Pulled Pork of Awesomeness

So. I thought that the first recipe that I shared should be epic and easy. Which truly describes all of my recipes.  So, I went to The Man and asked what sounded good.  He said I hadn’t made him pulled pork in a while. Bazinga! Pulled Pork of Awesomeness it is.

Let’s start with the basics. Pulled Pork of Awesomeness is easy, easy, easy.  The trick is to make it look hard. Because then people will think you are some sort of food genius. And really, isn’t that what it is all about?

Step one: Pick the right roast. For epic Pulled Pork of Awesomeness (PPOA from now on because typing that out makes me tired) you need to start with a pork shoulder roast. Some places may call it pork shoulder picnic roast. Bone-in, boneless, truly some say it makes a difference. I find the difference to be all price related. For today’s recipe we have a bone-in roast. 

The List:

• 7-9 lb pork shoulder roast
• ½ cup of your fave bbq sauce. I like Sweet Baby Rays. Because the Sauce is the Boss. No arguing with that logic.
• 1 large onion – quartered
• 2 TB minced garlic 
• 2 tsp cumin – this stuff is magical keep it handy for all sorts of stuff
• 2 TB salt
• 2-3 TB ground pepper – fresh ground is better. Trust me.
• 1 TB white pepper
• 1 TB chili powder
• 3 TB olive oil
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar

Take out your food processor.  I will wait.

Basically throw everything but the roast into the chopper. Chop it until it is a delicious smelling mess.

Rinse your roast.

Put the roast into a deep roaster pan. I used my turkey roaster today. When lazy I get the disposable baking pans at the Dollar Store, because I do not have a maid, and clean up is not the fun part of cooking.

Coat the roast with all the delicious muck from the chopper. Use your hands to make sure both sides get all coated with the muck. It is like soup, it will slide about. That's normal, or at least normal for my cooking. Cover tightly with tin foil. Let no delicious air escape.

Once covered set in refrigerator over night. This is where the magic happens. The spices mingle with each other, the roast gets happy.  Think of it like a family reunion where everyone is happy and crazy cousin Carl is still in jail and doesn't mess things up.  I digress, yumminess happens over night so this is a crucial step. Don't skip this step unless you are prepared to be responsible for the end of the world. Just sayin.


In the morning when you wake up, after you drink your coffee, Red Bull or hair of the dog, throw the happy roast in your crock pot. Yes. I said it. Crock. Pot. I have a deep and meaningful love affair with my crock pots, 4, and yes, The Man is aware of this. You may have to trim the roast a little bit to fit, but life isn't perfect cupcake, so chop away.  Cook this monster on high for 6-7 hours. Check at 6 hours to see if it is fork tender. Fork tender is when you hack at it with two forks and it falls apart. When that happens, lower the heat to warm.

(My fave crock pot. It has a direct link to my heart.)


Shred the meat. I don’t enjoy this part. If I ask nicely The Man will shred stuff for me. Compliment his muscles. That usually works. Shred it in the crock pot, less mess that way, and messes suck. 


Once shredded let rest for like 20 minutes. Give it time to suck up the juices. Drink some wine or something in the mean time.

I serve this on nice, fresh rolls. Or, if I forget to pick up nice, fresh rolls I go to 7-11 and get hamburger buns. Why? Because PPOA will make those cheap ass buns taste like deliciousness. It’s that good. Trust me.



(Imagine this was taken with a camera other than my cell - ooooohhhh pretty)



Now for an aside. I spent a lot of time in North Carolina. Some of it against my will thanks to my Uncle Sam. However, one thing I did learn to appreciate was their BBQ sauce.  It is a blend of vinegar and mustard that will make you want to slap somebody. True story, I once saw two old ladies duking it out over this sauce recipe. And because I am such an awesome person, I will share it with you to prevent further violence.


Slap Somebody Carolina BBQ Sauce


You are gonna need:

• 4 TB butter
• 1/2 onion, grated
• 1/2 cup yellow mustard - you can sub spicy mustard if you feel froggy
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1 TB dry mustard
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 TB soy sauce

Melt butter until bubbly.  Saute onions but don't let them get brown. Add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer for 30 minutes. Wait for the magic to happen. It will. 

I will not be held responsible for any slapping or fights that my happen because of this sauce, consider yourselves warned.




(This picture is sideways because of the wine)


Usually this meal is served with potato salad.  Because it's tasty.  Well, mine is tasty, I can't speak to anyone else's. Maybe I will post that recipe in a bit. But, I'm gonna finish this bottle of wine first.


Love and Snarkiness,


S&F