Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork, easily one of my favorite go-to game day or party meals.  A dish you can prepare ahead of time and have all the time to spend with your guests and watching the game!

Here's what you need...............

Pork butt {shoulder} roast.  This one was around 4 pounds.  I trimmed as much of the fat off of it as I could.  Placed it in the slow cooker.

I then mixed the ingredients above as per directions on the back of the McCormick package (see below) and poured it over the top of the pork butt covered it and set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours.

Here's the ingredients of the McCormick's package, in case you're interested.

After 8 hours, it looks like this.

Then I shredded the entire thing with two forks.  At this point, the pork butt roast just falls apart.  Mix it all up really well and serve.

I served it up on hamburger buns.  Yum!

Top with your favorite cheese.

Hope you get a chance to try this easy, delicious recipe.

Easy Pulled Pork

1 pork butt (shoulder) roast...about 3-4 pounds in size

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup cider vinegar

Trim fat off the pork roast.  Place in slow cooker.  Mix all ingredients and pour over the top of roast and cover.  Cook - Set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.  After finished cooking, shred pork with two forks and return to slow cooker and mix and heat with the sauce before serving.  You can also just leave the pulled pork in the slow cooker, on the 'warm' setting all afternoon!  Enjoy!

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Easy Warm Beer and Cheddar Dip

Need a quick and tasty appetizer for your New Year's party??  Coleman's has come up with this delicious looking Warm Beer and Cheddar Dip that uses Coleman's Dry Mustard Powder.  Super simple and I know it'll please a crowd!  

Warm Beer and Cheddar Dip

Ingredients

1 tsp Colman’s Dry Mustard Powder

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

12 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup milk Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

3/4 cup ale or darker beer

Toast points, crostini & crudites for serving

Hot sauce, to taste 

Preparation

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and beer, increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the mustard, Worcestershire and hot sauce and cook, whisking occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes.

Working in batches, add the cheese in large handfuls, whisking until each batch has completely melted before adding more. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately with toast points, corstini and crudites for dipping. Makes about 2 cups.

Recipe courtesy of Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

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Corn and Avocado Salsa!

Here's a twist on your guacamole/salsa recipe...Corn and Avocado Salsa.  Perfect for your Memorial weekend party.  Fresh, healthy, chunky and devine looking.  Throwing some black beans in the mix might be a fun twist as well!

Photo and recipe courtesy Pillsbury

Corn and Avocado Salsa

Ingredients

1

can (11 oz) Green Giant™ SteamCrisp® Mexicorn® whole kernel corn, red and green peppers, drained

1

medium tomato, seeded, chopped

2

medium green onions, sliced (2 tablespoons)

2

tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2

tablespoons fresh lime juice

1

tablespoon olive or vegetable oil

1/4

teaspoon garlic salt

1/4

to 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

1

medium avocado, pitted, peeled and coarsely chopped

1

bag (5 oz) Green Giant™ garden ranch roasted veggie tortilla chips

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Drunken Meatballs

Drunken Meatballs......no no, I'm not talking about family members, but in the heat of the holiday party season, tasty, easy and simple party recipes are in high demand at my house.  Here's one I could not pass up!  Drunken Meatballs.

This easy holiday recipe is from the Quick Meal Queen, Natashja Szortyka.  Quick and easy.  Your guests will LOVE them!

Drunken Meatballs
38.4 oz. bag Mama Lucia      Mini-Size Meatballs 1 c. ketchup 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup whiskey
Put all four ingredients in a slow cooker and heat on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours.

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Healthier Caramelized Onion, Gruyere & Bacon Dip

I could snack my way through the day without really eating a full meal...especially on party days like this upcoming Super Bowl Sunday.  I also like to cut calories when at all possible without giving up on flavor.  Check out what I found for the 'Best of the Web' for this week!

Cooking Light's, Caramelized Onion, Gruyere and Bacon Dip.  Lower in fat, I'm confident this dip will leave you completely satisfied without sacrificing any flavor...

Serve with your favorite crusty bread, crackers or chips.

photo courtesy Cooking Light

Caramelized Onion, Gruyere and Bacon Dip

Ingredients

·         Cooking spray

·         3 1/2 cups chopped onion 

·         2 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded and divided

·         2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, divided

·         1/3 cup canola mayonnaise 

·         1/3 cup fat-free sour cream 

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         1/4 teaspoon black pepper

·         3 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled 

·        Directions

1.     1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2.     2. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan lightly with cooking spray. Add onion to pan; sauté 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low; cook 20 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.

3.     3. Reserve 2 tablespoons cheese. Combine remaining cheese, caramelized onion, 1 tablespoon chives, and the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Transfer the mixture to a 1-quart glass or ceramic baking dish coated lightly with cooking spray. Sprinkle with reserved 2 tablespoons cheese. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon chives.

Amount per serving

·         Calories: 101

·         Fat: 6.8g

·         Saturated fat: 1.9g

·         Monounsaturated fat: 2.9g

·         Polyunsaturated fat: 1.3g

·         Protein: 4.2g

·         Carbohydrate: 5.3g

·         Fiber: 0.7g

·         Cholesterol: 12mg

·         Iron: 0.2mg

·         Sodium: 236mg

·         Calcium: 97mg

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How to make Easy Cake Pops

This past weekend we participated in our annual 4H BBQ and fundraiser where our club set up a few workshops on how to judge rabbits, cows, cavies, woodworking, etc.  I'm a cooking group co-leader for our club so my co-leader, Karen and I decided it would be fun for the kids to dip and decorate their own cake pops at the event.

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