Saturday, July 12, 2014

Simmering Pork Shoulder

At the beginning of the week, I really hurt my back. I saw my Doctor on Wednesday, he wouldn't add any more pain medication because of when I had kidney failure earlier this year. He did prescribe patches to help ease the pain. The patches feel like squishy wet jello on my back! He also put me on bed rest. Yeah right, would be nice! Bubba and the crew depend on me for everything. Bed rest isn't in their vocabulary, unless they're hurt. Then I have uber children on my hands, complete with bells to ring when they want something.

Pork cooked in a slow-cooker becomes so tender it almost melts in your mouth. This fragrant, Asian-style stew is simmered for hours in a combination of soy sauce, dry sherry, fresh ginger, and orange peel. The children can fend for themselves tonight, while I rest in bed!!!

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 CUP PACKED BROWN SUGAR
  • 1/4 CUP DRY SHERRY
  • 1/4 CUP SEASONED RICE VINEGAR
  • 1/4 CUP PLUS 1 TABLESPOON REDUCED-SODIUM SOY SAUCE
  • 1 MEDIUM ONION, CHOPPED
  • 1 PIECE { 2-INCHES } FRESH GINGER, PEELED AND THINLY SLICED INTO ROUNDS
  • 2 CLOVES GARLIC, GRATED
  • 2 STRIPS { 3 X 1/4-INCH EACH } ORANGE PEEL
  • 1 CINNAMON STICK { 3-INCHES }
  • 1 WHOLE STAR ANISE
  • 1 POUND PEELED BABY CARROTS
  • 4 POUNDS WELL-TRIMMED BONELESS PORK SHOULDER, CUT INTO 1 1/2-INCH PIECES { SEE TIP }
  • 2 BAGS { 10 OUNCES EACH } FROZEN BROCCOLI FLORETS, THAWED

 

Directions:

  1. In a 6 1/2-quart slow-cooker bowl, combine brown sugar, sherry, vinegar, and 1/4 cup soy sauce. Stir in onion, ginger, garlic, orange peel, cinnamon, star anise, and carrots. Top with pork; do not stir. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours.
  2. When pork has cooked 8 hours, uncover and stir in broccoli, Cover and cook until broccoli is heated through, about 10 minutes.
  3. Discard cinnamon and star anise. Skim and discard fat from cooking liquid. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
  
ACTIVE TIME: 30 MINUTES
SLOW-COOK TIME: 8 HOURS ON LOW
MAKES: 10 MAIN-DISH SERVINGS

TIP: If the pork isn't well trimmed when you buy it, purchase 5 pounds and cut away the excess fat and skin to yield 4 pounds of solid meat.



  

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