Taco Tuesday

I make the best salsa. It is seriously some addictive stuff, and a few days ago, I put my salsa-making skills to great use by setting up a make-your-own taco bar with slow-cooked pulled pork.

I don’t cook pork very often; this particular pork roast was my very first, and I was nervous and excited to be making something I knew my husband would love.

I started with a big ol’ pork shoulder that was organic, hormone free, and humanely raised. You won’t see meat in our house otherwise.

Pulled pork isn’t pretty.

But I will tell you about it anyway. I started with one of my Foodbuzz Festival freebies, Tyler Florence’s Brown Sugar Pork Rub.

My fear of trichinosis means that I wasn’t touching the pork with my bare hands, no way, no how. I instead used the back of a spoon to rub the spices into the pork. In addition to the Tyler Florence mix, I also rubbed in cumin and garlic powder. I then placed the hunk of pork in my trusty slow cooker, poured in 2 cups of water, and added about a half a can of frozen tomato paste. I also added a small yellow onion, chopped, a few chopped jalapenos, and a few cloves of crushed garlic.

Cover and cooked on low for hours and hours, checking in every now and then. Once the meat was cooked through, I used forks to shred it in the sauce.

Like I said, pulled pork isn’t pretty! But oh my goodness, did this taste good!

Now for the salsa.

My salsa is simple: a can of fire roasted tomatoes, 1/4 red onion, 4 cloves of garlic, 2 jalapenos, and a generous sprinkling of cilantro, all tossed in the Cuisinart and chopped until the desired consistency. I have probably said it before, but if I had a choice, salsa would most definitely be part of my last meal.

I served up the pulled pork in whole wheat tortilla wraps from Trader Joe’s, topped with salsa, guacamole, cheese, and lime juice.

I added a few extra jalapenos to mine since I am spicy like that  

I have an appointment this afternoon, then am planning a tough elliptical workout followed by wine class. And tomorrow is the big Thanksgiving travel day! I can’t wait to see my niece and nephew and my cousins who moved to Ohio last year. I love this week because everyone slows down for family time and of course because of all of the great food, the Christmas music, and the holiday buzz in the air.

What is your all time favorite holiday and/or holiday tradition?