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).

REINVENT THE RECORD Bona Fide Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/opinion/the-hidden-subject-in-tampa.html?_r=1&ref=politics

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/08/29/765771/rice-obama-foreign-policy/?mobile=nc

Republicans don't want to talk about the fact that Obama KICKS THEIR ASS on foreign policy.  Just ask Condileeza.

REINVENT THE RECORD Bona Fide Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Makes 12 servings, 2 Tbsp. each

For the record, homemade dressing isn't difficult to prepare and it's wicked good.

Tossed with crisp hearts of romaine,
bacon, cucumbers and goat cheese

1 cup mayonnaise 
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. each: freshly chopped chives, parsley and dill
2 cloves garlic, minced 
1 Tbsp. minced shallot
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Whisk ingredients in medium bowl.  

Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to blend.

Tip:
If you want to use this as a dip, substitute sour cream for buttermilk and omit olive oil.

You can substitute half the amount of dried chives, parsley and dill.  You can also substitute 1/2 tsp. each garlic powder and onion powder for fresh garlic and shallot.

Great with fried chicken!  Or even SHAKE 'N BAKE!

THE PEOPLE PREVAIL Buckeye Bars

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120831/us-early-voting-dispute/

A federal judge has restored early voting, for everyone, in Ohio: 

"On balance, the right of Ohio voters to vote in person during the last three days prior to Election Day -- a right previously conferred to all voters by the State -- outweighs the State's interest in setting the 6 p.m. Friday deadline.'"

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/08/31/13592578-federal-court-restores-early-voting-in-ohio?lite

THE PEOPLE PREVAIL Buckeye Bars
Makes 30

This treat is an easy winner.

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
1 c. peanut butter
3 cups powdered sugar

8 oz. milk chocolate, broken into pieces

1 tub (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping

Combine first four ingredients in large bowl; mix well. Press into foil lined 13x9-inch pan.

Microwave chocolate and  whipped topping in microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 min.; stir. Microwave 15 to 30 sec. or until chocolate is melted; stir until well blended. Spread over peanut butter layer.

Refrigerate 2 hours. Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan before cutting to serve.

NO POLL TAX IN TEXAS Truffles

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/us/court-blocks-tough-voter-id-law-in-texas.html?_r=1&hp

NO POLL TAX IN TEXAS 
Truffles
Makes 16 truffles

Nothing is sweeter than the right to vote in a free country.


8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
Dutch-processed cocoa powder for rolling

Place the chopped chocolate in a medium sized glass bowl. Set aside. Heat the butter and cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until just boiling. 

Immediately pour cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 2 minutes. Stir with a rubber spatula until smooth.  If the chocolate doesn't melt completely, place in the microwave for about 20 seconds and stir until completely melted.  Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

Use a #70 scoop to measure out chocolate mixture by round tablespoonfuls; coat with cocoa powder.  Place on a parchment lined tray; cover and refrigerate until firm.  Enjoy with a glass of red wine!

Alternate Reality Ricotta Donuts

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/opinion/the-vacuum-behind-the-republican-political-slogans.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Nothing but lies coming from the GOP Convention.  Paul Ryan hasn't given a single clue how he would supposedly fix our nation's problems.  Duck and blame, duck and blame.  Coward.

Alternate Reality Ricotta Donuts (Sfingi)

Makes 6 dozen

No lie...these are amazing!

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2-1/2 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

4 eggs

½ cup sugar

1 lb. ricotta cheese

1 Tbsp. vanilla

Hot oil for deep frying

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together; set aside.

Beat eggs for 1 minute.  Add sugar and beat until well blended.  Add ricotta and vanilla and mix well.  Add dry ingredients until well blended (batter will be fairly thick).

Drop batter into hot oil by tablespoonfuls and fry 1 to 2 min. or until golden brown (depending on your pan or fryer size, you can make 6 to 8 at a time).  Drain on paper towels and roll in granulated sugar while they are hot.

Note:  
You can fry the sfingi in any oil that you like.  I prefer to fry them in Crisco because of the light texture, but canola oil also works well and is a healthier choice.

I like to use a #70 cookie scoop to portion out the batter into the hot oil.

BROU'D Basil-Mint Iced Tea

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80251.html?hp=f2

Is it just a coincidence that Brewer sounds like brouha 
(Spanish word for witch)?

Jan Brewer says that Democratic politicians are race-baiting and that Republican politicians are racists.  She's right on one account, but only to save her own ass with her largely Hispanic constituency.

BROU'D Basil-Mint Iced Tea 

Even nice folks will enjoy this yummy herb-infused tea.

4 cups boiling water

4 tea bags

10 mint leaves

10 basil leaves

1/2 cup maple syrup or honey

1 liter cold sparkling water

Pour water over tea, mint and basil in 2 qt. pitcher; let steep, covered, 5 minutes.

Remove tea bags.  Stir in maple syrup, then slowly add sparkling water.  Serve over ice. 

Hurricane Issac Punch

Hurricane Issac Punch
15 servings, 8 oz. each


Tasty as long as you're not on the Gulf Coast, but welcome if you're at the GOP convention.

1 bottle (750 ml) dark rum
1 bottle (750 ml) light rum
3 cups grenadine
3 cups orange juice
3 cups freshly squeezed lime juice

Mix all ingredients in 3-gallon punch bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

To serve, fill glasses with ice and punch.

Tips:
Garnish punch bowl and drinks with orange slices and maraschino cherries.

Prepare ice cubes or a ring of ice from some of the punch mixture and float on top of punch bowl to keep cool without diluting.