Friday, July 03, 2009

SUMMERTIME ... AND THE LIVIN' IS EASY ~ SPICY PULLED PORK & COLE SLAW / BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining,
the breeze is blowing,
the birds are singing,
and the lawn mower is broken."
~James Dent


LILIUM/LILIUM/STOKESIA ( BLUE DANUBE)
DAYLILY/FROG STUPOR/ASTILBE
DAISY/MONARDA/DAYLILY
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SPICY PULLED PORK
~ A must-have for simple summer suppers adapted from a Detroit Free Press clipping
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4-5 lbs. pork shoulder blade Boston roast
or trimmed pork tenderloins
12 sandwich rolls or good hamburger buns
Rub:
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp. favorite chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. Hungarian Paprika
1/2 tsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
Sauce:
3 cup (or more as needed) favorite barbecue sauce
1/2 cup brown or yellow mustard
3 Tbsp. Tabasco sauce (or to taste)
juice of 1 lemon
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Trim most of fat from roast, remove bone and separate into 2 pieces (pork tenderloins work well and less work). Combine rub ingredients in small bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup and set aside. Spread remaining rub over all pork pieces, press into to adhere.
  • Place pork in shallow roasting pan and cover. Roast about 5 1/2 hours or until pork is very tender and pulls apart easily. (Pork can also be cooked in large slow cooker for 6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low setting.) Remove from oven and let stand about 15 minutes. Using 2 forks, pull meat apart in shreds. Sprinkle meat with remaining 1/4 cup rub mixture; mix to combine with the meat.
  • Combine barbecue sauce, mustard, Tabasco and lemon juice. If too dry, add more barbecue sauce.
  • Place pork mixture on rolls and top with Spicy Cole Slaw.
SPICY COLE SLAW
Slaw:
1 small head shredded cabbage (about 2 lbs.)
1 bunch thinly sliced green onions
1 diced bell pepper (red, yellow, orange or green)
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
Dressing:
1/2 cup reduced-fat ranch dressing
1 cup low fat mayonnaise
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tsp. celery seeds
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp. Lawry's seasoned pepper or favorite AP seasoning
Mix slaw ingredients in large bowl. Whisk together all dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Pour dressing over slaw and mix thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasonings. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours before serving. Serve on top of pulled pork.
______________________
BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE
~ Plump summer sweet blueberries are waiting for this fav recipe from Southern Living (June 2000)
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1 1/2 cup s finely ground almonds
1/4 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. soft unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. AP flour
3 (8 oz.) packages softened cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 Tbsp AP flour
1/2 tsp. salt
4 large eggs
1 (8-oz) container sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. grated lemon rind
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup whipping cream
2 tsp. sugar
2 Tbsp sour cream
garnishes: blueberries, lemon rind strips
  • Combine first 4 ingredients in small bowl. Press mixture into bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of lightly greased 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
  • Beat cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth. Combine 1 1.4 cups sugar, 3 Tbsp. flour and salt. Add to cream cheese, beating until blended.
  • Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 8-oz. container sour cream, vanilla, and lemon rind, beating just until blended. Gently stir in blueberries. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
  • Bake at 300-degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until center is firm. Turn off oven. Let cheesecake stand in oven, with over door partially open, 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven; cool in pan on wire rack 30 minutes. Cover and chill 8 hours. Release sides of pan.
  • Beat whipping cream at high speed until foamy,; gradually add 2 tsp. sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in 2 Tbsp. sour cream. Spread over cheesecake and garnish. (12 servings)

LILIUM (STARGAZER)

38 comments:

RURAL said...

Oh YUM!!!

And blueberry cheesecake on top of it all, oh this sounds soooo good.

Jen

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Joey, James Dent was correct as far as he went. He didn't leave us a quote about the mess you have when the lawn mower finally comes back from the shop;) I'll be dealing with that this weekend.

Pulled port sounds wonderful to me too. Rather than heat up the house cooking a pork shoulder I'm going to cheat and buy a couple pounds already cooked up.

Have a wonderful long weekend.
Marnie

joey said...

Yummy good, Jen. Happy Bloggin' Birthday!

Ouch Marnie! Do find time to enjoy the holiday weekend. I'm at the lake enjoying whitecaps and chilly weather but tomorrow looks promising. What happened to summer! And a year 1/2 over!

marmee said...

joey,

yummy goodness, it all sounds so good. love your daylilies and the other blooms. hope you have the happiest of fourths.

Chuck Dilmore said...

beautiful photographs - as always!
just marvelous~
C

Wayne Stratz said...

love that line about the broken lawn mower.

joey said...

... and may your favorite things surround you in continued happiness, Marmee. Happy 4th.

Thanks Chuck ... thinking of you and your delight holding the first copy of your book in print ... dreams do come true!

We're on vacation at the lake, Wayne. Thank goodness no lawn mowers were on vacation ... it's wet, wild & wonderful here.

Unknown said...

Hi Joey, your collages are always so beautiful! The blueberry cheesecake...! That sounds delicious!

A very happy 4th to you!

beckie said...

Joey, you always know the perfect meal for the occasion. These sound like a picnic in the making. Hope you are enjoying the lake and have a wonderful 4th.

Oh-the flowers are beautiful!

Katarina said...

Hi Joey, I love that quote! And I do agree with it! These days I just sit and sniff the scents of my flowers.
The collage with the pretty frog in the middle is lovley!
Enjoy your summer!
Katarina

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I really hate mowing the lawn. Even though I've converted a LOT of my lawn into beds, there's still a lot of lawn. Grrr! Um, I mean: Happy 4th!

Sweet Home and Garden Carolina said...

What time is dinner, Joey? Next to pulled chicken, pulled pork is my favorite.

Have a wonderful 4th of July. This is always the day we must have ice cold watermelon.

joey said...

Thank you, dear Kanak. Blueberry Cheesecake is always a hit. It's also been a joy visiting you and your beautiful piece of earth.

Thank you, dear Beckie, and hope the 4th is delightful for you as well. After a rainy week, today is Hubbard Lake perfect ... the boat parade starts a 1, if you're interested. With over a 27 mile shore line you might be able to make it here :)

And wishing you a stunning summer also, dear Katarina ... a time for all to sit back and enjoy awesome gifts of the season.

Don't work too hard today, Monia! Do hope the weather in Ann Arbor is as perfect as here. Happy 4th!

Aw yes, Carolyn, ice cold watermelon a must! Enjoy this delightful day, hoping Chicago is enjoying the same wonderful weather.

Catherine said...

Enjoy the lake and have a beautiful 4th Joey!! Mmmmm that blueberry cheesecake!!:)
It has been on the chilly windy side here the last couple of days..the sun peaking in & out!

Beautiful captures~ my stargazer hasn't bloomed yet, & lost one to a wind storm a few days ago!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Big Hugs!!
Cat

joey said...

Oh dear Cat ... do hope your day was wonderful. Today was Hubbard Lake perfect ... have a moment after a wonderful afternoon on the boat and now waiting for the gang to arrive for dinner and fireworks display. Will be thinking of you when the moon rises! (((BIG HUGS))

Rose said...

This pulled pork recipe sounds so much better than mine; I'm going to use it the next time I make pork BBQ. Lovely lilies--I was reading the captions underneath trying to identify them and realize I had completely overlooked the frog:) Hope you had a great Fourth!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I'm glad someone has some pretty blooms. Mine are few and far between.
Brenda

Karen - An Artists Garden said...

Hope you had a lovely holiday weekend, beautiful pictures Joey - I am particularly smitten by "frog stupor"!
K

Pat said...

Lately "pulled pork" has been one of my favorite summer meals.
And who doesn't love cheesecake !
Pretty Blooms !

joey said...

Enjoy Rose ... I love my poor little frog with his missing leg that seems quite content viewing life from his twig rocker.

Your stunning flowers are always ahead of mine, Brenda (when I drool over yours). We peak with our mild summers. Each of us enjoy unique gifts!

Our weather, family/friends have been deligthful, thank you Karen. Do hope you are on the receiving end of this also. It's delightful being here at the lake for more than 2 days.

Thanks Patsi ... thankfully summer is in full bloom and we have many more days to enjoy all our favorite food among the flowers!

Connie said...

Lovely collage of flowers! I am copying your Spicy Cole Slaw recipe to my recipe file. I have some Stargazer lilies bu they are too far away from the water, so don't get watered enough and didn't even bloom last year. :-( I need a longer hose.

Teresa~Gardening with Soule said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I am so glad you did because it brought me to yours. Your photos are just great! I like your collage presentation. It very unique. Oh and the recipes sound scrumptious. I'll be checking back to see more.

Shady Gardener said...

I knew that once I returned to visiting my favorite blogs, I'd find something special over here! ;-) Happy day!

joey said...

I was delighted to capture stargazer before I left my garden to further tweak a simple garden here at the cottage, Connie. I wish you a longer hose and happy summer gardening :)

Delighted to meet you Teresa. You have a great eye and lovely site.

You are a dear Shady and thank you. Welcome home :)

Anonymous said...

Stunning photots!
ronell

joey said...

Thanks ronell ... I will think of you on lovely evenings savoring your papaya/pineapple salad.

FO - 2 said...

Thank you for your comment and kind words. I really appreciate it! :)

Your blog here is BEAUTIFUL! :)))
Wonderful flowers and pictures!
I will be back.
See you around.

Take care and have a great summer!

Hug's from Ida in Norway.

Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said...

Hi Joey

I could handle some pulled pork with slaw! Right now, for breakfast!!!

Frances said...

Hi Joey, hope the lake retreat is treating you right! These recipes are the perfect meal for summer, yummy. Stargazer is such a beauty, and so easy to grow, your capture is perfection.
Frances

Debra Howard said...

Oh yum, yum, yum. I will definitely have to give those a try. What a great 4th of July meal. Your pictures are beautiful too.
Debbie

joey said...

Ida, delighted you visited and thank you. It will be fun to catch up with you and view your life across the sea. How wonderful to be able to view new gardens in summer and throughout the seasons :)

Rob, if I could feed you please know I would :) Both here at the lake and back home, food, family & friends fill my life. It's always a joy visiting your beautiful piece of earth and to follow joys that fill your heart.

Hugs and thanks for your kind words, Frances. I'm in between 2 wonderful worlds ... enjoying my life here at the lake yet missing my exploding July garden at home. As you well know and capture so beautifully, life is good :)

Great stuff going on in your lovely garden, Debbie. Thanks for visiting ... anxious to catch up when I get back home.

Gail said...

I love pulled pork, it's a southern thang. Joey how are you? I'm gone for a few days but feel weeks behind in visiting my favorite people. gail

joey said...

Hi Gail ... pulled pork is a family fav here also. The gang is here at the lake ... 60 relatives, here, there, and everywhere ... festive fun, family and food ... love it!

the inadvertent farmer said...

Ohhh be still my heart...blueberries AND cheesecake in one recipe. I'm off to the kitchen to make some and try to hide it before my family finds out what I've made!!! Kim

Anonymous said...

You know I got to make that cheesecake for hubby. He can't pass up a blueberry.

garden girl said...

oh yum Joey! Everything sounds delicious. I love pulled pork, and the coleslaw and cheesecake sound wonderful for a great summer meal. Your blooms are gorgeous!

joey said...

It's a good combo, Kim! Fun to nibble and hard to stop :)

Go for it, Anna ... blueberries are the best! I eat handfuls of them almost every day.

Thank you, Linda. The July garden is very busy ... a feast for the eye :) Isn't summer grand and well worth the L O N G wait!

Marysol said...

...just came by to gaze at the stargazer...and nab the blueberry cheesecake recipe.
Both look and sound amazing!

I miss you.