North Carolina Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Sometimes I get stuck in a rut with my dinner cooking rotations. It goes like this: chicken, steak, chicken, pork chops, chicken, shrimp and scallops – repeat.

When this happens, my older son Max exclaims, "Why do we always have to eat meat?!?!"

The last time this occurred, I calmly asked what he would prefer instead of meat. Here's what he said: "Spaghetti, or grilled cheese or pulled pork!"

When I pointed out that pulled pork is meat, Max said, "Well, I mean good meat."

So I resolved to up my game and make the North Carolina Pulled Pork recipe from America's Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Revolution cookbook. Usually I make a simple recipe, like this one from Erin for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. But ever since my sister married an eastern North Carolina native, we've received a proper education in barbecue. My brother-in-law is pretty good with a rub and a grill, and he and his parents have kindly introduced us to their long-time tradition of eating at the family-style Parker's Barbecue in Wilson.

I had the tangy flavor of Parker's pulled pork in mind. I had two nice pork butts just waiting to be turned into something. I had the time to let the meat sit for a day in the fridge to soak up the flavors of the rub. And I thought I had all the spices I needed. After a quick trip to the store for some liquid smoke, I was ready to make my rub and get things started. But I hit a snag.

Since I'm a work-from-home mom over the age of 40 with two over-scheduled boys, I can no longer remember most things unless I write them down. Let's just say I forgot to buy a few key ingredients (like smoked ham hocks, dark brown sugar and sweet paprika.) But one thing I do know is how to improvise. I used light brown sugar, a mixture of sweet and smoked paprika and several hunks of ham shank that I cut from the bone end of a leftover spiral sliced ham I was saving in the freezer to use for making soup.

The recipe I ended up with delivered pulled pork that I think came pretty darn close to the down-home Carolina specialty. Of course, my brother-in-law hasn't tried it — yet!

Mangia! Mangia!
Andrea

North Carolina Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

2 (2 1/2 pound) boneless pork butt roasts, quartered (or use a 5 pound roast)
7 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/8 cup sweet paprika
1/8 cup smoked paprika
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon ground pepper
3 hunks ham shank or 3 smoked ham hocks,  rinsed
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups ketchup
2 to 3 teaspoons liquid smoke

Trim fat from pork pieces. Use a fork to prick the pork all over. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons sugar, both kinds of paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Rub spice mixture over pork, generously coating each piece. Wrap pork tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 to 24 hours.

Place ham shank or ham hocks in the bottom of a 6 quart or larger slow cooker. Unwrap pork and sit on top of ham. Pour broth over meat and cover. Cook on low for 10 hours.

Transfer pork and ham shank pieces to a large bowl. Remove any hard skin, bones and fatty pieces from shanks. Shred pork and ham into bite-sized pieces, then cover to keep warm.

Skim fat from liquid in slow cooker. Pour liquid through a strainer and into a saucepan. Simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes. Note: This is not a thick barbecue sauce like the kinds from store-bought bottles. It will remain somewhat thin.

Add vinegar, ketchup, liquid smoke and 4 tablespoons sugar to the saucepan. Whisk everything together. Add salt and pepper to taste. You may want to add more vinegar, ketchup and sugar, depending on how much liquid you have. I ended up with nearly 3 cups after the simmering process.

Simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Toss shredded pork with 1 1/2 cups sauce. Add more sauce to your liking.

Serve on buns with pickles, simple cole slaw and additional sauce.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Cookbooks

We get asked A LOT about our favorite cookbooks. But how could we pick just one? That's like asking us to name our favorite child; honestly, it depends on the day.

Yet we know you have holiday shopping to do. You might want to pick up a cookbook for the foodie in your life or to drop some hints on the titles you'd like to unwrap. So today, dear readers, we offer up some of our faves.

XOXO,
Amy, Andrea and Erin

Disclaimer: These reviews are simply the opinions of the ladies at Hot Dinner Happy Home. No publishers asked us for endorsements or compensated us for writing about their cookbooks.

Amy's Picks: 



Great Food Fast
Despite having the ugliest cookbook cover of all time, this is a good introduction to the pressure cooker. I got a pressure cooker this year -- a gift to myself --- and these easy-to-follow recipes came in handy. After I made Chicken Noodle Soup, it was easy for me to figure out the quantities and timing for my own soups, such as Potato Soup like my mom makes and my Midwestern Vegetable-Beef Soup. For a kid-friendly dinner, try the Pizza Joes. If you are tired of the endless stirring involved in making risotto, then I direct you to the Cajun Crab Risotto.



The Little Paris Kitchen: 120 Simple But Classic French Recipes
This book combines two of my loves -- cooking and France. And it's the prettiest cookbook ever with delicious photos of food and Paris. Consider this a great gift for cooks and francophiles as well as those who would appreciate culinary inspiration or a gorgeous cookbook to adorn their kitchen. A word for those who do cook, the recipes are simple, classic French dishes, some with a little twist. For example, there's Coq Au Vin  On Skewers. I once  made our entire Easter meal from this cookbook and it consisted of Lemon an Lavender Chicken, Parisian Asparagus, Creamy Potato Bake and Creme Brulee. Recipes are listed in French and English. --Amy



The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Over 100 Vegan Recipes to Glow from the Inside Out

Is healthier eating a goal for 2016? Blogger Angela Liddon's book is my go-to for healthy plant-based meals. This is a collection of both lighter fare and surprisingly filling dishes. Some of my family's faves: Perfected Chickpea Salad Sandwich, Our Favorite Veggie Burger and Glowing Strawberry-Mango Guacamole. I also like Liddon's smoothies, such as the Classic Green Monster Smoothie, and the On the Mend Spiced Red Lentil-Kale Soup. For this year's Super Bowl, in which our Carolina Panthers might (knock on wood) be playing, I plan to whip up some Life-Affirming Warm Nacho Dip. --Amy

Slow Cooker Revolution

This cookbook lived up to its title and revolutionized how I think about slow cooking and how often I use my slow cooker, which is all the time. I have lost count of how many people I've given this cookbook to, but I know Andrea is one. I also have the second volume -- the easy prep edition, which is full of recipes that don't take as long to prepare or cook. But I like this one more because more of its recipes require eight hours or more in the slow cooker, which means dinner can cook away while I'm at the office. Some of my family's faves: Barbecued Beef Brisket, North Carolina Pulled Pork, Easy Barbecued Ribs, Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing and Big-Batch Bolognese Sauce. --Amy

Andrea's Picks:

America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook
So I love to bake, but baked goods aren't always so healthy. Same with the Mexican-inspired dishes my family loves. Thanks to a recommendation from a neighbor, I've found healthier versions of these recipes. I'm still working my way through it, but the Better For You Banana Bread and Layered Tortilla Tart are excellent! --Andrea

A Family Christmas Cookbook
My brother gave me this cookbook nearly a decade ago and despite the title, I use it all year long. Many of the recipes are very similar to meals and goodies I grew up eating, like Ricotta Cookies, Pesto Sun Dried Tomato Pate, Country Chicken and Spiced Red Cabbage. Best thing about this book? It offers numerous recipes for the same dish, which makes it easy to customize to your own tastes. --Andrea

Indian Inspired Gluten Free Cooking
My husband and I love Indian food. Our old Cincinnati neighborhood boasted at least five Indian restaurants. This cookbook demystifies the cuisine and the recipes are surprisingly easy to prepare. Try the Spinach with Lentils and Coconut, Spinach Lentil Rice and the Broccoli with Red Onion and Ginger. I've given this cookbook to several friends. -- Andrea

Slow Cooker Revolution Volume 2: The Easy Prep Edition
The original Slow Cooker Revolution made me fall in love with my slow cooker all over again. I find that I use the easy-prep version more often these days because our family life is increasingly busy and I don't often want to take the time required for lots of crock pot preparations. The Cuban-Style Pork Roast with Mojo Sauce and the Mexican-Style Pulled Pork Tacos are favorites in our house. --Andrea

The Sprouted Kitchen Bowl + Spoon
Blogger Sara Forte's newest cookbook is my favorite of the year. Bowl + Spoon is filled with simple, wholesome and delicious meals, sauces, sides, dressings, sauces and desserts. Many recipes are vegetarian, which is helpful as I'm always looking for non-pasta meatless meals. And the photos are simply gorgeous.

Erin's Picks: 

America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook
This list clearly demonstrates our love for America's Test Kitchen. This cookbook is my go-to for the "standards" and has inspired many of the recipes on this blog. Skillet Broccoli with Toasted Garlic and Lemon, All-American Meatloaf, and Pan-Seared Steaks with Red Wine Pan Sauce are some of my favorites. I also love the buying guides and helpful tips scattered throughout the book. --Erin

An Occasion to Gather (The Junior League of Milwaukee Cookbook)
This book was a gift from my friends Jill and Kelly when we lived in Milwaukee. I love how it represents the city and my time there. Everything I've tried from this cookbook has been delicious. Plus there are great regional insights, like how to organize a beer tasting, a list of necessities for tailgating, and the perfect menu for a Bunco party. Milwaukee will always have my heart and so will this cookbook. --Erin

Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
The title says it all...this book is full of great food that you can get on the table fast. It's full of 30-minute meals, and you'll have most of the ingredients in your pantry. I love how it's organized by season, because, "a change in weather affects how we cook as much as what we cook." --Erin

A Tribute to the South

Last June, the husband, our boy, and I packed up our little house in Milwaukee and moved down south to Charlotte, North Carolina. And we've loved it here. If you haven't been to Charlotte yet, you've gotta get down here for a visit. The people are kind and polite, the weather is great, and it's a beautiful part of the country.

But we can't leave well enough alone. So this week we're packing up our little house in Charlotte and moving out west to Seattle, Washington. We are very excited about our new hometown, but you know what doesn't thrill me? Packing a gazillion boxes. I'm tired just thinking about it. So instead of bubbling wrapping my tchotchkes, I'm rounding up my favorite Southern-inspired recipes and reminiscing about my time in Charlotte.

Let's get cooking...some Southern food, y'all!
Erin

Bread & Butter Pickles: There's something about the South that makes me feel domestic, and what's more domestic than pickling?

Canned Applesauce: Okay. Maybe canning is more domestic than pickling.

Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese: I don't know if it's the vicinity to Georgia or what, but they grow some killer peaches around here.

Lightened-up Chicken Curry Salad: When summer hits in Charlotte, it's just too hot to turn on the oven. Whip up this Chicken Salad with rotisserie chicken and you have the perfect no-cook meal.

Three Cheese & Bacon Macaroni & Cheese: Mac & cheese is southern. The TV told me so.

Spring on Toast: I made this egg and asparagus dish with Amy, one of my favorite Southerners.

Baked Cheesy Grits: I mean...GRITS.

Succotash with Green Beans: This just feels Southern to me.

Lemon Buttermilk Cake: I have used buttermilk in more recipes since moving to the South. And this cake is glorious.

Mint Julep: This one is obvious. Bottoms up!