BBQ Pulled Pork

I have been using my slow cooker for dinner many nights to keep the heat out of the kitchen from using the oven. I'm sure many of you are doing the same.

It's just hot!

But here in Idaho, that changes constantly. One day last week it was scorching and the next I wanted to turn on the heater, but resisted. It kinda gets on my last nerve. I love when it rains, though. It helps our grass look so pretty and the garden veggies just love it, and our wheat crops are happy. I just would like a perfect medium with a good rain once a week. 

Is that too much to ask for?

Today I have one of those slow cooker recipes that is great for a picnic potluck as well as around the family dinner table.

Ingredients

1 boneless pork shoulder or butt roast (3-4 lbs.)

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp.paprika

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. ground red pepper

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 (18 oz.) bottle of your favorite BBQ Sauce

1/2 c. brown sugar (I left this out because Lance doesn't like sweet meat.)
buns

How You Do It

Combine salt and spices in a small bowl. Rub over the roast. Place onion in the slow cooker; add pork. Combine BBQ sauce and brown sugar in a medium bowl; pour over the meat. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and trim any fat off. Using 2 forks, pull pork into shreds. Put back in the slow cooker and stir into the sauce. Serve on buns.

Printable Version

This may have been linked to these parties.

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Totally Tasty Tuesdays

Summer Vacation is in full swing.

We've been having cook outs in the mountains, working on the vegetable garden, eating outside on the picnic table {which is just so much fun to our kids for some reason}, and coming up are swim lessons, camping trips, Hannah trying out for our town's version of America's Got Talent {she's quite the singer, I tell you. Not biased at all, she's really good!}and the 4th of July festivites. Plus our kids' birthdays are June, August and September.

Busy, but in the most fun and good way possible.

How about you? Any fun plans for the summer?

There were oh so many delicious recipes linked up, thus all the features. I could have easily added more.

Here are this week's features...

The most viewed recipe:

Just Like KFC Oven Baked Chicken

from The Italian Bella Diaries

Other Faves...

S'mores Cheesecake

from Forkful of Comfort

No words needed.

Lego Men Cake Pops

from Pint Sized Baker

Note: Preston LOVES Legos and collects the little people. I showed him these and he totally wants me to make them. Maybe for his birthday. He's not the traditional cake and ice cream boy so these would be perfect!

Reese's Banana Bread 

from Something Swanky

Oh.really. Carbs and chocolate and peanut butter?

Neapolitan Cake

from Life as a Lofthouse

The prettiest thing I've seen! I just love this cake.

Marinated Steak with BLT Smashed Potatoes

from Baking with Blondie

Perfect summer dinner, right here.

Grab a button if you were featured...

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Our New Apartment: Design By Color

Create a budget-friendly built-in look with IKEA bookcases.

My mind is a wee bit toasted this happy June Monday. No Darling, I haven't been indulging in any fragrant mind-altering substances. I've been unpacking. I've been organizing (like a sixties housewife popping mother's little helpers). I've been making hundreds thousands one million micro-decisions. Important, earthshaking decisions. Like, where should we stow tea boxes? Chocolate? Quinoa flakes? And what drawer would be most convenient for the ice cream scoops? (Yes, I have three.) Where should the recycled aluminum foil and rolls of toilet paper go- you know, in a feng shui sense?

Because above all else, I am seeking calm. I am cultivating peace. I am inviting inspiration. Preparing for my muse. Opening to a new chapter in this winding road journey of ours, hurtling as we are, ever faster to our mortality (yes, another June birthday looms).

We have landed in Studio City on a quiet leafy street, where pajama clad neighbors walk their dogs early, sipping soy lattes and yawning to birdsong.

These are my people.

I haven't been cooking much (though I did bake some chocolate mint cupcakes for a certain son's birthday this weekend), which means I don't have a new recipe to share- yet. So I thought I'd share a few iPhone shots of our new living space. A quick peep into our new apartment. And just so you know?

I shelve my books by color.

Read more + get the recipe >>

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Recipe Re-Do: Zucchini & Chicken Stir Fry

I have been going back through my recipes and re-taking the photos for some of them. 

Like the way early recipes.

Like when I got really close to the food.

Too close. I'm not sure the food appreciated extreme close ups. I don't, myself.

Then Ashton asked if I would like to join in a Recipe Re-Do Blog Hop.

Perfect timing.

So at the end of the post, be sure to check out the other blogs who are giving a recipe or two some make overs. 

I am redoing is a summer favorite around my table. The original post only has one photo, which is fine, but I added more to this post because I wanted to. You can make this out camping in a dutch oven. I love it that way. The flavors are even better. But this time I made it in a skillet on the stove.

Ingredients:

oil

1 onion, chopped

1 or 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into chunks

zucchini, cut into chunks (I used 3 small)

1 can pineapple tidbits, drained

additional veggies like bell peppers, canned baby corn, water chesnuts, etc.

teriyaki sauce

rice

How You Do It:

Heat oil in skillet or dutch oven and add chopped onion. Cook a bit and then add the chicken. Cover and cook part way and add zucchini. 

Cover again and cook till zucchini and chicken are done. Add pineapple, additional veggies and teriyaki sauce. I buy this at Sam's Club. It's the Sweet and Savory Marinade & Cooking Sauce. I just pour some in and then add a little more so that it doesn't dry out in the fridge if you have leftovers.

Drain the pineapple juice and save it. I love this part...drink it up!

See the teriyaki sauce in there? That's how you want it to look. A little extra sauce for the rice.

Heat through. Serve over rice.

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Free Father's Day Card

I just made a Father's Day card for Lance from the kids on Shutterfly. 

Use the code: CARD4U to get a free 5x7 card for your dad. Just pay shipping (mine was $1)

I wrote "We {heart} DAD on their feet. So cute!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Here's the rest of the pics I used...

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White Chocolate Fruit Dip {and Pie Filling}

This is one of my favorite snacks. 

Emma loves it, too. Then when the apples are gone, she grabs a spoon to finish off the dip.

Cuz it's basically pudding.

Yum.

The buttermilk gives it an extra zing of flavor. If you don't have buttermilk, you could make your own {Put 1 Tbsp. lemon juice in a 1 c. measuring cup and add milk to make 1 cup.}or use regular milk.

But you're gonna want to use buttermilk if you can. So good.

It also doubles as a pie filling.

It's cool like that.

Stick in in a graham cracker crust or baked pie shell, maybe top with some chocolate curls or fruit and you're set.

A side note: If you don't like white chocolate, don't fret...this really doesn't taste like the traditional white chocolate you've been avoiding. I'm not a huge fan of it either, but this is different. Try it.

Also, once you become addicted, please don't send me hate emails. Please.

Printable Version

Ingredients:

1 small box White Chocolate Pudding mix

1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip

1 C. buttermilk

fruit of your choice

Directions:

• Mix the pudding mix and buttermilk together with a whisk. It will be thick. 
• Fold in the Cool Whip; Stir till mixed together.
• Serve with your favorite fruits. I like it with apples or strawberries. Use what you like.
• If making into a pie, simply pour into a pie shell and top with white chocolate curls or fresh fruit.

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I'm Guest Blogging at BruCrew Life...

My sweet friend Jocelyn and her family decided to go on a lil' cruise so I'm filling in for her over at BruCrew Life today. I'm sharing one of my favorite dishes so be sure to check it out.

While you're there, take a look around at Jocelyn's amazing recipes. 

Maybe you'll like her Cheesecake S'mores Danishes or her Peanut Butter Explosion Chocolate Cake.

Maybe.

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