Football season has arrived!  Tailgating season has arrived!  For those of us who hate to let go of summer, at least there is always the weekly tailgating to look forward to in the fall.  After all, we are in PITTSBURGH STEELERS country!  We have found that this recipe for pulled pork has been a hit every time we make it, and it works great in the crockpot.  We like to prepare it at home ahead of time, take it to the game in the crockpot,  heat it and eat it!  Don’t forget to share your own favorite tailgate recipe~everyone likes to try something new!  Enjoy!

PULLED PORK SANDWICHES

2 medium onions, chopped
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. paprika
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. cumin
4-6 lb. pork butt roast

3/4 c. white vinegar
4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. liquid smoke (optional)
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 pkg. kaiser rolls
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place chopped onions in the bottom of a heavy pot or a Dutch oven.  In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, and cumin.  Rub over all sides of roast.  Place roast on top of onions. 

In another small bowl, combine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, red pepper flakes, sugar, dry mustard, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper.  Stir to mix well.  Drizzle about 1/3 of the vinegar mix over the roast, and set aside the remaining mixture.

Cover, and cook for 2 hours.  Turn heat back to 200 degrees, and cook for an additional 4-6 hours.  Drizzle another 1/3 c. of the vinegar mixture over the roast during the last 1/2 hour of cooking time.

Remove meat from pot to a cutting board, and pour out all but about 1- 1 1/2 cups of the remaining juices.  Try not to lose too much of the chopped onion.  Transfer the juices left in the pot, along with the onion pieces, to a crockpot.   Using 2 forks, shred the pork, taking care to remove all fatty pieces. 

Add the shredded meat to the juice and the onions in the crockpot, and add remaining vinegar mix.  Stir to combine.  Turn setting to low, and simmer as long as desired.  Serve on kaiser rolls.

*You can also prepare this from start to finish in the crockpot.  We just happen to like the flavor better when it’s oven-prepared!