LABOR OF LOVE Pulled Pork

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57424264-503544/keystone-aside-labor-shows-obama-love/

LABOR OF LOVE Pulled Pork

A north Carolina classic...very little labor is needed to prepare this meal, and everyone will love it.

1/4 cup each packed brown sugar, paprika
1 Tbsp. each garlic powder, onion powder
1 tsp. each Kosher salt, cayenne pepper and ground cumin
1 boneless pork roast (4 to 5 lbs.)
Soft rolls for making sandwiches

Combine spices in small bowl.  Rub all over surface of meat.  Wrap meat tightly in plastic and refrigerate overnight.

Remove plastic and place meat in slow cooker.  Cook on HIGH 4 to 6 hours or LOW 8 to 10 hours or until fork tender.  Remove from slow cooker and let cool, loosely covered with foil, 20 minutes.  Shred meat, discarding any  fat as you go, using gloved hands or 2 forks.  Return meat to juices in slow cooker and heat on HIGH 20 minutes or until heated through.

Serve on soft, fresh rolls.

Tip:
This is a great idea when you're having a crowd of people.  Start it early in the morning, and once it's done, keep it warm in the slow cooker (some slow cookers have a WARM setting, which is ideal, but LOW will suffice).

BLT (Bush NOT Leaving Texas)

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2012/07/20/bush-43-skip-gop-convention

Would YOU leave the comfort of Texas for the GOP convention in Tampa Bay?

Bush NOT Leaving Texas

Makes 3 servings

This Italian-twisted BLT loves to be center stage. 

1 French demi-baguette (8 oz.)

3 Tbsp. mayonnaise

1 garlic clove, minced

6 slices crisply cooked bacon

1 tomato, halved and sliced

1 cup arugula leaves

4 oz. ball fresh mozzarella, sliced

Salt and pepper

Split bread loaf almost all the way through, creating a hinge.  Spread bottom half of bread with combined mayonnaise and garlic.

Layer bacon, tomato, arugula and mozzarella over mayonnaise.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.  Cut into thirds and serve.

Bush II, Dubya, 43

Shameful Service Pulled Pork

The name says it all.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-scandal-and-alleged-prostitution-inquiry-began-with-night-of-partying/2012/04/14/gIQAytztHT_story.html

Shameful Service Pulled Pork
Makes 12 sandwiches or 24 sliders
No worries...nobody will get into any trouble pulling this pork.

1 (5 lb.) bone-in pork shoulder (Boston Butt)

Dry Rub
Combine in small bowl and set aside (makes about 1 cup):

1/4 cup paprika

2 tablespoons each: salt, sugar, brown sugar, ground cumin and chili powder

1 Tbsp. each:  black pepper, ground red (cayenne) pepper

Sift dry rub over surface of meat.  With gloved hands, rub spices into meat until entire surface is well covered.  Place in large resealable plastic bag and refrigerate 12 to 24 hours.

Place meat in 5 to 6 qt. slow cooker.  Cook on HIGH for 3 hours, then reduce to LOW for 6 to 8 hours or until meat is fork tender.  Turn off slow cooker and let meat rest and cool at least 1 hour.  

On large cutting board pull meat apart into bite-size pieces using gloved hands or 2 forks (discard fat and bone).  Return meat to slow cooker set to WARM or LOW setting. 

Serve pulled pork right from the slow cooker with tongs.  Offer freshly baked rolls to make sandwiches. 

Tips: 

When you purchase your meat, make sure that the pork has a layer of fat on the bottom and a bone going halfway through it.


The dry rub is a bit spicy; if you prefer a less spicy rub, reduce cayenne to 1 tsp. or omit.


This is a great recipe to make ahead of time (1 or 2 days in advance).  Prepare as directed, then store cooked meat separate from juices in the refrigerator.  The fat will rise to the top of the juices, and it can be easily discarded for a healthier recipe when you reheat it (this also applies to leftovers).

Potential VP Applicant Pepper & Egg Sandwiches

Putting Marco Rubio on the ticket is widely seen as one of Romney's few existing plausible options for closing the GOP's favorability gap among Latino voters.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/29/rubio-im-not-going-to-be-the-vice-president/

Potential VP Applicant Pepper & Egg Sandwiches

Makes 6 servings


This could potentially be your favorite sandwich.

1 thin French or Italian baguette (8 oz.), split
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs

3 Tbsp. milk

1 red pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped

½ cup mild giardiniera, drained

1-1/2 cups lightly packed arugula leaves

Salt and pepper

Heat oven to 400°F. Combine olive oil and garlic.  Brush cut sides of bread with 3 Tbsp. mixture.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until crisp and golden brown on edges.


Mix together eggs, milk, roasted peppers and giardiniera.

Heat remaining oil and garlic in large nonstick skillet.  Add egg mixture; cook over medium heat 2 min.  Sprinkle with arugula and add salt and pepper to taste.  Cook 2 min. or until set, stirring occasionally.

Fill prepared bread with egg mixture.  Cut evenly into 6 sandwiches and serve immediately.


Tip:
Substitute 1/2 cup jarred roasted red peppers, drained and chopped, for red pepper that is roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped.

Grilled Peanut Butter, Banana & Bacon Sandwich

A tribute to Elvis A. Presley, SS No. 40-86-35-16, who on this day in 1958 reported to the Memphis Draft Board.  He served a couple of years in Germany and received his discharge orders in 1960. Thank you, Elvis, and to all who have served and are currently serving in the U.S. military.

Grilled Peanut Butter, Banana & Bacon Sandwich

A simple reminder that freedom isn't free.  

Makes 1 sandwich

2 slices soft white or wheat sandwich bread

3 Tbsp. peanut butter

1/2 banana, split in half lengthwise

2 slices bacon, crisply cooked

2 tsp. honey

2 tsp. butter

Cover bread slices evenly with peanut butter; top 1 slice with banana and bacon.  Drizzle with honey and top with second bread slice.  Spread outside of bread with butter.

Cook in skillet on medium heat until sandwich is golden brown on both sides.

Tip:
This goes down nicely with a glass of ice cold milk.


Note:
This is the 50th post on Kitchen Caucus.  Only 226 more posts until the general election on November 6, 2012!