Pulled Pork~by Kelsey

I found this recipe in a magazine.  It really tenderizes the meat fast, I cooked a couple-pound pork loin that was still frozen for about 5-6 hours on a combination of low and high and it was almost over-tenderized.

2 pound pork tenderloin (or really any cut would work)
12 oz root beer

All you do is put the meat in there, and then dump in the root beer.  After it cooked, I took the meat out of the root beer and I shredded it and mixed in bbq sauce and served it on hoagies or hamburger buns with coleslaw.  An easy way to feed a crowd!

Pulled Pork Sandwiches ~ by Sarah

When I make a pork roast, I am more excited about dinner the next night.  I use whatever roast we have left over to make pulled pork sandwiches.  I love, love, love them!  They are quick and easy and a great way to utilize leftovers.

Ingredients:
leftover pork roast (I cooked mine using the Three Packets and a Roast recipe for pork roasts.)
barbecue sauce
salt and pepper to taste
hamburger buns

Directions:

Shred pork roast with two forks.  (I usually do this the night before, after we're done eating, when the roast is still warm--it's easier to shred.)  Put meat in pot over medium heat.

Make sure this is the barbecue sauce you're using.  If it's not, don't follow my recipe until you go get some!  Kidding.  Kind of.

Dump some sauce on the meat, salt and pepper, then give it a taste to see if you think it needs more sauce.

Mix well and begin to heat it over medium heat.  Stir occasionally.

Serve on hamburger buns (we always buy whole wheat, but any variety will work).  I put them under the broiler to toast them a bit, first.

If you're watching your waistline, you can do what I do.  I put mine on a sandwich thin instead of the big, carby, hamburger bun.  I actually like this better because I love the meat the most, so the taste isn't overpowered by all the bread.

Pot Roast, Vegetables, and Beer ~ by Sarah

I got a Dutch oven for Christmas and was anxious to try it out.  (If you don't have a Dutch oven, a big, heavy-bottomed stock pot will work.)  This came from allrecipes.com and is by far the best pot roast I've ever made.  It made the house smell amazing!  I used a super cheap roast--chuck.  It cooks slowly, so it's nice and tender when it's done!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (3 pound) beef pot roast
1 onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound carrots, cut into chunks
1 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups beef stock
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle dark beer
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon tomato paste
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven. Brown the pot roast on all sides in the hot oil; remove from pan and set aside. Cook the onion and garlic in the hot oil until they begin to soften and turn brown, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots, mushrooms, and potatoes to the pot; cook and stir until they begin to color, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix the flour into the vegetables; stir continuously for 1 minute. Pour the beef stock and beer into the mixture and bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Add the Bay leaf, thyme, brown sugar, mustard, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Place the pot roast atop the entire mixture. Cover pot with lid.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until the meat and vegetables are completely tender, about 2 1/2 hours. (Mine was a little overcooked by going this long, so I'll probably only do 2 hours next time.)

I stole this picture from the website.  We all know what a pot roast looks like...

Three Packets and a Roast ~ by Sarah

This is a Mary Hunt from Everyday Cheapskate recipe.  It is the best pot roast you'll ever make.  I guarantee it!

Ingredients:
1 beef roast (chuck, London broil, round...the cheaper the better--mine was only six bucks!)
Three packets of dry mix:
   brown gravy dry mix
   Italian dressing dry mix
   ranch dressing dry mix

Directions:
Place beef in the slow cooker.  Tear open the packets and pour them on the raw meat.  Add one cup of water.  Cover and cook on low 8 hours for a large roast or on high for 5 hours.  Check after a few hours to make sure it's not getting too done.  The gravy this creates is incredible and even the cheapest cut of meat will be so tender! 

Variations:

If you have a pork roast, substitute the brown gravy mix with pork gravy mix.  If you have a whole chicken, substitute it with chicken gravy.

Slow Cooker Beef Dip Sandwiches ~ by Kelsey

I found this recipe in my Woman's Day magazine.  I modified it a little to fit what we like.  It was AMAZING!  So easy, and delicious.  It has a little kick to it, so it's a little more exciting than a regular French Dip.

Ingredients:
Small beef roast, your choice of cut.  I used a cross-rib roast, and it worked really well.
Jarred pepperoncini peppers, your choice of quantity.  I used about three peppers, sliced, and it was fairly spicy.
1 cup of pepperoncini juice
1/4 cup each of water and oil
1 pouch of Italian dressing mix
1 tbsp minced garlic
Ciabatta rolls
Walla Walla Sweet onion

Put the roast in the slow-cooker.  Mix the peppers, pepper juice, oil, water, and salad dressing mix.  Pour over the roast.  Cook for 4-5 hours on high, or 7-8 hours on low.  Take the meat out of the slow cooker, let it rest for 15 minutes.  Saute the onion in a little butter in a frying pan.  Brush the juice that is left in the slow cooker on the halved ciabatta rolls.  Broil until lightly toasted.  Slice or shred the roast, put it on the bun, top with the onion.  Serve with a side of juice from the slow-cooker for dipping.  The kids didn't want it as a sandwich, so they ate the shredded meat with the bun on the side, minus onions.