Raise your bloggy hands if you're having a BBQ this weekend! What? You can't raise your hands and type at the same time? You should see someone about that.
Don't worry guys, I tried it out first for you. I had a party just so I could blog for YOU... well and so I could drink lots of beer and sing Stevie Nicks in my backyard with my friends. "Just like the white winged dove, sing a song, sounds like she's singing... BBQ BBQ BBQ." Sing like you mean it girl.
We had a crowd, so needed something 1) low maintenance and 2) cheap. Pulled pork is a natural and since this wasn't a seated meal, I served in taco form, rather than the traditional bun.
Tacos in action...
If you're going to make something simple, the key is to do it really well. For me, that meant making homemade BBQ sauce.
Spiced and ready to simmer.
You're know it's done when it's reduced by about half. Also... taste it... it's done when it tastes good.
Pour homemade sauce over 2-inch chunks of pork shoulder. I've added a few chipotle chilis and adobo for extra smokey flavor.
Now for the waiting. Try your hardest not to open the lid... the pressure is what makes the slow cooker work. Advise husband to keep hands off or even consider a sassy note.
After about six hours (during which you clean up your cluttered apartment), you're ready to shred some pork. Nothing fancy needed here... two forks will get 'er done.
Tortillas are ready at the wait.
Finished tacos again. Also... when you drink lots of yummy beers in your backyard, you sometimes forget to take more than one photo of your finished food. Also, when your friends drink lots of yummy beers in your backyard, they will think this is the most delicious thing ever.
BBQ Pulled Pork
5lbs pork shoulder, cut in 2-inch chunks
3 cups BBQ sauce
4 chipotle chilis, in adobo
For the BBQ Sauce -- makes 4 cups
6 garlic cloves
3 cups ketchup
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
3 teaspoons BBQ spice
1 tablespoon applewood smoke spice (or substitute with Liquid Smoke)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
S&P
Combine BBQ sauce ingredients and simmer for 45 minutes (or until reduced by half). Place pork into slow cooker, top with chipotle chilis and 3 cups BBQ sauce. Cover slow cooker and set on low for 6 hours.
Once cooked, use two forks to shred pork. Combine with remaining 1 cup of BBQ sauce and serve in warmed corn tortillas, topped with coleslaw.