Archive for the "Family Table" Category
Jul31

Slow Cooker Recipe – Pulled Pork

Posted at 10:46 AM • View Comments

Of all the barbecue sauces on the market, Sean likes Kraft original barbecue sauce.

When he told me that, part of me — the part that enjoys Michelin star dining — died and the other part let out a sigh of relief.  Making dinners for such a laid back guy is truly a blessing. I have absolutely no stress when I cook.

When we first started dating, I asked him if there were any dishes he’d like me to make and one of them needed a Crock Pot to create. A few weeks ago Crock Pot sent me their five quart programmable countdown slow cooker and I set out to make the second dish I’ve ever made using a Crock Pot slow cooker.

This time I would be making pulled pork using Kraft Original barbecue sauce.

It’s a pretty easy recipe so I thought I’d share it with you since I’ve now made this pulled pork slow cooker recipe twice.

Place a three pound pork shoulder in the slow cooker. It cost about $6 in my Manhattan supermarket so I have a feeling it will cost less in your part of the country. The recipe said boneless but both times I picked up bone-in pork shoulder.

Add an 18 oz bottle of barbecue sauce to the pork shoulder.

Add the juice from a medium orange

Cover the pork and set the timer. The first time I did 8 1/2 hours on low because the pork was bone-in. Second time, I did 8 hours on low despite it being bone-in and a four and a half pound pork shoulder. 8-10 hours is recommended for a three pound boneless pork shoulder.

Once the timer is off, use two forks to shred the pork.

Toast hamburger buns and add mayo to them if you want (we didn’t). Put pulled pork on the buns. We made seasoned fries and corn as the sides for our sandwiches.

The first time I made the recipe, I used Kraft original barbecue sauce.  The second time (after Sean asked his best friend what his favorite barbecue is) I picked up Sweet Baby Ray’s original barbecue sauce. I found it in my supermarket.

Both times, I really wanted a kick to the sauce but I know its best to use the original version of a sauce when trying a recipe for the first time. (Especially an award winning one like Sweet Baby Ray’s) Next time I think I will be choosing the barbecue sauce myself and I’m going to look for one with a bit of a kick.

Anyone want to recommend a barbecue sauce to me?

Sep2

Hibachi Time

Posted at 3:32 PM • View Comments

Seriously who made the rule that on my mother’s birthday we must go to a three Michelin star rated restaurant.

OK… that’s pretty much a rule my mother and I have followed almost since my birth. BUT… this year, I have taken it upon myself to shake things up a bit. I managed to convince my mother that this year her birthday should be spent at Benihana.

For reals.

Now before you comment on how selfish I am … I ask you.. where else would you see such cute pictures?

luke-at-benihanasharrison at benihana

So in a way, I’m providing my mother with a different dining experience from the norm with her cute grandchildren.  (Miss Nat isn’t pictured above because she was busy working on the Sudoku puzzles inside the Benihana hat and wouldn’t look up for the camera.)

And one thing you don’t get at a Michelin star restaurant is entertainment for three children seven and under.

The kids were entertained by Hibachi Chef KAM who not only played with the food before the kids ate it -

benihana fried rice

But he managed to entertain my grandmother who was entranced with how much he resembled my great grandmother. Seriously. According to my grandmother.

benihana-chef-kam

But wait… I realized something and then asked my grandmother to clarify her statement -

moi: You mean the hostess looks like your mother right grandma?

grandma: No this man right here cooking for us.

And my mother confirmed.

So there you have it, by going to Benihana yesterday, we may not have dined on slow baked nova scotia halibut with chanterelles but we did learn my great grandmother looked like a man, baby. A man! And that is why I will never forget my mother’s hibachi birthday celebration.

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