Mexican-style Sweet Pork

This one was in the first Our Best Bites recipe book. I don't see it on their website.

Again, I have taken some culinary license to suit our tastes. I'm giving you the tweaked version; if you want the original, let me know.

Mexican-Style Sweet Pork

4 lbs. boneless pork shoulder roast (I usually use the pork loin roast at Costco - less fat)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. onion powder
2 (10 oz.) cans red enchilada sauce
3/4 C. brown sugar, divided
1/2 C. salsa
1 small (7 oz.) can Coke (or about 3/4 C.)

Mix together salt, pepper, chili powder and onion powder. Rub all over roast. In a hot pan, sear the pork roast on all sides until the meat is golden brown.

In the pot of a large slow-cooker, mix together enchilada sauce, 1/2 C. brown sugar, salsa and Coke. Add pork roast; cover and cook on low for 7 hours.

Remove pork and shred, discarding any remaining fat. Add additional 1/4 C. brown sugar to slow-cooker and turn heat to high. Add shredded meat and simmer with lid off for 30 minutes.

Cilantro-Lime Ranch Dressing

Jeff requested this at our Christmas gathering. The original recipe is from OurBestBites.com. As usual, I've tweaked it a bit for our tastes!

Cilantro-Lime Ranch Dressing

1 pack (1oz.) Ranch Dressing Mix
1 C. mayonnaise
1/2 C. milk (I use 1% with great results)
1/3 to 1/2 C. salsa verde, to taste
Juice of 1 lime (at least 2 - 3 Tbs.)
1/2 C. roughly chopped cilantro (I usually use more)
Cholula, or similar hot sauce, to taste (a few dashes)

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Process until well mixed or to desired consistency

Kiss Cookies

We've always called these "Kiss Cookies", but I mostly see them called Peanut Butter Blossoms. For Garret and I, I like to make the cookie dough balls and then freeze them before cooking. Once frozen, I put them in a labeled gallon baggie and store them in the freezer. Then I can cook only as many as we want at a time. I usually need to add a minute or two to baking time. I use the same recipe to make PB Cup Cookies - just put the balls of dough in a mini-muffin cup pan and add an unwrapped mini PB cup when they're still hot from the oven. SOOO good! Kiss Cookies

1 C. sugar

1 C. brown sugar

1 C. butter

1 C. peanut butter

4 Tbs. milk

2 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 3 ½ C. flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 pkg. Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

Cream together sugars and butter. Add peanut butter, milk, and vanilla. Beat eggs, then add to mixture. Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt. Roll into 1-inch balls. Roll cookies in sugar, if desired, then bake at 350º for 10 – 12 minutes. As soon as they come out of oven, push an unwrapped Kiss into the center of the cookie.

Approx. 9 dozen