Finn's Birthday Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Here's a relatively easy recipe that the whole family will enjoy...

3 Tablespoons, canola oil

4lbs., cut into 3 equal pieces, boneless pork shoulder

1 finely chopped yellow onion

3/4 cup, Cider Vinegar

3/4 cup, Ketchup
1/3 cup, firmly packed, Brown sugar

1/4 cup, Molasses

1 Tablespoons, Worcestershire sauce

2 Teaspoons, Red pepper flakes

1 Teaspoon, Dry mustard

Salt and pepper

Soft sandwich rolls of choice.

Makes 6-8 servings

1. Brown the pork

       In large frying pan over medium high heat warm the oil.  Add the pork and brown on all sides, about 12 minutes total.  Transfer to a Dutch oven or Slow cooker.

2. Make the sauce and cook the pork.

       Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon fat from pan and return to medium high heat.  Add onion and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes.  Add the vinegar and stir to scrape up the browned bits on the pan bottom.  Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, mustard and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.  Cook, stirring, just until the mixture begins to bubble.  Pour over pork.  If using a Dutch oven, cover and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until tender, about 2 hours.  If using a slow cooker, cover and cook on the high heat setting for about 4-5 hours or the low heat setting for 8-10 hours.

3. Shred the pork and serve.

       Transfer the pork to a platter.  Using 2 forks, pull the pork to shreds, discarding any large pieces of fat.  Skim the fat from the sauce.  Return the pork to the sauce and stir to combine.  

Serve the pork and sauce with rolls and let the diners assemble their own sandwiches.

Enjoy!  Bryan

A good day. A normal day.

Today was a good day.  Does that mean that tomorrow will be a good day?  Maybe.  Who's got time to think about tomorrow?  I'm too busy basking in the glow of a day that was, well,  good.

Worst part? I'm not really too sure I know what made it a good day.   Looking back, we didn't  do anything particularly "out of the ordinary".  It's not like we went to the zoo.  In fact, I think it was probably a little dull today, what with food shopping, and the same old visit to Carl Schurz park.  Finn was actual a bit too peppy for my taste.  For him, everything was fun and exciting.  He was making friends, sharing toys, the whole deal.  While I sat quietly on the bench drinking a cup of coffee, Finn was off growing up.


With the new baby coming in a couple of months, it nice having these just normal days.  Although at times they can be grinding and repetitive.  I mean, how many times can I say, "We don't feed the dog!", "Sit down in that chair, on your bottom, Mr!" and "Say help, please if you need something".  We all get worn out, at any job.  But those days where the schedule works, the stomachs are full, the legs are tired, and tomorrow, to us and them, is exciting, are always welcome.

The art of toddler diaper changes

Who wants to walk around in a poopy diaper?  Not anyone I know.   Oh wait, yes, my 21 month old son, Finn.  How could I forget?  I suppose it is not that he prefers the dirty diaper to a clean one, but that he just doesn't have time to slow down for a change.  Around every corner is a new discovery, a new experience unfolding before his eyes.  Who has time to stop and stare at the ceiling while someone wipes and cleans you?  Hmm, sounds pretty good to me.

Here's the play by play: with one arm I am able to hold him down while off come the pants.  Then the legs start kicking.  You have to watch out for a stray leg.  Although small, toddlers have strong legs and are willing to show you what you what it really means to "kick".

Next come the diapers.  Who knows whats lurking beneath those two tabs that hold the diaper together?  The nose knows!  This is a stinky one.  So now, not only do we have squirm dog millionaire kicking and screaming, but also a loaded diaper?  When will it end?  In about 16 years, if you push for an out of state college.  Back to the mess...

Not sure about other kids, but my son can randomly end up with horrible diaper rash, seemingly coming from nowhere.  So bad, that sometimes a soak in tepid water, and a hair dryer on cold air to completely dry his bum is not only good, but quite necessary.  Using a cup of lukewarm water and dipping the wipe in it helps to soothe the burn that comes from "gentle wipes".

Once he is clean and dry, I quickly move to the new diaper.  Timing is everything now.  Having the diaper handy and not in some drawer will help to shave off valuable seconds that could mean the difference between a quick change, or a long drawn-out search for a diaper while the little one runs around the house half naked.  Although for some diaper rash, these fresh air, non-diaper moments are just what the rear end needs.

Finally, after a diaper is in position, the cream is applied.  I am a fan of the thick and often technique.  (Does anyone have a home recipe for diaper rash cream?)  A classic move is of course the wiggle that causes a liberal application of cream to the inner thigh.  I quickly ignore this, apply another layer in the correct spot, then after securing the diaper, clean up the leg.  It's all about staying with the plan, change that diaper, everything else is just details.

Some kids outgrow this battle quite quickly, for others it continues to some extent until potty learning is complete.  My son hasn't quite decided to give the potty a chance yet.  So for now, the battle wages on and once everything is said and done, he is a lot happier playing with trucks when he is nice and clean- he just doesn't know it yet.