Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meal Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meals… platters where you can just pick at them while sipping wine and catching up with a friend. Chances are, if you come over for a meal, you’re getting an assortment of things to nosh on, maybe a mix of homemade appetizers… but just an array of deliciousness you can snack on whilst enjoying the evening. 

I’ve been wanting to make a lox platter for awhile now, so here we are. I sprinkled some Everything But the Bagel seasoning onto smoked lox and then added sliced cucumbers and radishes to the platter along with sliced bialys and crackers. Dipping items are a must so I included hummus and tzatziki. A fun platter just to nibble from, but a bialys sandwich with everything stuffed in it was pretty perfect too. Hope that gave you a little bit of inspo for something you can easily whip up too!
I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Thirteen school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.
Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Succulent Braised Pork

September 15, 2010 · Narrative

Braised Pork Goodness

There are some recipes that you just know are going to be good from the start, and others that you are completely unsure about.  And then there are those ones that fall somewhere in the middle.  This recipe for Braised Pork would fall into the latter category.

A date with a spin bike meant that dinner needed to be ready by the time we walked in the door from the gym.  Otherwise it’s just too late being a school night.  When I saw Melissa d’Arabian make this recipe the other day, I knew it fit my criteria.  Ten minutes of chopping a few simple ingredients.  Browning the meat.  Braising in the oven for 3 hours.  Folks, I don’t know that it gets simpler than this.  And the taste is anything but simple.

Around the second hour of braising, I peeked into the oven to see how it was coming along, and, quite frankly, it didn’t look like much.  I took a taste of the sauce and managed to burn my tongue.  But it was so good, I went back for another taste, sacrificing the feeling on my tongue in one fell swoop.  As far as the meat?  Something magical happens in the third hour.

When it was nearly done, I sent a text message to one of our neighbors.  Under the Borrow Someone’s Husband Act, they were very helpful the night before and I owed them.  “Do you have dinner figured out for tonight yet?”  No, came the answer.  “Perfect.  I’ll send Nick over with dinner when we head out to the gym.”  Earlier that day, one of our cats (who has, over the past few months, become sort of an outside cat) very nicely left me a present.  On our front steps.  Like, right in the middle of them.  Care to guess?  This time, the present was a dead chipmunk.  Ick.  The last two presents were mice.  Now I’m wondering if this is even an ok topic when discussing dinner and braised pork, but it might be too late.  So, the mice I can barely handle getting rid of myself.  Chipmunks are another story entirely.  A plea to said neighbors and the husband took care of the present for me.  Hence, dinner the next night.  It seems a fair trade-off, no?

This pork is total comfort food.  Like, it doesn’t get better than this.  Our summer season seems to have (temporarily?) ended rather abruptly and with it, some chill has settled in.  This is the food that the weather calls for, make no bones about it.  Put a dollop (or three) of yesterday’s mashers on a plate, and then this braised pork and a little of the sauce … oh my word.

As far as the kids?  Madeline wasn’t a fan, and happily ate a Summer Vegetable Pasta recipe I made Sunday night.  Nick, however, barely came up for air, and only did to ask for another helping.  This from the kid that doesn’t like potatoes of any kind.  Ate the potatoes.  The meat.  The sauce.  Twice over.

And better still?  This meal is yours for under ten bucks.  I kid you not.  Maybe even less, depending on if you have some ingredients already in your pantry.  Make it.  I am imploring you.  When you want to be warmed up from the inside out.  When you want someone to think you slaved all day over a hot stove.  But really didn’t.  Make this.

A year ago today… I had very nearly forgotten about these to-die-for peanut butter cookies.
Two years ago today … The Barefoot Contessa and Banana Pancakes.
Four years ago today … one of our favorite Italian cookbooks.
Five years ago today … still going strong with The Neighbors, but oy those picture-taking skills!

Project 365
September 15, 2010, Photo #165

A Few Finished Butterflies

This is what my dining room table currently looks like.  Awash in multi-colored, sparkly glittered butterflies for my latest project for Disney … a No Sew Butterfly Catcher Costume.

Succulent Braised Pork
Recipe courtesy of Melissa d’Arabian and Ten Dollar Dinners

2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 6 large chunks (I also cut off most of the extra fat)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup red wine
1-1/2 cups beef stock or broth
1 bunch parsley stems, tied with string (I skipped)
2 bay leaves
1 cup water

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pat the pork dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, and working in batches brown the meat on all sides until a golden crust forms. Transfer the pork to a plate. To the pan add the onion, celery, and carrot and sweat until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and sweat another 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 3 minutes to cook off the raw flavor and caramelize it. Sprinkle with the flour and cook another 2 minutes to cook off its raw flavor. Whisk in the wine and reduce it by half. Return the pork to the Dutch oven, then stir in the beef stock, parsley stems, and bay leaves. Add the water if liquid does not come up to the top of the pork. Do not cover the pork with liquid. Cover the pan and place it in the oven to braise until the meat is fork tender, about 3 hours. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

Serves 4 (I would be hard-pressed to recommend this for four adults.  Three would be safer.)

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Butterfly Catcher, Disney, Food Network, Melissa D'Arabian, No Sew Costumes, Succulent Braised Pork, Ten Dollar Dinners

Comments

  1. Pamela says

    September 15, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    Just picked up my fresh order of organic pork today. I think I’ll try this one next week!

    Reply
  2. Joanne says

    September 16, 2010 at 6:15 am

    I love anything that you can throw in the oven and leave for a while, especially if it involves pork. The meat looks so succulent in that picture!

    Maybe this is why I don’t have cats…so I won’t have to deal with all the street rats they bring in. Which are basically the size of squirrels.

    Reply
  3. Eliana says

    September 16, 2010 at 7:06 am

    Wow – this pork has delicious and comfort written all over it. I love developing deep flavors in meats while braising them. Thanks so much for sharing this one with us.

    Reply
  4. Smita Srivastava says

    September 16, 2010 at 8:05 am

    Loved going thru ur wonderful space !!! Love the glittery butterflies …

    – Smita
    littlefoodjunction.blogspot.com
    (fun ideas to feed picky eaters)

    Reply
  5. Ramona says

    September 16, 2010 at 10:43 am

    It looks amazing. It does look like a great recipe.

    LOL…I’ve had to borrow the neighbor’s husband before too when I lived in the city…..

    Reply
  6. krhm says

    September 21, 2010 at 7:30 am

    Tried the Succulent Braised Pork with the Blue Cheese mashers last night. Definitely an easy recipe to throw together and the slow cooking method means there’s little effort for maximum taste. I think my pork butt must have been unusually fatty, though. Although I trimmed it as best as I could, there was still a lot of fat in the sauce and it took longer to separate the meat. I might try this again with a pork loin, or if I use a butt again make it the day before so the fat will solidify for easier removal. But it will definitely be made again! Thanks for posting and for the review!

    Reply
  7. Jane says

    September 27, 2010 at 8:43 am

    cooked yesterday, win with both boys :)
    will definitely make again, may try with other cuts of meat such as short ribs or stew meat

    Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Trudy says

    September 25, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    After reading all the reviews, I made this for a sick friend & husband. I was so embarrassed to bring this to them. I thought it was greasy & lacked taste. Won’t ever make this again. It didn’t taste that good at all. I followed the recipe to a tee. Not good.

    Reply

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Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meal Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meals… platters where you can just pick at them while sipping wine and catching up with a friend. Chances are, if you come over for a meal, you’re getting an assortment of things to nosh on, maybe a mix of homemade appetizers… but just an array of deliciousness you can snack on whilst enjoying the evening. 

I’ve been wanting to make a lox platter for awhile now, so here we are. I sprinkled some Everything But the Bagel seasoning onto smoked lox and then added sliced cucumbers and radishes to the platter along with sliced bialys and crackers. Dipping items are a must so I included hummus and tzatziki. A fun platter just to nibble from, but a bialys sandwich with everything stuffed in it was pretty perfect too. Hope that gave you a little bit of inspo for something you can easily whip up too!
I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Thirteen school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.

Pinterest

Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meal Truth be told, these are my favorite types of meals… platters where you can just pick at them while sipping wine and catching up with a friend. Chances are, if you come over for a meal, you’re getting an assortment of things to nosh on, maybe a mix of homemade appetizers… but just an array of deliciousness you can snack on whilst enjoying the evening. 

I’ve been wanting to make a lox platter for awhile now, so here we are. I sprinkled some Everything But the Bagel seasoning onto smoked lox and then added sliced cucumbers and radishes to the platter along with sliced bialys and crackers. Dipping items are a must so I included hummus and tzatziki. A fun platter just to nibble from, but a bialys sandwich with everything stuffed in it was pretty perfect too. Hope that gave you a little bit of inspo for something you can easily whip up too!
I had planned another type of post tonight, but in I had planned another type of post tonight, but in light of today’s news, it just doesn’t feel right. Some days it can be hard to find the sunshine, especially a day like today. I can’t make sense as to why things like today continue to happen while people spend copious amounts of energy worrying about banning books and drag shows. Make it make sense. Just make it fucking make sense. It doesn’t. You can’t. Until it does, use your voice. Show up to meetings. Sign the petitions. Text ACT to 644-33 to get involved (I did). Be so loud that you can’t be ignored, until things change. Thirteen school shootings this year. When is enough, enough?
Weekend photos in review, old school edition. Cont Weekend photos in review, old school edition.
Context: 1) Lola has zero chill in the car, 2) fulfilling request for Chicken Parm Penne with Vodka Sauce, 3) Sunday vibes 4) my favorite porchetta sandwich 5) from @butlerandtheboard 6) affirmations, 7) the sun was out today
Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what Just like the moon, you’re whole no matter what phase you’re in. ✨ Got this one back in September and it’s one of my favorites. I sometimes forget it’s there until I get a random flash of it.
Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!

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