When I get huge amounts of meat like that I like to  slow cook it.  I can’t remember if I posted the pulled pork sandwiches ..I don’t think I did.  In fact…I have a huge number of posts to catch up on.  Anyway, to slow cook a large batch of pork roast, just salt and pepper it generously and toss it in the slow cooker with 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of chipotle, and some onion.  I slow cooked mine for a full 24 hours but there was about 20 lbs in there.  I cooked it until it shredded easily.  Then I bag it in portion sized amounts in freezer bags.  Simple dinners.

O.k..on to the Pork Tacos.

These were really quite quick because the pork was all ready cooked.  I warmed it slowly while I was making the salsa.

The key to this salsa is really ripe mangoes.  This recipe is based on the one in Bobby Flay’s Mesa Cookbook.

Black Bean and Mango Salsa

• 2 cups black beans, cooked and rinsed
• 2 very ripe mangoes, peeled and diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon lime zest
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/8 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• a splash of balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon agave syrup
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup chopped, fresh cilantro
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir gently to combine.  Allow flavors to blend for 30 minutes.

For Tacos

• 16 corn tortillas, warmed and kept warm in a moist towel
• 4 cups of shredded, cooked pork
• 1/2 lb aby spinach leaves
• Mango salsa

Place a few spinach leaves on the tortilla.  Top with 1/4 cup of the pork and then a few tablespoons of the salsa.

Serves 8

Images:maryeaudet

Post from: Baking Delights

These cookies were made with cocoa krispies, and marshmallows!

If you have never checked out Ree at Confessions of a Pioneer Woman, you have really missed out on some good reading. When she created a second blog, with recipes, well that was just too cool. She put several Superbowl Recipes together with her fantastic photography skills..Check out Pioneer Woman Cooks

Renee, at 2 Peas in a Pod, posts a recipe for Bacon Bites. My family resists NOTHING that has bacon in it.

Some of the recipes from the vault here at Baking Delights:

Spicy Mango Habenero Sauce

Tie Dyed Tortilla Chips

Classic Yellow Cake with Bittersweet Chocolate Frosting

Cookie Dough Brownies

Veggie Wraps with Olive Tapenade

Kids Superbowl Recipes

Any of the New Year’s Appetizers with work!

Betta Bruschetta from Valli at More Thank Burnt Toast

Wendy, from Barefoot in the Kitchen has a great recipe for Pork and Broccoli, For Superbowl serving I would make it and use it as a filling for a calzone type sandwich, or even in crusty rolls. It is just different enough to go over well with my family.

Superbowl parties are easy. Lay out trays of finger foods, sandwich items, breads, rolls, and lots and lots of chips! Just let everyone dig in at their own rate.

I think we are doing sloppy joes, chips, and brownies here…but we will have to see what I get done this afternoon…speaking of which..I need to get going!
Image Courtesy of Morgue File

Post from: Baking Delights

Yeah, it is pretty much down to the wire, isn’t it? Whether you need a few last minute things to round out the table or you need a whole buffet of last minute appetizers we have ya covered!

Here are some quick and easy appetizer ideas

1. Run to the local store and pick up several good cheeses and some pears and apples, and maybe a pomegranate.  Slice the pears and apple thinly and lay a slice of cheese over it. Mount the pomegranate in the middle of the tray. Cut small clusters of red grapes to garnish. Serve smoked almonds.  Cheese to try?

• edam
• gouda
• dubliner
• cheshire
• Tillamook aged cheddar
•  camembert
• chevre -especially a peppered chevre..yum!
• mimolette
• manchego

For a nice pomegranate compote, check out this recipe from the California Pomegranate Council.

Holiday Pomegranate Compote

Seeds from 2 medium pomegranates, about 1-1/2 cups
1 tablespoon finely chopped orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice
1/2 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon salt

Gently fold together pomegranate seeds and remaining ingredients.

Makes 1-1/2 cups.

Try serving that with some Carrs Water Crackers and a slice of gouda.

2. Grab a shrimp platter. Take a Carrs Cracker, put a tsp of Thai sweet/hot chili on the cracker and top with a shrimp.

3. Savory Puff Pastry Squares -made with frozen puff pastry (it takes about 20 minutes to thaw!)

4. New York Times list of 101 appetizers you can make in 20 minutes or less!

5. Melt jalapeno jelly and pour over a block of cream cheese. Serve with crackers. I am odd, but I like it with graham crackers or Lorna Doones. Something about the combo of sweet/hot/tangy

6. Fondue- Seriously you can dip anything in melted cheese and have it taste good. Steamed tiny new potatoes, pearl onions, squares of french bread, apple, pear..whatever. This cheese fondue  is another of Valli’s spectacular recipes!

7. Popcorn! Everyone likes it. Toss with a few sprinkles of taco seasoning.

8.  Make roll-ups. Take flour tortillas, spread with cream cheese, sprinkle with chopped green onion and dried cranberries, lay a slice of ham or smoked turkey over it and roll tightly. Cut on the diagonal in 3 or more pieces.

9. Fried Ravioli from Food Network starts with purchased ravioli. Rather than the marinara suggested make a

10. olive oil/garlic dip or….

11. a pesto dip.

How about a selection of foods; shrimp, chicken breast skewers, chips, tortilla chips, crudites, sliced fruit, toasted french bread, gingersnaps, vanilla wafers, even animal cookies- with dips like:

12. Chipotle Chili Black Bean Dip 

13. Chevre Dip with Lavender & Honey

14. Pumpkin Dip 

15. Mexican Cheese Dip
16 Hot Crab Dip in a Bread Round

17. Vidalia Onion Dip

If you want something more substantial try:

18.Apple Chicken Quesadillas 

19.  Olive and sun dried tomato crostini

20. Pick up some artisan bread, like black olive or sourdough, and make small sandwiches with a slice of cheese and a fresh tomato.

21 . Seriously, buy Milky Way Bars and cut into 3-4 pieces. Slide on a skewer with a slice of banana, followed by a marachino cherry.

22.  Pour a big bag of Holiday M & M’s in a crustal bowl the middle of the table. Place big pretzel rods in a bowl of vanilla icing, sticking straight up. Guests take the pretzel from the icing and roll in the M&M’s. How cool are you?

23. Chex Mix. You know you want it.

24. Make skewers of small squares chocolate cake, followed by a cherry, followed by a small ball of cream cheese rolled in chopped pecans of walnuts. Call it Unconstructed Black Forest Cake.

25.  In a pinch take a stroll through the freezer section of the grocery. There are usually all kinds of possibilities from mini cream puffs to guacamole.

Most of all..relax and have fun. Happy New Year from my house to yours!

Post from: Baking Delights

  But hey, it is a good excuse to sit and check out blogs and websites, right?

  Well I had heard some rumors of a tie dyed cheesecake so I started searching..and what to my wondering eyes should appear but this picture and tantalizing information from Pop Food at  SlashFood
well it looks so cool I absolutely had to find the recipe…and here it is, recipe:
Ingredients:

For cake crust:
1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix (or white cake mix with red food coloring), prepared according to box directions

For cheesecake:
16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs
¼ cup sour cream
Pink, yellow, blue, green and purple food coloring

Directions:

Pour 1/2 of cake mix into a greased 9-inch springform pan and bake according to the directions on the box for a 9-inch layer cake. Discard extra batter (yeah right! I would discard it into thenearest bowl and use a spoon before anyone else came in the kitchen). Allow cake layer to cool completely in the pan. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 325F degrees.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and almond extract until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add in sour cream.

Divide mixture into 5 small bowls and add each of the following colors to one bowl: pink, yellow, blue, green and purple. Pour batters onto cake base in the 9-inch springform pan. Swirl them together carefully; do not swirl too much, so the colors will be clearly visible.

Bake 35 minutes, until the center is set . Allow to cool completely and refrigerate before serving. Run a knife around the cake to release it before removing sides of pan. Serves 12.

I think it looks really fun! Can you imagine this as the centerpiece at a 60’s party?

Post from: Baking Delights