Sweet N' Spicy Pulled Pork

When it comes to summer eating... the meat is what it's all about!  Yes, the corn on the cob is great.  And the fresh fruit is a treat.  But when it's grilling season you have to let the meat take the lead.

Even beyond grilling, smoking and slow cooking are great ways to prepare chicken, beef, and pork during lake season.  One of my favorite things to eat during the summer is pulled pork sandwiches.  And while I love BBQ sauce, the best pulled pork sandwiches have all the flavor you need cooked right into the meat.

I recently found this recipe via The Pioneer Woman which uses Dr. Pepper to create a sweet and zingy flavor that is to die for!!  My family would agree... this meat dominates!  And because you can use a crockpot to cook slowly throughout the day, it is perfect for serving large groups.

Serve the pork on some sweet onion kaiser rolls for an amazingly juicy meal (bring extra napkins)!

WHAT YOU"LL NEED:

5-7 lb pork butt roast (shoulder roast)
1 can Dr. Pepper
2 medium yellow onions (quartered)
1 can fire roasted stewed tomatoes
3 medium jalapenos (seeded and minced)
1 tsp Tabasco
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp Cajun Seasoning mix
1 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
pkg sweet onion buns
larger crockpot
*serves 10-15


WHAT YOU"LL DO:

Place the pork in the crockpot (fat side up).  Add in 1/2 can of Dr. Pepper, stewed tomatoes, quartered onions, and jalapenos.  Top with BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Tabasco and seasoning.  Cook on low heat for about 10 hours (or until pork can be pulled apart easily).  You may want to rotate the roast every few hours as well as drain some of the liquid if it begins to overfill.

When the pork is cooked through and tender, remove meat from pot, turn of the heat and set on a cutting board or clean surface.  When the meat has cooled sufficiently but is still warm, begin pulling strips of the pork of the bone (using your hands is easiest).  Remove any excess fat and grit.  As the liquid in the pot begins to cool, the excess fat will rise to the surface.  Scoop this out and throw out.  Then add the pulled meat back into the crock pot with the liquid.

If you need additional liquid, add the other half can of soda and turn heat back on low.  Cook for an additional hour so juices can be absorbed.  Check the heat and sweetness of the meat and adjust for more brown sugar if desired.  Serve out of the crock pot then, or refrigerate and reheat the next day.