Favorite Football Food- Rootbeer Pulled Pork

First off, sorry no picture.  We actually had this last Sunday and I forgot to take one.

I heart pulled pork!  It is one of my favorite foods, especially cooked this way.  I also love Cafe Rio style pulled pork, but this is just a fun twist.  We had it first at my friend Carrie's house this past February.  I'm so lucky she shows me all these yummy recipes.  I got the recipe from her and tweaked it a bit, then I saw it in the Betty Crocker cookbook just how I make it!  So here's the recipe via Betty Crocker.

Pulled Pork with Root Beer Sauce 

1 2 1/2-3 pound pork roast

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp oil

1-2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges 

6 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups root beer, divided

1 cup bottled chili sauce

1/4 tsp root beer concentrate (optional)

several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)

hamburger buns

cabbage(optional)

cheddar slices (optional)

1.  Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper.  In a large skillet, brown meat on all sides in hot oil.  Drain off fat and transfer meat to crock pot.  Add onion, one cup of the  rootbeer and the garlic.

2. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

3. For sauce- in a sauce pan stir together the remaining 3 cups of rootbeer and chili sauce.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 2 cups.(This usually takes about an hour for me so plan accordingly!) If desired add concentrate and hot pepper sauce.  

4. Transfer meat to a cutting board or plate.  Using 2 forks, pull meat apart into shreds.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion to plate, discard cooking juices.  Place meat on hamburger buns, with desired toppings and root beer sauce.

Oh man, this stuff is so good.  I must be hungry!  A couple of things- don't use diet rootbeer and watch carefully when the sauce starts to boil.   You do NOT want to clean this stuff up after it boils over! 

Joy Blocks

UPDATE!  I made these at Christmastime but I still love them and have some more beadboard cut to make something spring-y!

I loved these Joy Plaques on Shanty2Chic and wanted to give them a try for the holiday bazaar.  I think the whole black and white and burlap is really pretty.  But I had gotten a sheet of beadboard last time I was at the hardware store so I decided to use that instead of burlap.

Here is the first set I did.  I used vinyl letters on the beadboard then hot glued them to the wood blocks and pounded in some upholstery tacks.   I ended up not doing the candlestick thing because I didn't want to spend the money and time(it was a last minute addition to the lineup.)

I liked the black and white but I LOVE color and had an idea when I first started thinking about doing these to use a poinsetta for the "o".  I took all the plastic off of the flower and hotglued it back together, adding a vintage looking pearl button.  Then I glued it to the beadboard.  Also under the beadboard I mod podged on some scrapbook paper.  This is a really pretty green paper from the mistletoe line by Making Memories.

(sorry if its hard to tell I was taking pictures of these as I was wrapping them up at 11 pm!) 

This one is my favorite even though it doesn't match my Christmas decorations.  It is a paper I had in my stash that is aqua with red and cream on it.  Its hard to describe but I love the whole combination!

(Click on the pictures to get a better idea!)

 

 

 I painted these blocks red and used the black and white polka dot paper from the Mistletoe line.  These were my mom's favorite.  I must get my love of polka dots from her!

I'm giving Darin a break from cutting wood this week, but next week I'm gonna make another set, with the candlesticks I think.  And I need to make some for my Mom for being such a HUGE help this past weekend.  Let me know which ones you want Mama!

(EDITED) I'm linking these to DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land.

My first craft fair!

I did it!  I lived to tell the tale.  Let me tell you, these things are not for the procrastinator.  I tried really hard not to be but it caught up with me. 

Here's my main table.  I had countdown blocks with some really fun paper.  I actually have a couple more orders for my favorite so I'll put pictures of them in there.  I also made some JOY blocks and had wood signs, and some burlap banners.

 Sorry its hard to tell but with the light coming in the windows I couldn't get very good pictures

I also had fabric flower pins on the trees, a couple of pillows and sold just the vinyl for blocks and signs.  There was a line outside the door at 8:30.  The doors opened at nine.  I was impressed.  Until everyone beelined for the bake sale.  I guess the apple pies are the hot ticket.  They sold out in 10 minutes!

There was also some dresses and skirts, onesies, hats and barrettes.  I was right by the front door so I was maybe the second thing people saw when they came in and the last thing on the way out.  Good location?  Who knows.  The only downside really was the cold air every time the door was opened-which was constant.  Over 1600 people came to this thing!

It was really fun.  I now know what its like and more what to expect.   I don't know how people do these things all the time though.  I think I'm definitely taking a break and locking the craft room door.  for at least today!

Favorite Things Craft Fair

Come see me here!  I've got some countdown blocks, some other vinyl stuff that I love and then I made a bunch of pins, hair bows and barrettes.  I also have some little girls skirts and dresses and some other random stuff.  Come check it out!

Ruffly Christmas Tree

 I was sewing all last night for a holiday bazaar I am doing and was over it.  Then I saw this cuteness on Ruffles and Stuff.  I immediately went and grabbed a onesie from my stash since Ivy was asleep (it was midnight) and I couldn't get to one of her shirts. 

How cute is that?

I just grabbed a couple of strips of fabric from my scrap basket and ruffled it up.

The brown I stitched down the middle and the green I gathered at the top. Cut into the lengths you want and sew them on to what ever shirt you want.  So easy and SO cute.

 

Thanks Disney for such a cute idea! I can't wait to make one for Ivy, plus ten more!