19.3.10

Slow Cooked BBQ Pulled Pork



Don't you love a recipe that takes like 15 minutes of actual cooking? Say hello to pulled pork. Throw it in the crock pot with minimal seasoning, and watch 2 movies on a hungover Saturday while it fills your house with a crazy delicious (Dr. Pibb + Redvines?) scent. Don't believe me? Give this a try.

What you'll need...
-A cut of pork. Either pork butt, or pork shoulder. The idea is lowww and sloowwww so the tougher, cheaper meats will break down and get realll tender. You'll need about 2-3 ish pounds.
-1 small yellow onion
-3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce. I hate both spelling, and saying that word for the record.
-water
-About 4-6 buns
-1/2 a bottle of your favorite bbq sauce - I used Sweet Baby Ray's... it's necessary.

Alrighty! Roughly chop up your onion and lay it on the bottom of the crock pot.


Place the pork on top of the onions. I got some sort of weird cut that was on sale, but it turned out delicious. Go ahead and add the worcestershire sauce.


Fill the crock pot full of water so it's fully covering the pork. Our crock pot is kind of small... so stop making fun of the dry pork. I'm not as perfect as I may come across on paper.


I added some paprika and cumin, because I can't leave things alone. It's not necessary though.


OK! You're ready to go. Put the setting on low, and leave it alone. For .... six hours. SIX HOURS. You could go to work and just let this bubble away, then come home to tender, delicious pulled pork. Here's what it looks like when it's done....


I pick out the pork and shred it, discarding the onions.



I find it easiest to use two forks. It's so easy since it's falling apart on it's own anyway. Mix the shredded pork with the BBQ sauce. I only use about 1/2 the bottle, or else I think it gets too soupy and over powers the pork.


COME GETCHA SOME. Let it cook away on low for about another hour, stirring occasionally so the pork doesn't stick to the sides.


Who loves me? My roommates, that's who.

Throw it on a bun, maybe top it with some coleslaw or just leave it plain.


Either way, it's scrumptious!!


Jealous much?

Enjoy!

<3 Courtzilla

17.3.10

French Toast Casserole


So you might be wondering... just fruit before a full day of drinking? That's what I thought too... ludicrous. We need something of substance!

I made this recipe, had one bite, and was hooked. It's easy, portable, and you can make it the night before so it doesn't get in the way of your horrible drinking habits. Sounds like my kind of recipe.

Here's what you'll need:

-a loaf of french bread or challah bread, cubed
-1/2 cup of butter
-1 cup of brown sugar
-1 tsp of cinnamon
-1.5 cups of milk
-5 eggs

First things first, cube up your french bread. It'll make a mess using the good crusty bread, but it absorbs so much more of the egg mixture that you'll definitely want to just go for it.


Butter up a 9 x 13 ish inch pan.


Place half of your bread in the bottom of the pan.


Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle half of it over the bread layer.



Layer the last of the bread on top of that, then sprinkle the rest of the sugar mix on the very top.


Measure out the milk in your measuring cup, add in the 5 eggs and the vanilla extract directly into the measuring cup


andddd WHISK


Now pour this all over top of the casserole.


Cover with tin foil or plastic wrap and let it sit and soak overnight. The next day, just pop it in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Take it out and uncover, then cook for an additional 15 minutes to brown up the top. Hollllyyyy cow. Serve it with some maple syrup. Die.

I don't have the sweet finished product because we went and ate it too fast. But let's just say...this picture sums it up.


Sorry John, I had to.

Happy St. Patty's day!

<3
Courtzilla

4.3.10

Balsamic Fruit Salad





Simple, easy, fast, delicious, and healthy. Is there a better way to start off an entire day of drinking?? Today starting at dawn is U of Illinois' Unofficial, a crazy celebration centered around green shirts and a free for all drunk fest. The best times to see it are from 8am to about 2 am when everyone passes out, then ralleys at 8pm to go at it again. The breakfast of champions usually includes kegs and eggs, and to throw probably the only fruit or vegetable these people are going to eat all day, I made some fruit salad!

This ain't your grandma's fruit salad. It's got a couple unique twists.

You'll need:

-1 case of strawberries (is that a pint? i have no idea)
- 2 smallish things of blueberries
- 1 smallish thing of raspberries.
- 1/4 cup of white sugar
- 2 Tablespoons of aged balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper - sounds weird, but TRUST me

Man I sound so technical today. Smallish thing? I hope you guys know what I'm talking about.

Alright first off wash all your fruit, cut up the strawberries, and combine it in a medium sized bowl.



Add the sugar...


Add the balsamic vinegar and pepper....


Mix... and VOILA!!


You are instantly a gourmet chef! This is good if you let it sit for like an hour for the sugar in the fruit to break down... it's even BETTER if you leave it over night. It makes this transcendant syrup... holy cow. Know what this syrup could take the place of? Grenadine. Helloooo tequila sunrises. Delicious, and so easy!

Have a safe Unofficial, you nuts.

Enjoy!

Courtzilla