Cooking Ahead Before Surgery

My ACL repair surgery is coming up next Thursday, so I have been in my nesting phase in the few days I have left at home.  Aside from cleaning (and finally taking down the basement Christmas tree!!) I have been cooking meals to store in my freezer for days when I don't feel like getting up to hobble around the kitchen!

I bought a bunch of aluminum pans and gallon sized ziploc bags to store the meals in the freezer.

Rigatoni with Meat Sauce - I think we all know how to make this?

Alice Springs Chicken Casserole



BBQ Crockpot Pulled Pork:



Cheesy Enchilada Bake with Quinoa:



Betty Crocker's Chili: (I always add 1 tsp of Cumin and 1/2 cup diced carrots)




Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches:

 

French Toast Casserole:

Pulled Pork Sliders - Two Ways!

When we are skiing for the weekend, I love to plan for slow cooker meals. In the past month, I've tried two totally different recipes for Pulled Pork Sandwiches...and I'm a sucker for a slider, so I serve them on tiny dinner rolls. Want to make your own Buttery Dinner Rolls? Check out my favorite recipe!

The first recipe I found in my Good Housekeeping magazine last month. It is more of a traditional, tomato-based recipe, that would work with beef or pork roast.

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup(s) ketchup
1/3 cup(s) cider vinegar
1/4 cup(s) packed brown sugar
1/4 cup(s) tomato paste
2 tablespoon(s) sweet paprika
2 tablespoon(s) Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoon(s) yellow mustard
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
1 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground black pepper
4 pound(s) boneless pork shoulder blade roast (fresh pork butt), cut into 4 pieces

Directions:

Combine the first 10 ingredients in your slow cooker then add your pork, turning until well coated.

Cook on low 8-10 hours until very tender.

I like to shred the pork with two forks right in the bowl of the slow cooker, then stir to coat with the sauce.

I found the second recipe for Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork on Pinterest, originating at C & C Marriage Factory.

Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork

Ingredients:

1 (2 pound) boneless pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 cup water


Glaze:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions:

Combine sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Rub over roast.

Place in slow cooker with 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

About 1 hour before roast is done, combine ingredients for glaze in small sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture thickens.

The instructions tell you to baste the roast during the last hour of cooking then serve the rest of the sauce on the side, but I poured all the glaze in the slow cooker and then shredded the pork at the end of an hour and served on tiny buns.

A second batch of sauce would have been good as a condiment, but the pork had plenty of flavor without it.

This is a vinegary recipe reminiscent of North Carolina style pulled pork. Yummy with a pickle on top!