Southwest Pulled Pork

2 tablespoons vegetable oil2
1/2 lb. boneless pork shoulder roast (also known as Boston butt roast)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
3/4 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup purchased mole sauce*
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add pork; sprinkle with salt. Cook 4 to 6 minutes or until browned on all sides. Place pork, onion and bell pepper in 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours or until pork is tender. Remove pork and vegetables with slotted spoon; place on plate. Reserve 3/4 cup of the liquid; discard remaining liquid. Return liquid to slow cooker; stir in chili sauce, mole sauce, cumin and chili powder. Shred pork; stir into sauce in slow cooker, along with vegetables. Cover and cook on low 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

TIP *Mole (pronounced MOH-lay) is an intricate, rich Mexican sauce with many versions. It usually contains chiles, ground nuts or seeds, spices and sometimes chocolate. Look for it in the Hispanic section of the grocery store or specialty markets. If you can’t find mole sauce, substitute taco sauce. Because the consistency of taco sauce is much thinner than mole sauce, you may need to reduce the amount of reserved liquid to 1/3 to 1/2 cup.

Source: Cooking Pleasures Magazine

What a winter!

It has been a while since I have posted anything new. This has been the worst winter we have had since 1995. I have spent a lot of time moving snow. If it isn't snowing, it's blowing. Either way I have delt with 4' to 5' drifts at least once a week for weeks now.

I also have getting things together to start my own business. It is now up and running. You can see my website at www.tanicotravel.com. I'm very excited!

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how I'm going to pay my bills and put food on the table. As I was going thru my finances I realized that every one of my bills have gone up over the last 2 years despite all I have done to cut back. My income has not. I have not had a raise in 2 years.

I grow a lot of my own food and raise chickens for eggs and meat. I can and freeze all I can to get me thru until next harvest. It's just not enough. I drive a very small car that gets good gas mileage but I drive 80 miles a day to work. I have to have my son in daycare before & after school. I've looked for other jobs closer to home but because I live so far out there really is nothing. The job market is gone done. Even another job doing what I'm doing now I can't find a job making what I'm making here and doing the math a paycut just won't work. So the most logical thing to do is start my own business. After it's up and running I will be able to cut out the driving and the daycare. It also have a lot of great tax benefits for running a business out of your home.

Hope everyone is having a great winter. I look forward to hearing from you all.