Pulled Pork on Garlic Bread

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Living in California for almost 9 months,

exposed me to all types of food,

barbaques,

vegetables and more..

One of our favorite things to do was go to the Farmer's Market every Thursday night in San Luis Obispo.

They often served Santa Maria style Tri-tip Sandwiches

on garlic bread..

Which I thought was beyond genius.

Now that I live in Wyoming.

Getting anything like this is very hard to find.

So I thought,

Why don't I make my pulled pork 

and turn the buns into garlic bread..

And what I created

...was beyond delicious.

 

So here's how...

The Pulled Pork

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

1 (4-6 lb) Boneless pork roast

1/2 cup Cider vinegar

1/2 or more water

3-4 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1 drop liquid smoke

Then...

Place all seasonings/vinegar into Slow Cooker

Mix.

Add Pork Roast.

Put in slow cooker for 8-9 hours on low.

After it's cooked:

Take 2 forks and pull pork into shreds.

Then add 3 tablespoons barbeque sauce

(or to liking) 

Butter the buns.

(hamburger buns taste delicious)

Sprinkle with Parsley, oregano and Garlic powder.

Place on your grill

for a few minutes

...or until Butter is melted.

Serve and Enjoy!

2012 Year Review

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(I put this inside this year's Christmas card, along with a note and a picture of the hubby and I hiking in Sequoia)

This year is going to be hard to top! But I think I have a pretty exciting year ahead of me!

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So let's "toast" to the new year with some Crème brûlée french toast!

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

 Crème Brûlée French Toast

Toasts
1 loaf unsliced white bread, brioche or rich bread of your choice (as long as it's thick and not too soft)
1 1/3 cups 2% or whole milk
2/3 cup half and half cream
4 large eggs
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt
1/4 teaspoon orange zest
1 vanilla bean or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tsp Cinnamon Sugar

Topping
2/3 cup granulated sugar

 For Toast:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Beat.

Pour custard over the tops of bread.

Let soak for 15 minutes on each side (at least a half hour total or leave in fridge overnight)

 Preheat oven to 325 Degrees

 Place soaked slices on a tray lined with parchment paper

Bake 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway through.

 

For topping: 

(Start this when toast is 2/4 way done)

Place 2/3 cup DRY sugar in a small saucepan.

Stir continuously until sugar until brown and thin.

Once Sugar is melted...

Pour over the tops of the toast.

(Tip: Make sure you use a solid bread.. if it's too soft it will be bread-pudding like consistency with a crunchy topping.) 

Enjoy.

How was your New Years?

What were you thankful for lately?

I'm grateful to be able to have a meal like this...
and meals I don't deserve.

I'm thankful for so many fun times...

 

 

For my legs that allow me to Ski out west.  (The company isn't too bad either *wink)

 

 

For family.

For my health.

I'm thankful for...this guy.

And for my Nespresso Machine, which makes me delicious lattes.

What are you grateful for?

  

White Chocolate Chex Mix

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So it's almost Christmas!

Only days away!

The holidays sometime bring stress, chaotic shopping and last minute hunts.

But don't forget to stop and enjoy the little things.

The little things that will last in your memory for years to come.

Make those Christmas cookies.

Ornaments for your tree.

Gingerbread houses.

Homemade stockings.

DIY Decorations.

or even try this and make a new tradition...

 

White Chocolate Chex Mix! 

Ingredients

Rice Chex Mix

Corn Chex Mix

Bag of Pretzels

2 12oz Bags of white chocolate. 

Peanut MM's

Tiny bit of milk chocolate for melting
 

Here's how...

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

Add...

2 Cups of each Chex Mix.

1 Cup of Pretzels

Melt White Chocolate in microwave. 

(Stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted)

Pour over the top and mix until everything is completely coated.

Add Peanut MM's

Optional: Melt Milk Chocolate.

Drizzle a small amount over the top.

ENJOY!!

*Makes for perfect last minute Christmas gifts for neighbors, friends and family.

(even though you'll want to eat it all by yourself!)

Happy Holidays!!

Mouth-Watering Chicken Parm

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Lauren’s Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Ingredients

1lb Thinly cut Chicken Breasts

Olive oil/vegetable oil

Panko bread crumbs

butter

Eggs or egg white beaters

Pepper and garlic powder

Pasta sauce

Mozzarella Cheese  

Here's How...  

-Thin chicken until ½ cm or to liking

-Cover chicken in flour

-Heat pan to med/high, then fill the pan with about 3 tablespoons olive oil..then fill the rest with vegetable oil (until top surface is coated in oil)

-Dip in ½ cup butter ½ egg white mix

-Dip in Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs.

-Fry chicken in pan until browned

-Sprinkle Chicken with pepper and a little garlic powder

Then..

Place cooked chicken into dish.

Cover with sauce (Use Basil and something Prego Sauce)

Cover with Mozzarella cheese

And bake chicken @ 375 for 18 mins

Florida

Sorry I have been MIA this week everyone. More recipes soon to come!
I headed down to Florida to have some much needed family time. It was such a wonderful weekend and I sure got a bunch of new recipes ideas from all the amazing Disney chef's. We fit so much into just a few days.

One afternoon we went kayaking through the mangroves out to the ocean. There were thousands of fish that would periodically leap feet out of the water. It was so neat to see. I guess in the later winter months that whole area fills up with manatees too! That would be such an awesome experience. As we were kayaking along through the shallow area, I picked up what I thought was an empty shell. I continued to kayak on, when all of a sudden I felt something crawling on my feet, when I looked up, it was a little crab maybe the size of a walnut. So needless to say, I paddled the rest of the way back with a small passenger, hiding in my boat.

But I think we also had an especially good time at the animal kingdom. It's fun to see all the different animals and countries. We walked passed painted trucks selling tandoori chicken and edamame, painted buildings that made you feel in the heart of africa. Then we walked a few more steps to see Bollywood style dancers and places to order chai tea. It amazes me how Disney can capture the feel of a place.

My fam and I decided to ride the Mt Everest coaster. We pretty much walked on the ride. But the second our ride pulled out, it started to POUR the largest rain drops I've ever seen in my entire life. Then it started to get faster and faster, until we are being pelted at full speed. But at this point we are completely drenched. So we are just laughing our heads off going around every twist and turn. As soon as we get off dripping wet, the sun decides to make an appearance. We seemed to be the only people in the park who got so soaked. But it will make for a fun memory to look back on years to come.

It's always fun to go away, but now I am looking forward I'm looking forward to getting back to the kitchen and coming up with some tasty new recipes to share!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Hope you all are enjoying the Holiday season!

*If you don't live in snow weather, than why not build your very own Sandman!?

  :)

Man Approved Crockpot Beef Stew

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This recipe is the perfect Beef Stew. And I don't know any man who wouldn't gobble this down! It’s different than a lot of other stews I’ve made. But this one definitely hits the spot. I try to only eat red meat once a week, so this one defiantly satisfied my weekly craving.

Man Approved Crockpot Beef Stew

 

Ingredients 

1lb Stewing Beef (uncooked)

2-3 Cans Beef Broth 

 (as much as you'd like really)

1 Large Potato 

1 can organic diced tomatoes or stewed

½-whole sweet onion (depending on how you like it)

1 cup carrots

 1tbs tomato paste

sprinkle of garlic powder

a sprinkle of pepper

Here's How...

Chop onion and peel/chop potato

Place all ingredients in the crockpot on low in the morning.

Enjoy in the evening!   

Voila!

No Cook Thermos Steel Cut Oats

Pin It So this week I was in an outdoors sports store, when I heard someone talking about how they use their thermos to cook food! My Hubby and I had a little mid-week ski trip planned, so I thought I’d do some more research and try it out.

I love steel cut oats, but I don’t love that they take a half hour to make…constantly tending at the stove. They are so much healthier than regular oats. And they don’t have the additives that instant oats do!!

 Thermos Steel Cut Oats

What you need…

Boiling water

Thermos(Stanley?)

Steel Cut oats.

Brown Sugar or toppings you’d like.

So here’s how….

Add a ¼ cup oats

and

2cups Hot water

Seal tight.

Place on its side

(This makes sure it cooks evenly)

Enjoy after 5-10 minutes up to hours later

Serve.

Optional: Add brown sugar or toppings

Dan and I left for the mountains before the sun had made an appearance.  I woke up, boiled some water and added the oats. Placed the my Stanley Thermos on it’s side in our bag. Then hit the road. After skiing for hours, I thoroughly enjoyed these warm oats!

Now I might use my thermos to cook my oats..even if I’m not going anywhere! It just makes it so easy!