slow cooker honey bbq pulled pork!

i love this recipe for an easy supper or for a party! so good on rolls, for pulled pork sandwiches!

i start with a 3 1/2 lb boneless port butt (this makes ALOT, we like leftovers in our house)...i marinate it over night in 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tbsp brown mustard, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp kosher salt and 1 tsp pepper.

add the meat and all the marinade into the slow cooker...and pour 1 bottle of beer ( i use whatever i have in the fridge) over meat...put the lid on the cooker and cook on high for about 6 hours, or until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork.

if there is too much cooking liquid, use a spoon and pour some off...pull apart the meat, discard any really fatty pieces...add 1 full bottle of "sweet baby ray's honey barbeque sauce", 1 tbsp honey, and a sprinle of salt & pepper... heat on low for another 30 minutes...ready to serve!

homemade remedy...

try my remedy for congestion/ sinus pain!

1 large mixing bowl, tea kettle full of hot water, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1 tbsp dried rosemary

pour the hot water over the lemon juice and rosemary... i put a towel over my head, and stick my face over bowl! the vapors really help :)

8 years ago today...

8 years ago today, i gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy! my 1st baby, a healthy 6lb 14oz...came into this world at 7:08am. he lights up my life, in more ways than i can count! he makes everyday worth living...a true blessing. watching him grow and change has brought meaning to my life. i am so proud to be his mommy :)

tuesday blog hop!

toddlers are scary!

my little boo has officially entered the toddler stage! and she scares the HELL out of me! all of a sudden she has decided to climb the stairs...stand up two steps up...and try to walk down. of course she takes one step and falls to the bottom. did i mention she does this all in a blink of an eye, while i turn my back on her for 1 minute?!? not only that...she bee-lines for any toy left lying around by the boys, dumps any cup left on the edge of a table, and makes her way to the computer to turn the printer on & off 50+ times. its time to buy more babygates :)

my little boo, enjoying some of my bread!

is anything better than homemade bread?!?

nope...easy to make...even easier to eat :)

2 packets of dry active yeast

2 1/4 cups warm water

3 tbsps + 2 tbsps local honey

4 tbsps melted butter + more for buttering the bowls and loaf pans

7 cups all purpose flour

2 tbsps kosher salt

1) whisk yeast into 1/2 cup of warm water and 3 tbsp honey; let sit for 5 minutes (until mixture becomes foamy)

2)add yeast mixture, 2tbsps honey, melted butter and 1 3/4 cups warm water, into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer (i used the dough hook attachment); whisk flour & salt together; add 3 cups of the flour/ salt to the yeast mixture; mix on low; add remaining flour/ salt in 1 cup at a time, until dough forms

3) knead dough on a floured surface for 5 minutes; shape into a ball; put dough ball into a buttered ball; cover ball with a clean kitchen towel; let rise for an hour (dough should double in size), in a warm & draft free spot

4) take the dough ball out of the bowl; punch the dough down; divide in 2; fill 2 buttered loaf pans with the dough; cover pans with clean kitchen towel, let the dough rise for another hour; preheat oven to 450 degrees

5) turn oven down to 400 degrees; bake loaves for 20 minutes

6) enjoy!

winter larger onion soup

nothing is better in the winter than SOUP! here is my recipe for "winter larger onion soup". i use sam adam's winter larger. but any good beer you like would work...this soup is excellent with a roast beef sandwich on the side!

4 small- medium yellow onions (roughly chopped)

3 tbsp butter

1 tbsp flour

1 bottle of samuel adams "winter larger"

1 32 oz carton of beef stock

1 bay leaf

1 tsp dried parsley

sea salt, pepper, garlic powder (to taste)

in a medium pot, heat butter over medium heat; add onions & season with salt and pepper; cook onions until the start to soften; add the flour, let the flour cook for 1 minute; add the beer a little at a time; stirring constantly to work in the flour; add the beef stock, bay leaf and parsley; season to taste with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, let simmer until onions cook (only 10 minutes or so).

more sledding fun!

the boys love sledding in the backyard...and i like getting them out of the house for a little while :)

homemade honey cornbread

with this cold weather... there is not much to do besides keeping warm indoors and cooking yummy food! this recipe is for a delicious honey cornbread! it is really good on its own...BUT even better with a hot bowl of chili!

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1/4 white sugar

1 cup milk or cream

1/4 cup local honey

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs (lightly beaten)

in a large mixing bowl; combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder; make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; add the oil, honey, eggs, milk; combine all ingredients; pour into a greased loaf pan, bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean!