Sunday, September 12, 2010
Best Pulled Pork
1-6 to 8 lb. pork shoulder (I normally use a 10 lb shoulder, chop in half and place in two ziploc bags with double the spice rub.)
1/4 cup water (optional – depends on how much sauce you want to form)
For the spice rub (from Cook’s Illustrated):
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ground white pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (or up to 2 tsp if you like it spicy)
2 tablespoons ground cumin
4 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 tablespoons salt
Mix together the spice rub in a large Ziploc bag, shaking it to combine the spices thoroughly. Add the pork shoulder and vigorously shake the bag until the pork is fully covered in the spice rub. Place the bag with the pork shoulder in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (the longer the pork is allowed to marinate, the stronger the flavor will be).
On cooking day, remove the pork shoulder from the Ziploc bag and place it in the crock pot. Add the ¼ cup of water, if desired, and place the pot on low. Cover the pot with the lid and allow to cook for an hour. Turn the pork shoulder over after an hour and continue to cook for another hour. Turn the pork shoulder over one more time and let it continue to cook for another four hours. After six hours, check to see if the pork is starting to tenderize. With the larger pork shoulder, the estimated time for tender meat is about 9 hours total. If it is, shred the pork using a fork (or tongs) and stir the shredded meat around in the sauce created during the slow roasting. Cook for another 30 minutes to an hour (depending on your crock pot). You can serve the pulled pork by itself or with a barbecue sauce (but honestly, it's not necessary).
Enjoy!!!
New Favorite Hamburger Bun Recipe
The following recipe created quite a stir when it was first posted on our message board page, www.bakingcircle.com. Baker after baker tried these buns and declared them THE BEST. Soft, vaguely sweet and golden-yellow from the butter and egg, these simple buns are perfect for burgers, but also fine for any kind of sandwich.
Hands-on time: 25 mins. Baking time: 15 mins. Total time: 2 hrs 40 mins.
Yield: 8 buns
3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons butter
1 large egg
3 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon instant yeast
Directions
1) Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients—by hand, mixer, or bread machine—to make a soft, smooth dough.
2) Cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 hour, or until it's doubled in bulk.
3) Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round 1" thick (more or less); flatten to about 3" across. Place the buns on a lightly greased baking sheet, cover, and let rise for about an hour, until very puffy.
4) If desired, brush buns with melted butter. Or brush lightly with egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water), and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
5) Bake the buns in a preheated 375°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes, till golden. Cool on a rack.
Some baker tips:
For best results (a smooth, slightly soft dough), use the smaller amount of water in summer (or in a humid environment), the greater amount in winter (or in a dry climate).
When making anything with yeast, including these rolls, let the dough rise to the point the recipe says it should, e.g., "Let the dough rise till it's doubled in bulk." Rising times are only a guide; there are so many variables in yeast baking (how you knead the dough; what kind of yeast you use) that it's impossible to say that bread dough will ALWAYS double in bulk in a specific amount of time.
What's the easiest way to shape buns? Gently deflate the dough, and form it into a smooth 8" log. Slice the log as though you were slicing cinnamon buns. Gently pull each slice into a circle.
Brushing buns with melted butter will give them a soft, light golden crust. Brushing with an egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1
tablespoon water to combine) will give them a shinier, darker crust. For seeded buns, brush with the egg wash; it'll make the seeds adhere.
My New Mexican Rice
Black-Bean and Tomato QuinoaGourmet | July 2007
Quinoa is a fast-cooking, protein-packed whole grain. Steamed, it makes a perfect partner for lime-spiked black beans and fresh tomato. Yield: Makes 4 (side dish) servingsActive Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes 2 teaspoons grated lime zest 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon sugar 1 cup quinoa 1 (14- to 15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 2 medium tomatoes, diced 4 scallions, chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro Whisk together lime zest and juice, butter, oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Wash quinoa in 3 changes of cold water in a bowl, draining in a sieve each time. Cook quinoa in a medium pot of boiling salted water (1 tablespoon salt for 2 quarts water), uncovered, until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Drain in sieve, then set sieve in same pot with 1 inch of simmering water (water should not touch bottom of sieve). Cover quinoa with a folded kitchen towel, then cover sieve with a lid (don't worry if lid doesn't fit tightly) and steam over medium heat until tender, fluffy, and dry, about 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat and remove lid. Let stand, still covered with towel, 5 minutes. Add quinoa to dressing and toss until dressing is absorbed, then stir in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to tast Per serving: 382 calories, 12 g fat (4 g saturated), 15 mg cholesterol, 446 mg sodium, 55 g carbohydrate, 10 g fiber, 14 g protein |