Carolina In My Mind (North Carolna)

Our cooking across the county continues and brings us to our neighbor, North Carolina.  While most people think of BBQ when North Carolina comes to mind, there are lots of other things to think of.  North Carolina has the oldest State University in America and the Wright Brothers made their first successful powered flight there.  It is home to the Furniture Capital of the World and was the birthplace of the Krispy Kreme donut!  Many people even give North Carolina credit for being the first state to declare independence from England.

My favorite part of North Carolina is the Biltmore House - I have only seen it in pictures - but it is on my Bucket List!  Chad's is probably the fact it is the place where Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run.  Either way, it a state with lots of memories!


Slow Cooker North Carolina BBQ:

1 (5 pound) bone-in pork shoulder roast

1 tablespoon salt

ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

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Get out your slow cooker.

 

Put in a liner - this makes for easier clean up!

 

Place the pork shoulder in the bottom.

 

Season with salt and pepper.

 

Pour the vinegar around the pork.

 

Cover, and cook on low for 10 hours.

 

When it turns off, remove the pork.  It should easily pull apart into strands.

Shred the pork using two forks...it will fall apart!

Strain out the liquid, and save 2 cups.  I strained mine into a measuring cup which made it easy - discard any extra.

 

Pour into the bottom of the slow cooker.

Stir the brown sugar,

Hot pepper sauce,

Cayenne Pepper,

Crushed Red Pepper.

Add the shredded meat back into the slow cooker.

Stir well.

Add the lid and cook on low again until ready to serve, I recommend at least an hour for flavors to blend.

For a true North Carolina flavor, serve on hamburger buns with coleslaw. 

 

Roll your sleeves up and dig in - lunch is served!!!