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My favorite part about watching the big game is getting a bunch of friends together for a fun event. I love hosting and as long as I have foods that I know will be a hit the whole party will be much more stress free. We have taken the approach to elevate the food and drinks we serve, usually picking out some great wines and then pairing food. This year we are going with Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon as it goes so well with meats and cheese. You could just put out a plate with some varieties of each but I prefer to wow my guests with a couple of delicious recipes that are actually quite simple: Tostada Recipe with Pork Carnitas (easy slow cooker pulled pork) and a side dish of Spinach Artichoke Dip. Both recipes are below and are always a hit for gameday viewing!
Pork Carnitas (Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork) Recipe:
Pork carnitas are easy, delicious, and an extremely versatile food. They taste great in sandwiches, rice, tacos, or in this case tostadas. Slow cooker carnitas is an easy way to get juicy pork with bold flavors, and is simple to make in 10 hours low heat (or about 4 hours in high heat). I love serving pork carnitas on Tostadas (more than say a burrito or even taco) since it is open and you can show off and entice with the carnitas and other colorful ingredients.
Pork Carnitas (Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)
Ingredients
- 2 lb pork shoulder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and cut
- 2 oranges, (juice only)
- salt/pepper, according to your taste
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Wash and Dry the pork shoulder.
- Rub with salt/pepper, oregano, cumin and olive oil.
- Spray the bottom of slow cooker with oil spray, add onion, garlic and jalapeño. Place the pork shoulder on top and cook for 8-10 hours in low heat or high for about 4- 5 hours
- Remove the pork from slow cooker, cool it down then pull apart with a fork
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan then fry the pork carnitas until crusty on one side
Tostada Recipe with Pork Carnitas:
Tostada Recipe with Pork Carnitas
Ingredients
- Tostada tortilla, store bought
- Refried beans
- Pork Carnitas, recipe above
- 4 ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- Cilantro
- shredded cabbage or lettuce
- salsa
- Mexican crema
- Queso Fresco cheese
- Additional Toppings : Avocado, Lime
Instructions
- Spread the refried beans evenly over one side of tostada tortilla.
- Layer tostada tortilla with pork carnitas then top with tomatoes, cilantro, shredded cabbage or lettuce, Mexican cream.
- Sprinkle with Queso Fresco cheese and serve with salsa
Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
A slow cooker dip is a rock solid appetizer or side, and my Slow Cooker Spinach Dip is always popular (you may want to make extra, this can go quickly). I like that it has a couple of healthy vegetables in there, yet tastes just as good as any other finger food or appetizer (most of which don’t taste half as good). This is one of the best spinach artichoke dip recipes I've ever made.
Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip
Ingredients
- 2 lbs spinach, washed and chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced or ¾ teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 lemon zested, fine grated
- 1 lb frozen artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup shredded swiss cheese
- ¾ cup sour cream or low fat greek yogurt
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste
- Bacon
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together spinach, garlic and lemon zest. Add artichoke hearts, 1-cup swiss cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and worcestershire sauce.
- Mix well and transfer into a slow cooker. Cook in low heat for about 2 hours.
- Garnish with bacon
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Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
We are big fans of Mexican food in our family! We have it at least once a week. My whole family is going to love these.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
Outstanding! I'm a huge fan of my slow cooker, so I'm always on the lookout for new recipes. Thanks so much.
Cia
My mate loooooves using the slow cooker. I still haven't quite figured out the hype. I will be sure to pass this recipe on to him. He might want to try it out this weekend.
Jeanette
You always make food look delicious and easy to make! I need to hire you to cook all my meals LOL.
Erica Brooks
Oh my goodness. These look amazing. My family would love them.
Miles Basilio
I’m not into pork lately, but I would say this is a great recipe. I’ll share this with my friends.
travel blogger
Woodbridge is one of my favorite wines! This recipe looks great I will have to try it with my own bottle of Woodbridge.
victoria
This is absolutely looks amazing! i bet my family would love this so much and i love using slow cooker
Jaime Nicole
I am coming to dinner at your house! Good wine and great food make for a very relaxed and wonderfully enjoyable evening. Everything looks perfect!
Rebecca Swenor
These tostada with pork carnitas sounds and looks amazingly delicious. We love pulled pork so this would be a great for this weekend for sure. Thanks for sharing the recipes.
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom
This entire meal sounds so amazing and is definitely a fun alternative to the traditional fried foods you see at other football parties! And what a great pairing with the wine - definitely classes things up a bit! #client
Ricci
Holy moly!! This recipe looks amazing!! I also love your wine paring in with the carnitas. Need it all right now!!
Chubskulit Rose
Ahh you made me hungry with these yummies lol. The tostada looks truly delicious!
OurFamilyWorld
Oh my, this looks marvelous! The pictures made me hungry. It's 2 am and I am craving for some Pork Carnitas.
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane
OH MY YUM! So much goodness in this post today. I am a sucker for Mexican inspired and flavored dishes. This has my name written all over it. I am going to have to fire up my crock pot!
Ann Bacciaglia
I love using my slow cooker to make delicious meals. I will have to give this recipe a try. I am always looking for new ones to try.
Mimi "MimiCuteLips" Green
This looks freaking amazing, I'm totally going to try and make that this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
wemake7
That all looks so good! I love tostadas and haven't had one in a long time! I know what I'm having this weekend.
Ana
Everything looks so yummy, and btw I LOVE your pictures!! Thanks for sharing the recipe | http://carmelapop.com
Shanéy Vijendranath
Your pictures... Making me drool! Makes me want to dig in via the computer. LOL. Never tried this before but definitely going too.
Kiwi
That looks good (but I need a chicken option). I never thought I could make tacos with wine!
livingoffloveandcoffee
Those look so delicious! I have had these out to eat but my friend would love them homemade.
Fashionable Librarian
Pork is one of my favourite meats. This looks like something I could try
michelle
oh wow both the dip and the pork carnitas look so yummy! When can i come over?
Elizabeth O.
All of those look lovely. I'd love to try the pork carnitas the most!
Claudette Esterine
Never had this but it looks so amazing!
top5life
Some superb recipes. Would try them one by one.
Beth@FrugalFroggie
I haven't had breakfast yet. I could eat all of them right now since I am hungry!!
Lexie Lane
Looks delicious huh! My family would love this. I'll try this if I have free time.
Dogvills
The Pork Carnitas look so delicious! I want to make this for dinner tonight.
Stacy
Looks great. When do you add the orange juice?
Quin B
Wow, your parties look amazing!