The Great Recipe Challenge (Week 2): Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork

Spice rub, coleslaw, pork & beans.

Despite a slight medical set back yesterday morning resulting in six beautiful stitches in my chin, The Great Recipe Challenge must go on.

This week's meal: Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork with Spicy Slaw from The Food Network.  I've always been really intimidated by pulled pork because it takes so long and I thought it would be easy to screw up.  If I could execute this dish yesterday, you can execute it any day.

The key to this recipe is time.  You need lots and lots of it.  But the best part is that the majority of time requires little to no effort.  Heck- you don't even need to be awake for more than 20 or so minutes of preparation.  Perfect for a Sunday!

I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of ingredients used in all of the different components of this dish.   Upon taking a closer look, most items are things that I had (or should have had) in my cupboards already.  I was able to purchase any spices I didn't have for about $0.50 at bulk barn.  Even the pork shoulder itself was less than $10.

I put the rub on the pork around dinner time Saturday night, covered it with plastic wrap and threw it in the fridge.  Then, on Sunday around noon, I pre-heated the oven, put the meat in and came back at 5:30pm to take it out.  So so so easy.

Bake for 5.5-6h on 300 degrees.
Just out of the oven.

In the meantime, I mixed up the coleslaw a few hours before eating so that it had time to sit and thicken up a bit.

While putting together the "BBQ" sauce, keep in mind that it is not supposed to be a thick, sweet sauce like you have in the fridge.  It will taste as though there is far too much vinegar but I promise that it compliments the pork perfectly when mixed together.  I tossed the pork in the sauce before serving instead of pouring the sauce onto the sandwich to avoid the buns getting too soggy.

Cider Vinegar BBQ Sauce.
Don't let the vinegar flavour scare you.  It will be D-E-licious on the pork.

The coleslaw wasn't great.  A bit too tangy and "mustard-y" for my liking.  I planned on making homemade beans but just didn't have it in me that day so I cracked open a can of baked beans in molasses and it did the trick.

The pork was AMAZING.  So tender.  The bone in the meat literally fell out when I went to move it.  The bark on the outside is so tasty and just overall goooooood.

So juicy & tender.

We give this the absolute D&T stamp of approval.  Next time, I will try my own beans and a different coleslaw but the pork itself made up for absolutely any short comings in the side dishes.  The whole dish cost about $13 to make.  The Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork receives a whooping 9.5/10 on the yummy scale.  There was lots left for lunches the next day or would be great for feeding company.  I will definitely be making this again.  Who wants to come over?!

Send me your comments or recipe ideas!  Tweet me @darbyvt

Well that wasn't on my Bucket List...

I've never created a before-I-turn-30 Bucket List but if I had, there are two things that I would not have put on it.

1) go back to school

2) work toward becoming a Tea Sommelier

But, alas, I am George Brown College's newest student and, on Monday, I will start an eight-course certificate program to become a certified Tea Sommelier.  

I've developed a really keen interest in food and drink through my own experimentation and the exploration of the blogging world.  T had suggested that I try to find an evening course on social media or blogging.  He came across the Continuing Education courses in Hospitality & Culinary Arts at George Brown and the Tea Sommelier certification jumped out at me right away.  Artisan Bread Baking was a close second.

Although I'm not jumping ship on my current career to run off into the tea gardens and will only be going to class at night, I'm excited to dabble in something just because it interests me.  

I think it's completely weird and out there and I have no idea what to expect but I'm putting myself out there into the tea-iverse to try something new.  The class is either going to be filled with Queen West hipsters or 70 year olds.  

Now excuse me while I go buy Staples out of coil notebooks and new pens.  What am I going to wear on my first day?!?  Geeky cool?  Artsy fartsy?  Modern hippy?  

By the way, you're all getting tea for your birthday, Christmas and any other gift-giving occasion. 

Tweet me!  @darbyvt

The Great 52 (or at least 45...) week Recipe Challenge

Winter Sundays at my house are often pretty low-key.  They usually involve lazing about, coffee-drinking, recovering from the night before and the sound of crumpling Pro-Line tickets when T's football teams aren't doing well.  These days can cause episodes of daydream where my fabulous urban alter ego gallivants about the city with her three best girlfriends brunching and sipping on mimosas all while carrying armloads of shopping bags from the highest end stores.

In reality, I usually don't get out of my sweats and it's a big day if The Blind Side isn't playing on TV followed by a Hugh Grant movie followed by Pay It Forward.  

I must have been running a fever or something because I was feeling especially inspired and ambitious this weekend and decided to challenge myself to trying one new recipe every week this year.  I figure with vacation, work trips and other clever excuses, I can get 52 weeks down to 45 recipes at the most.  Totally do-able.  

I quickly found out that this little project will take some research and serious grocery prep but I'm up for it.  Let's be serious... I have the time...  

My week one recipe came to me from my new life hero, Lori (aka RecipeGirl.com).  I decided on the Baked Penne with Spinach, Roasted Peppers and B.A.C.O.N.  

A few things I did differently:

• I roasted my own red peppers instead of buying them in a jar (Super easy.  Just brush some oil on the pepper and throw it in the oven set to low broil for ~6 mins on each side)
• The recipe calls for frozen spinach but I cooked my own in a pan with a bit of butter, 1/4 of an onion and a clove of garlic
• I used pizza mozzarella instead of provolone
• President's Choice Blue Menu makes a Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper soup and was the only one I could find at my local grocery store.  Because it comes in a 500mL carton, I used 1 and 3/4 cups of milk instead of 2 cups

Tips:

• Prep took me about 35 mins since there are a number of things to pre-cook (peppers, spinach, bacon, penne).  You also have to prepare the sauce after everything is cooked which uses up more dishes and time
• Baking time of 35 was perfect but let the dish sit for ~10 mins before digging in (it's difficult- I know!) as the texture was a little bit soupier than I expected
• Prepare to wash about 14,097 pots, pans and spoons once the dish is in the oven.  I was able to double up on a few pots for different components but your sink is going to be full by the end of prep (see photo below).

                         

Prep: Roasting peppers, making pasta
and cooking spinach & bacon

Ready for the oven!

Finished product.  Beautiful dish.

Aftermath...  1,000,000 dishes

The finished product was rich, creamy and great for those who aren't watching their waistlines.  Give yourself just over an hour to make this meal start to finish.  Perfect for a lazy Sunday.  Also great if you are training your roommate, kids or significant other in the art of dish-washing.  There were 4-6 portions (yay leftovers!).

RecipeGirl's Baked Penne with Spinach, Roasted Red Peppers and B.A.C.O.N receives the D&T stamp of approval and, after a brief household survey was performed, received a 7.75/10 rating.  It has been added to our "Make Occasionally" meal list.

Tweet your comments and meal ideas to @darbyvt

...trying to get up that great big hill of hope... for a destination...

Considering my abundance of time, motivation and desire, this blogging thing is way harder than it looks.  I thought I could come on here once and week and share stories, clever antidotes, even inspirational quotes and ideas but one very important thing seems to be lacking- a focused point of view.

I look at Food Network stars, shows like Anna and Christina's Shopping Bag, friends who are passionate about yoga and mommy bloggers.  I want to have the charisma of Carrie Bradshaw, the sense of humour of Ashley Spivey, the great tips of the Smart Cookies.  But I feel more like Bridget Jones.

I want to tell the almost-30-something women out there that you CAN make your own crust for chicken pot pie and your entire kitchen will be covered in flour and bits of dough but that's ok!  People need to know which candles and shower gels are the best and what tea to drink with which book.  Everyone must be dying to know what Songza playlist I've been listening to when I work or cook or dance or just to unwind at the end of the day.  Don't you care what class I went to at the gym this week?!  Who do I think will win Sean's heart on this season of the Bachelor?!  Wouldn't you like to know...

So perhaps I just have to put things out there and a point of view will come together.  I'll leave it in the hands of the cyberverse to steer me toward courage, focus, articulation and an openness to create.

Your patience, feedback and readership are greatly appreciated.

Follow me on Twitter: @darbyvt

Yeah I'm free (free fallin')

I know many friends that will gasp in horror when I admit that I am never sad to see summer weather sail away and make room for the crisp, free loveliness of Fall.  There is something so cozy and comforting in putting on a pair of jeans and a sweater to go out or sporting a sweater dress with tights and a pair of boots.  My fringe bangs have made an appearance again after hiding from the humidity all summer.  I love the autumn colors, the styles and especially the food!!

I've been trying out some great Fall/Winter meals on the weekends and have had some successes so far.    My proudest meal has probably been Chicken Pot Pie from scratch (even the crust!).  There were a few select curse words coming from the kitchen area during the crust-making component, but it turned out great!

I am also a total tea convert now.  I rarely find myself with a cup of coffee in my hand anymore.  My cupboard has been stocked with so many yummy seasonal teas from DAVIDsTea.  They posted a delicious Pumpkin Chai latte recipe that you can make stove-top at home.   I'm hooked on Pumpkin Chai with a dash of milk and brown sugar.  YUM.  I have also picked up Earl's Garden which is Earl Grey with berries and Mulberry Magic (called Mulberry Monster for Halloween) with mulberry leaves and macadamia nuts.  Double yum!

I know I've been a total blog slacker lately but I will be sure to make more updates with recipes and other feel-good things.

Please leave me any recommendations or favorites you have!!

I'm a (wo)man of simple pleasures...

Lately, in my attempt to be a better me, I've been focusing on making some changes to my everyday life.  The changes that I thought would make the most difference in my mood, energy levels and overall well being is getting a gym membership and making a conscious effort to eat better.  I'm really surprised at how much I've taken to going to the gym.  Most days now, I actually crave getting over there and burning off some steam.

My biggest obstacle is the nutrition side of things.  I enjoy incorporating more fruits and vegetables into my diet and haven't missed my large portions of pasta... and garlic bread... and chips... at all (okay... maybe a little bit).  One thing that could stand in my way of maintaining a better diet is my lack of food knowledge and creativity to add a lot of variety to my meals.  Spinach salad is getting a bit old.  I also think I may not be eating enough calories.  Eat more?!  Yes please!

I plan my meals for the week before I go grocery shopping but I rarely account for snacks or good lunches.  Working from home is great because I'm not tempted to grab something quick and greasy on the run but I'm often left standing with the refrigerator door open wondering what I can throw together to get me through the rest of my day plus an after-work workout.  Any helpful recipes or websites from my nutrition smart friends would be much appreciated.

On a not-overly-nutritious but very-delicious note, I had a successful "try something new" outing over the weekend and it inspired me.  I was going to a BBQ on Sunday night and wanted to take just a couple of drinks with me (I was the driver).  I visited my neighbourhood liquor store and noticed how many specialty beers are around in the summer time from small breweries all over the province.  I looked for the most interesting looking bottle and bought it.  Huge success.  My choice was Summer Weiss from Muskoka Brewery .

So go indulge in a simple pleasure this week.  Whether that's adding some fresh veggies to your meal or picking the prettiest bottle in the liquor store- do something kind for yourself.  And listen to this feel-good summer song reminding us all to enjoy the simple things.

Follow me on Twitter:  darbyvt

Try everything that ever made you wonder...

Maybe it's the spirit of the Olympics or the exciting things going on around with my friends lately (shout out to those with new jobs, babies, husbands/wives, houses, etc!) but I think I'm slowly starting to get into this new go-get-'em mind set.  This week, I've found myself correcting my own negative thoughts and really trying to focus on all of the good.  By interrupting the negativity, I'm worrying less, feeling more calm and have more positive energy throughout the day.

In my last post, I talked about three things I wanted to work on- Saying "yes" more, conquering fears and being nicer.  All week, I've been keeping these goals in mind and have tried to seek out some new things to try.

Originally, when I vowed to say "yes!" more, I pictured wild adventures and risk taking.  Although I hope that some great stories come out of saying "yes", this week showed me that saying "no" to one thing can be saying "yes" to another.  Passing up a night of going out with friends because I need a quiet night at home is saying a huge "yes" to my needs.  In this case, it wasn't due to laziness or a lack of wanting to hang out.  It was just a need of my space and time.  But that also opened up a "yes" opportunity to get up early on Sunday morning and go for breakfast with my brother and his girlfriend which I am rarely able to do since I would have been hiding under the covers all day.  All in all, a positive "no but actually yes" scenario.

I have also been talking some time to unwind a bit in the evenings with a pot of tea, a candle and a book.  Right now I'm reading Half Blood Blues by Canadian Esi Edugyan.  My candle of the moment is Bahama Fizz from Bath & Body works and my tea is Birthday Cake from Davids Tea.

Lots of things intimidate and scare me in this world and I have the tendency to back away when things get tough. I've been eyeing the gym across the street for a year now and finally seized the day and got myself a membership.  I had an awesome trainer show me around and give me a bit of a workout routine and it's amazing how quickly I've started to see positive changes in my energy level.  I've even found myself loving spin class which may or may not have anything to do with the fact that my instructor looks and acts like Jef from Emily's season of the Bachelorette...  He told me I had great form and I almost fell off the bike.  But anywhoo...  The exercise has really been a motivator to pay a bit more attention to what I'm eating and start working on a healthier balance when it comes to meals.  On that note, I purchased a bag of Bacon Ranch popcorn from Popcorn Indiana (http://www.popcornindiana.com/buy/10).  Don't do it.  Nasty, nasty stuff.

Aside from the everyday holding the door open and please-and-thank-you's, my be nice highlight of the week was in my own apartment building.  There is an elderly man who lives on my floor.  He's known as a bit of a Chatty Calvin.  If you make eye contact or say hello, you're stuck talking to him for days.  Last time I said hello, he brought pictures of his deceased wife out of his wallet and told me all about their life together.  I typically avoid him when I'm coming and going from the building.  I saw him on a park bench outside the other day and, although everything in me told me to keep on walking, I stopped and said hello.  He simply smiled, said "Nice day!" and I was off and on my way.  I feel bad for dissing the poor guy.  I look forward to stopping to chat with him a bit more next time.

The long weekend is approaching and I look forward to more opportunities to challenge myself continue to strive for positive changes.  I encourage you to do the same.  I'd love to hear all of your comments and ideas below.

Until next time,
Darby

Follow me @darbvt