set it and forget it' recipes. and this is my absolute go to. even better, it easily feeds many people and is GREAT for parties. 

we like to serve the pulled pork in tacos, but you could easily slap some on top of a tasty salad or make up some sliders. have left overs? no problem. try a pulled pork omelette or pork breakfast nachos with some cheese, chips, pulled pork and pico de gallo

pulled pork
serves: 6-8
prep time: 8-12 hours
active time: 30 minutes
braising time: 8 hours
total time: 20 hours
ingredients: 1 4-6lb bone in pork butt or pork shoulder (same thing, multiple names, also sometimes called boston butt). 3 tbs salt (divided). 2 tbs fresh ground pepper (divided). 1 tsp paprika. 1 tsp cumin. 1 tsp chili powder. .5 tsp cayenne pepper. 2 tbs olive oi1 small brown onion, diced. 3 garlic cloves, smashed and roughly chopped. 1 15 oz can of pineapple chunks. .25 cup brown sugar. 2 bottles darker mexican beer (i used negro modelo). 1 chile de arbol. 1 quart chicken stock. dutch oven. baking sheet + wire rack that fits on top of it. 

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start by combining 2 tbs of salt, half the garlic, cayenne, paprika, chili powder and cumin together. pat the pork dry and place it on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet. season the outside of the pork all over with the spice rub. place the pork in the fridge overnight, uncovered so it gets nice and dry. when you are ready to cook, turn your oven on to 230 degrees f. 

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place the dutch oven on your stove and turn on the heat to medium high heat. add in the olive oil and when it is nice and hot and in the onions and garlic. saute until the onions are just starting to brown. 6-8 minutes. 

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push the onions to the edges of the pot and add in your pork. sear each side of the pork until nicely browned. about 2 minutes a side. 

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when the pork has been seared on all sides and has a nice browned exterior, pour in the beer, pineapple, chicken stock, chile de arbol and brown sugar. stir well, cover and place in the oven. cook low and slow for 8 hours. 

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after 8 hours, remove the pork from the braising liquid. be careful, it will be so tender it may fall apart.

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 using your tongs or some forks, gently shred the pork and remove the bone. drizzle a cup or so of some of the yummy braising liquid over the pork. devour as desired. 

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pulled pork
serves: 6-8
prep time: 8-12 hours
active time: 30 minutes
braising time: 8 hours
total time: 20 hours
ingredients: 1 4-6lb bone in pork butt or pork shoulder (same thing, multiple names, also sometimes called boston butt). 3 tbs salt (divided). 2 tbs fresh ground pepper (divided). 1 tsp paprika. 1 tsp cumin. 1 tsp chili powder. .5 tsp cayenne pepper. 2 tbs olive oi1 small brown onion, diced. 3 garlic cloves, smashed and roughly chopped. 1 15 oz can of pineapple chunks. .25 cup brown sugar. 2 bottles darker mexican beer (i used negro modelo). 1 chile de arbol. 1 quart chicken stock. dutch oven. baking sheet + wire rack that fits on top of it.
start by combining 2 tbs of salt, half the garlic, cayenne, paprika, chili powder and cumin together. pat the pork dry and place it on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet. season the outside of the pork all over with the spice rub. place the pork in the fridge overnight, uncovered so it gets nice and dry. when you are ready to cook, turn your oven on to 230 degrees f. place the dutch oven on your stove and turn on the heat to medium high heat. add in the olive oil and when it is nice and hot and in the onions and garlic. saute until the onions are just starting to brown. 6-8 minutes. push the onions to the edges of the pot and add in your pork. sear each side of the pork until nicely browned. about 2 minutes a side. when the pork has been seared on all sides and has a nice browned exterior, pour in the beer, pineapple, chicken stock, chile de arbol and brown sugar. stir well, cover and place in the oven. cook low and slow for 8 hours. after 8 hours, remove the pork from the braising liquid. be careful, it will be so tender it may fall apart. using your tongs or some forks, gently shred the pork and remove the bone. drizzle a cup or so of some of the yummy braising liquid over the pork. devour as desired. 

friyay happy hour: strawberry ginger margarita

i've been off the blog rails. but i'm getting back on track. after baking MANY fourth of july cakes, prepping and cooking for our fourth of july bash and teaching the morning of the fourth, i needed some time to regroup. 

i am working most of the weekend, but i have some beautiful summer strawberries that i need to use, so i made some time to take a cocktail break with my husband before we both ran off to work. wes loves margaritas (who doesn't) and i'm always looking for new ways to spice it up for him. this combo ended up being the perfect mixture of sweet, spicy and summer cool. 

strawberry ginger margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 7 minutes
active time: 3
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. 1 oz triple sec. 1 oz strawberry puree (about 1 strawberry, just blended in the food processor). .5 oz lime juice. 1 tsp grated ginger (and whatever juice comes with it). 10 small basil leaves + a sprig of basil for garnish. 1 small strawberry for garnish. 1 cup ice. boston shaker. strainer. muddler. glass & ice for serving. 1 tsp sugar optional. 

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start by combining the lime juice, ginger and basil in the base of the glass part of your shaker. if you like your drink a bit sweeter now would be the time to add in the optional tsp of sugar. 

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muddle until the basil leaves are well broken up. 

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fill the other side of your shaker with ice, the tequila, triples sec and strawberry juice. pour in the muddled lime juice, basil and ginger. cover and shake until well combined. fill your glass for serving with ice and add your basil and strawberry garnish. 

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over the base of your shaker with the strainer and pour it over ice.

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 serve and enjoy!

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xo, a

strawberry ginger margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 7 minutes
active time: 3
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. 1 oz triple sec. 1 oz strawberry puree (about 1 strawberry, just blended in the food processor). .5 oz lime juice. 1 tsp grated ginger (and whatever juice comes with it). 10 small basil leaves + a sprig of basil for garnish. 1 small strawberry for garnish. 1 cup ice. boston shaker. strainer. muddler. glass & ice for serving. 1 tsp sugar optional.
start by combining the lime juice, ginger and basil in the base of the glass part of your shaker. if you like your drink a bit sweeter now would be the time to add in the optional tsp of sugar. muddle until the basil leaves are well broken up.
fill the other side of your shaker with ice, the tequila, triples sec and strawberry juice. pour in the muddled lime juice, basil and ginger. cover and shake until well combined. fill your glass for serving with ice and add your basil and strawberry garnish. cover the base of your shaker with the strainer and pour it over ice. serve and enjoy!