30 Days of Thankfulness, Day 17

November 17, 2010 - Every year, you will see the same thing for November 17th. I'm thankful for my dad! Today is my dad's birthday! He's very lucky to have his birthday in November b/c its guaranteed that it will be what I am thankful for on the 17th. No one else in the family gets a "30 Days of Thankfulness" post, but it doesn't mean I'm not thankful for getting to celebrate each of them. I love my dad and I am so blessed that he is in my life. I'm so very thankful and blessed that God allowed him to be my dad. Tonight, my parents came into town for an OSU Basketball game. Since they weren't getting here until 6pm (and we eat out all the time), I decided to make dinner. I made a pot roast with potatoes, onions and carrots. I also made green beans and beer bread. For dessert, I made The Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie with homemade crust! YUM!!!!! It was a really nice night! I loved being able to celebrate my dad's birthday with him.

I also have to say that I am so thankful that I finally had a day to cook and bake and clean the house! It was just wonderful! :)

Slow Cooked Puerto Rican Pulled Pork

from The Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen

4 lbs Pork Shoulder/Butt
6 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
4 tsp salt

Combine garlic, pepper, oregano olive oil, vinegar, and salt. Rub pork with the garlic mixture and regrigerate overnight.
When ready, drop inot the crockpot on low for 8 hours.
Done! Consume with vigor.
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Well, as usual, I procrastinate. :) I forgot what I was making for Sunday, which means I forgot to thaw the pork. So, I set the crockpot on high and place the frozen pork in it to thaw. After one hour, I put the rub on the pork. On one side, I eyeball about one tbsp each of the olive oil and vinegar. Rub it in. Then I shake the pepper and oregano on to my liking, 3 cloves of garlic and 2 tsp of salt. Rub all of that on the top. I flipped the pork and did the same to the other side.

I left the crock pot on high for 7 hours. About half-way through, I flipped the pork once more. The last few hours. I sliced the pork. About an hour before I served it, I took a fork and knife and shredded the pork.

My pork was only 2 lbs, but I still stuck with the recipe. I probably used more vinegar, oil and oregano than what was called for. I also used apple cider vinegar instead of white just b/c its what I already had.

I loved this....and Ken said it was one of the best dishes I've ever made!!!! It was really good!!!!

Mini-Meatball Sandwiches

by The Pioneer Woman

1-lb ground chuck or ground beef
1/2 cup panko or other bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup Milk (I used skim)
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion (I used a whole medium onion)
1 jar marinara sauce (I used Hunt's Traditional canned sauce)
12 whole dinner rolls (I used the sweet King's Hawaiian)
Provolone Cheese

In large bowl, mix meat with bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and milk. Knead together with hands. Roll into heaping tablespoon-sized meatballs (I just divided mine evenly to make 12).

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for one minute, or until onions are soft and golden brown. Add meatballs between the onions and brown on all sides.

Pour in jar of marinara; shake pan gently to mix. Put on lid and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. (I continued to shake the pan every few minutes).

When ready to serve, cut each dinner roll in half. Place a wedge of provolone cheese on top and bottom of each roll. Spoon some sauce and a meatball on the bottom bun; top with the top bun.

Serve immediately.

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WE LOVED THIS!!!!! And I will definitely make it again....SOON!!!!!! YUM!!!!!