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IT’S TIME TO SLOW THINGS DOWN | Cajun Pork Sliders

August 7, 2015 By marketeditor

Once the temperature heats up, our slow cookers tend to become a little neglected—after all, no one

wants heavy soups and stews when it’s 90 degrees outside! Crockpots are an obvious cold-weather

essential, but I’m here to tell you it’s time to dust yours off and take this appliance for a spin during the

warmer months too. If you’re accustomed to putting your slow cooker away from March to September,

you may want to reconsider; using this handy appliance during the summer will not only spare you from

turning the oven on and turning your kitchen into a sauna, but it will allow your dinner to slowly cook

itself all day while you head off to work, drive summer camp carpool, or hopefully play outside in the

warm, sunny weather. The best part is dinner’s all ready to go when you finally decide it’s time to eat!

 

Using a slow cooker in the summer is ideal for developing awesome flavors, feeding a crowd, and frankly

won’t leave you stranded over the stove for hours. Forget traditional slow cooked stews and cozy

casseroles, and try your hand at Crockpot fajitas, corn on the cob, pulled pork, or vegetarian lasagna

instead. Better yet how about a slow cooked summer dessert like fruit cobbler or s’mores bars! Armed

with a few summer-friendly slow cooker recipes, you can enjoy convenient slow cooked family meals to

get you through the second half of summer. Thanks to the Crockpot, cooking meals this summer just got

a whole lot cooler.

 

Here are four great reasons to dust off your slow cooker this summer:

 

It Makes Meat Tender.

A slow cooker cooks food slowly at a low temperature — generally between 170 and 280 degrees

Fahrenheit. Because of this, leaner and less-expensive, fibrous cuts of meat become more tender — and

shrink less.

 

It’s Great for Entertaining.

It’s so convenient to bring your dish right in the slow cooker to parties and barbecues. The slow cooker

keeps the food at the right temperature, and you can serve it straight from the pot. Just plug it in, and

your dish is ready to serve when everyone is ready to eat.

 

It’s Cost-Effective and Energy Efficient.

Cooking with a slow cooker, saves energy without compromising taste. According to the Southern

Maryland Electric Cooperative, using a slow cooker at 200 degrees for 7 hours costs about 9 cents, while

using an electric oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour costs about 25 cents.

 

You Name It, It Cooks It.

Slow cookers don’t just cook up entrees; you can also make appetizers, side dishes, and even desserts

with surprising success. There are a variety of recipes in print and online to add to your summer slow

cooker recipe collection; including this favorite for Cajun Pork Sliders…

 

pork sliders

 

 

Slow Cooker Cajun Pork Sliders with Avocado Crème

and Pepper & Corn Slaw

Serves: 8

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 8 ½ hours

INGREDIENTS: *available seasonally at the Farmers’ Market

Cajun Pulled Pork:

1 ½ cups beer (like Argyle Brewing’s IPA)*

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard

1 Tbsp molasses

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp Cajun seasoning

1 Tbsp Creole seasoning

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 – 3 to 4 pound boneless pork shoulder (or butt)*

1 avocado; finely mashed

1/2 lemon; juiced

16 slider rolls; sliced + toasted (like Rock Hill Bakehouse’s Pane Bello rolls)*

 

Pepper & Corn Slaw:

1/2 avocado

1/2 lemon, juiced

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp pepper

1 red bell pepper; sliced thin*

1 orange bell pepper; sliced thin*

1 poblano pepper; sliced thin*

1 cup fresh sweet corn; kernels*

4 green onions; chopped*

 

Instructions:

Whisk the beer, vinegar, ketchup, 1/4 cup of the spicy brown mustard, molasses and 1 Tbsp brown sugar

in a Slow Cooker.

 

Combine the remaining 1 Tbsp brown sugar, Cajun seasoning, Creole seasoning, paprika and a pinch of

salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add oil. Rub the pork all over with the

seasonings. Once hot, add pork and sear on all sides until golden brown (about 2 minutes per side).

Add pork to the Slow Cooker and sprinkle with any remaining seasonings and or drippings from the

skillet. Cover and cook on low, 8 hours.

 

After 8 hours, remove the pork from the Slow Cooker and set aside to cool slightly. Skim off any excess

fat from the cooking liquid, then strain into a large skillet and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by one-

third (about 10 minutes).

 

Shred the pork with forks and toss with the newly reduced sauce.

 

In a small bowl, combine 1 mashed avocado with lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons spicy brown

mustard to make a crème. Stir until combined and set aside.

 

To make the pepper & corn slaw: puree ½ of an avocado, lemon juice, olive oil and ½ teaspoon kosher

salt in a blender (if it seems too thick add a tablespoon of water or beer at time to thin) and add to the

corn kernels, sliced bell peppers, poblano, chopped green onions and toss gently.

 

Slice and toast the slider rolls. Spread a little of the avocado crème on the bottom of each roll. Add the

pork, top with pepper & corn slaw, and the top of the roll.

 

Serving size is 2 sliders per person. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Seasonal Recipes

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Our FINAL market at the Wilton mall is tomorrow! S Our FINAL market at the Wilton mall is tomorrow! Starting this Wednesday, June 1st,
High Rock Park will be our new location for both Wednesday 3-6pm and Saturday 9-1pm markets. Rain or shine, we hope to see you there!

#supportlocal #farmtotable #saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket
#shopsmall
Swing by our 3-6pm market tomorrow outside the low Swing by our 3-6pm market tomorrow outside the lower city center parking lot! We have several guests including musician @starlitgeneration, as well as some fun kids activities hosted by our friends from @saratogaspringslibrary. Hope to see you there!!!

Parking available in the City Center Lot, free for the first hour and $1/hr after that. 

#saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #shoplocal #farmtotable #eathealthy #upstateny
Come stop by the Saratoga Farmers’ Market tomor Come stop by the Saratoga Farmers’ Market  tomorrow at the Wilton mall! From 9am-1pm you can find some of your favorite produce and craft vendors before we move over to High Rock Park on June 1st. Talented musician Brendan Dailey will be joining us too. Hope to see you there!

Photo 1 taken by Pattie Garrett @mysaratogakitchentable of one of our friends from @themushroomshopllc 

#saratogasprings #farmtotable #shoplocal #smallbuisness #eathealthy
After a much anticipated wait, come June 1st, the After a much anticipated wait, come June 1st, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be returning to High Rock Park for our Wednesday and Saturday Markets! Thank you to everyone on our team, our vendors, customers and friends who have helped to make this transition happen. Stay tuned for upcoming events celebrating our move! 

Photo: Flowers from @lovinmamafarm 

Parking will be available on High Rock Ave and in the new City Center Parking Garage (free for the first hour and $1/hr after that) 

#saratogasprings #farmersmarket #farmtotable #shoplocal #june1st #highrockpark

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