I am very grateful we built our dream home with an amazing kitchen several years ago. I am extremely happy I fought so hard to get my Viking stove. I cannot be totally positive but I do wonder if we would have been so adventurous with meals if we didn’t make the decisions we did.

I am not saying we have made, eaten or even tried most of what is out there, but we have discovered some pretty awesome staples that we have added to our meal rotation.  Pulled Pork Sandwich with Coleslaw was something pretty foreign for us a few years back. Plus I am pretty much the only one that enjoys coleslaw, especially with my guys; they turned their noses up when I told them how to put the sandwich together;  actually I think the first time, I put them together and put the plate in front of them.  I had to do some convincing this is how they are supposed to be eaten – try it you might like it.  Voila’ success, we all thought, where have these been; all our lives!!!  It’s kind of funny my son has more pork to slaw ratio but my husband piles on the slaw.

My mother is visiting this week and I was totally surprised when she declared while bringing the fish taco up to her mouth that “here it goes the first fish taco I have ever eaten” I had NO idea she hadn’t tried them before. I will not share her exact age because she will read this and kill me, especially since she will still be here when I post this. But she is 70+ and loved her “first taco” I think that is pretty darn cool. I wonder if she too thought – damn where have these been all my life?

I hope by reading this you might try something a little outside your comfort zone, it would encourage it with kids especially, I have too many friends that have some serious picky eaters. I am very grateful my kids are on this food journey with me. I’m pretty sure; actually I’m positive that my beautiful daughter living in Japan is even more adventurous with food than I am. When she comes home she’ll have to share some recipes with her Mom.

Simple Pulled Pork

3-4 lb. Pork Shoulder or Butt

Root Beer to cover

Place Pork in a slow cooker, cover with the Root Beer; cook on low all day, mine is on 9 hours while I am at work. When you get home, dump the liquid, put the pork back in the slow cooker and you should be able to take 2 forks and shred all of it. Add a container of your favorite BBQ sauce, I use Sweet Baby Rays. Turn the slow cooker on high for 15-20 minutes and serve.  You can add more sauce as needed.

Quick Cole Slaw

1 bag of tri-colored coleslaw

1 cup of Mayo

¼ cup Dijon mustard

1 Tbs cider vinegar

1 lemon juiced

Pinch of sugar

1/2 tsp celery seed

Several dashes of hot sauce

Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

Combine all the above ingredients; add to the coleslaw and let set for 10-15 minutes until it melds.

Create your delicious sandwich, get some nice hearty rolls and add a scoop of pork and a scoop of slaw. You are going to need a few napkins

Enjoy!