FabMom Dinner Idea - Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Easy Black Beans and Rice

FabMom's Slowcooker Pulled Pork

This is a slowcooker recipe you can start in the morning and have a delicious pulled pork when you get home.  You will want to start this no later than 11am to make sure it is done and tender by dinner time.

You will need: pork shoulder, canola oil, salt, pepper, BBQ sauce, flour, can of dark soda.

Step 1 - Take a nice pork shoulder (a very inexpensive cut of meat) and season with salt and pepper and a light coating of flour on one side.  Get a fry pan hot with a tablespoon or two of canola oil, and sear the pork on one side.  While searing, season the unseasoned side with the salt, pepper, and flour.  Turn and sear each side of the meat.  This is not a necessary step, but I find it makes it so much more tender (you can skip this and just season with salt and pepper).

Step 2 - Place the seared pork shoulder right into your crockpot.  Add 1 can of dark soda (Pepsi, Coke, Rootbeer or Dr. Pepper).  Top with about 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ Sauce, I prefer smoky sweet with my pork.  Special Note: Do NOT use a diet soda unless you are ok with the aftertaste.

Step 3 - if you are home all day:
Now, if you will be at home, I recommend the high setting for half the day, then use a fork to pul the meat apart using 2 forks, removing the extra fat and any bones (usually 2 or 3) and turn it on the low setting for the second half of cooking.  I also typically turn it off for the last 30 minutes to cool down a it with the top ajar, so it's not piping hot for my hungry impatient kids.

Step 3 - if you will not be home all day:
If you plan on being gone all day, then simply start it early and set it on low.  When you return home around dinner time, use 2 forks to shred it and remove the fat and bones and let it cool a bit with the cover slightly ajar with the power off.

Serve with your favorite BBQ Sauce.

FabMom's Easy Black Beans and Rice

You will need: rice, can of black beans, salt, pepper, something spicy like cajun season, cayenne or crushed red peppers, canola oil, butter, and diced fresh tomatoes (optional).

Step 1 - cook some rice according to package directions.  I prefer slow cooking brown rice for its extra fiber and nutrition, but any rice will do.  To serve a family of 4, I use 3/4 to 1 cup of dry rice with twice that amount in water plus a dash of canola oil and salt.

Step 2 - To a hot fry pan, add 1 tablespoon of canola or olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.  Add 1/4 cup of onions (white or yellow) and cook until translucent.  Add in 1 can of drained and rinsed black beans.  Season with some garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and something spicy like cajun season, cayenne or crushed red peppers (to taste).  Cook until beans are warmed.

Step 3 - Add the rice into the pan and heat through.  If it gets to sticky, add a dash of oil or water.

Step 4 - If you have any, I like to add 1/2 cup or so of diced fresh tomatoes to the top right before serving.