Monthly Archives: March 2016

Slow Cooker Carnitas

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This recipe graciously stolen from Sarah Kate Gillingham at The Kitchn.

(Picture to come.)

The Goods
1 (6- to 8-pound) pork shoulder, boneless or not
2 tablespoons coarse salt
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 chipotle peppers (dried)
1/2 cup tomato juice
2 1/2 cups orange juice

The Gettin’
1.  Combine all of the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on the lowest setting you have time for (at least 8 hours, 10 is ideal.)  If your shoulder had a bone, it should literally fall off the bone when it’s time.
2.  While it’s cooking, you don’t really want it to boil, so should you see some intense boiling action, just crack open the lid a little bit.  Pork shoulder is a hardy piece of meat, so don’t fret over it.  🙂
3.  When it’s finished cooking, shred the meat!  Again, it should be very easy to do so after cooking for so long.

The Take
These are good!  I love carnitas, so I appreciate having an easy, low-prep recipe for them where all I have to do is combine some ingredients in a slow cooker.  For my money, the other carnitas recipe on this site is better, but sometimes you just don’t have the time or want to expend the effort. 🙂


Total Time:  10 hrs 15 minutes (all but 15 min inactive)
Prep – 15 minutes
Yield:  18 to 24 servings of carnitas

Level: Easy

Jordan’s Delectable Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

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This recipe created masterfully by Jordan.

The Goods
1 beef roast (often advertised as pot roast, any size that will fit in your slow cooker)
1 lb carrots, peeled
1 container mushrooms, washed
1 or 2 onions, sliced
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp oregano
1 bottle of red wine you’d like to drink
salt and pepper
olive oil for searing

The Gettin’
1. Liberally salt and pepper both sides of roast.  If you have time, wait a bit for the salt to get into the meat, about 30 minutes.  No big deal if you can’t.
2. Sear the roast on both sides in frying pan on medium-high heat with olive oil. (It doesn’t keep the moisture in, but it does make a nice brown “crust.”)  After the roast is nice and brown on all sides, place it into the slow cooker.
3. There should be some tasty bits and juice left in your frying pan.  Place your carrots in the pan and soften them up a little bit on medium-high.  When they look a little brown/softer, place them into the slow cooker.  (No need to overdo it.)
4. Do the same with the mushrooms and onions.  Cook ’em a little in the tasty juice, and then place into the slow cooker.
5. Liberally salt and pepper the ingredients in the slow cooker.  You can also add the garlic powder and oregano at this time.
6. Pour about 3/4 of the bottle of wine into the slow cooker.  Save the remaining 1/4 to apply to the cook as needed.
7.  Cook for at least 8 hours, covered, on the low or very low setting.  The longer, the better.  Keep an eye on the slow cooker every so often – even on low settings it will tend to boil – just crack the lid open to cool it off if you see this.  Again, don’t fret over it.
8. Kiss the cook (Lauren’s suggestion).

The Take:
A pot roast is a wonderful thing, and a pot roast recipe is delightfully flexible.  Want a different vegetable?  Cool.  You’d rather use stock instead of wine?  Fine.  Adapt it however you see fit – all you need is the meat, something to cook it in and something to cook it with!

Total Time: 8 hrs 20 minutes – 10 hrs 20 minutes (all but 20 min inactive)
Prep – 20 minutes
Cook– 6-8 hours

Yield: 8 servings

Level: Easy

Peanut Butter Caramel Crisps

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This recipe graciously stolen from Everyday Grain-Free Gourmet, written by Jodi Bager and Jenny Lass.

(Picture to come.)

The Goods
Bottom Layer of Candy:
1/4 cup unsweetened peanut butter
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup honey

Top Layer of Candy:
1 cup honey
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup cashew, almond, or peanut butter (I encourage you to try and use cashew or almond if you can!)

The Gettin’
1.  Let’s make the bottom layer first!  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2.  Mix all of the bottom layer ingredients until well-combined.
3.  Spread the mixture on the prepared baking sheet – not too thick (about 1/4 in.).
4.  Now the top layer!  Pour the honey into a medium-sized pot and boil on low to medium-low heat until it reaches 300° F.  (You’ll need a thermometer.)  If you don’t have one (you really should!), 8 or so minutes should be enough – the honey should turn a healthy brown color.  Make sure to stir the honey as it boils.
5.  Turn the heat off, but keep the pot on the burner.  Add the cup of nut butter and the butter and mix thoroughly.
6.  Quickly, now, pour the mixture over the bottom layer until it’s completely covered.  Use a spatula to spread it evenly.  If the mixture becomes too stiff, just reheat it.
7.  Let it cool for a bit (15 min?) and place the sheet in the refridgerator until the candy is nice and crunchy!
8.  Subtly break off pieces to enjoy and blame your spouse as the candy shrinks.

The Take
Another excellent recipe from Everyday Grain-Free Gourmet!  This has become my go-to peanut butter sweets recipe.  As the original authors state, this candy reminds you of a certain crispety-crunchity candy you might also enjoy!


Total Time:  25 minutes
Prep – 15 minutes
Yield:  1 cookie sheet worth of candy

Level: Intermediate