THE PERFECT PULLED PORK

Have you ever had that one meal or recipe that you are constantly on the search for "the perfect one"?  I did and it was a quest for the perfect pulled pork recipe.  There are complicated recipes for pulled pork where you have to use a smoker.  There are recipes where you add smoke flavor.  There are recipes where you use the slow cooker.  There are recipes that call for Carolina bbq sauce that is vinegar based.  There are recipes that call for Texas bbq sauce that are  tomato based.  Let me tell you....I have tried them all.  All the recipes I have tried have just been ok, but they have not been that "keeper" recipe that you can make again and again.  A few months back I found THE ONE!  I actually found it on another blog called Kevin & Amanda.  They said it was the perfect pulled pork and they did not lie...it is the perfect pulled pork.  You first brine the pork roast for at least 8 hours.  Then you completely cover the brined pork roast with the best dry rub mix.  Next, you slow cook the roast at 225 degrees for about 8-12 hours until it shreds like butter!!  I paired this perfect pulled pork with a super simple bbq sauce recipe by Emeril.  You don't even have to cook the BBQ sauce.  The only thing I added to the bbq sauce was a bit of hot sauce or Franks' Red Hot to spice it up a bit.  I have made this recipe for the past several catered parties and it is always a huge hit!  You can use any type of bun or roll that you want....but I drive about 1/2 hour to a deli in Naperville to get the best Challah rolls ever.  They really do make the sandwich!

PORTOBELLO BURGERS WITH PESTO, PROVOLONE, AND ROASTED PEPPERS

This week has been a week of smashed cameras and  "dead" computers.  Basically technology has not been on my side this week.  But...I am back and I have lots of new recipes to share!  The first couple of posts will be without pics as I had not gotten a new camera yet when I made these recipes.  I have now gotten a new and improved camera and I am really psyched about posting the new pics I have taken of great recipes!

Last week I made the best Portobello Burgers with Pesto, Provolone and Roasted Peppers ever!  I found the recipe in my June/09 issue of Bon Appetit.  I will tell you I followed this recipe to the "t"!  This is weird for me because I always change or add something in a recipe.  This sandwich was just too good as is....so I did not change a thing.  This sandwich was absolutely delicious!  The mix of the meaty portobello with the melted cheese, pesto and roasted red peppers was awesome!  Place all those ingredients and a well made ciabatta roll that is slightly toasted and you have got yourself a gourmet sandwich that is for sure!  This is a perfect summer sandwich to serve along side your burgers for those vegetarian family and friends.  Even if you are not a vegetarian this sandwich really has great flavor and you will not miss the red meat at all!

Superbowl - 2010

We did not have a wild and crazy superbowl sunday here at our house.  My husband is a huge...no wait huge is an understatement...my husband is crazy Steelers fan!  So since the Steelers were not in the Superbowl we decided to have a laid back day and night and invited my parents over for some snacks and dinner.  I am wondering who made Superbowl Sunday the designated day of junk food?  I don't know who did that...but we follow that rule!  Junk food Sunday....that is what they should call it!  We had dips, chips, cheese and two kinds of wings.  My daughters tasted the most bad for you food...food they had never had before in their two short years.  "More cheese balls mommy, more cheese balls mommy!", the said with dyed orange fingers and mouths!  Ugh...did I create monsters?  Anyway I have included some of the items I had on our appetizer menu and dinner menu for you.

A Grown Up Grilled Cheese

Do you guys have a pannini press?  If you don't...please, please go out and get yourself one!  They make the absolute best sandwiches ever!  From a simple grilled cheese for your kids to a fancy dessert sandwich....you name it you can make it!  This past Sunday night I was dead tired from having a little bit too much fun at a Christmas party.  We also were trying to put up our Christmas tree and half our lights would not work.  My husband had to go on a wild goose chase to find some more lights. Would you believe he went to 5 large chain stores and all of them were out of lights?  That is a whole new story!  Anyway, long story short neither one of us were in the mood to make dinner a big production.  I was in the mood for a pannini sandwich and just a big bowl of Campbell's Tomato Soup.  I came up with a great pannini that included a nice salty pancetta and a sweet fig spread that you can find at Whole Foods.  This spread is great!  Serve it with any kind of salty meat or cheese with crackers or bread...to die for!

What Do We Do With All This Turkey?

So every year like most people we make  a turkey that can barely fit into our oven or roasters.  And every year we have so many left overs we have no idea what to do with them all.  Last year my mom used a William Sonoma recipe and made us the best darn turkey sandwich ever! Just seeing the recipe and picture now makes my mouth water!  I am dedicating this post to some great recipes where you can use your left over turkey without feeling the burden of " What do we do with all this turkey?"

*Photo Courtesy of William Sonoma

The Perfect Chicken Salad

I love, love, love chicken salad!  I have had some great chicken salad and some horrible chicken salad.  What I did was take all the things I love about some of the different chicken salads I have had (large chunks of chicken, dried cranberries, almonds, celery, right amount of spices and creamy) and I combined them all together.  I took what I have not liked about certain other chicken salads ( too much mayo, too much onion and chicken pieces too small and mushy) and completely omitted them.  When I brought it all together I believe I came up with the Perfect Chicken Salad!  The great thing about this chicken salad is that you can also use leftover turkey from the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday!  You can also save the chicken stock that  you make for some yummy home-made chicken noodle soup (see my recipe under "soup" index).