Three Can't-Misses of the Week

Abstract: (1) Pork butt for pulled pork. (2) Freestone peaches. (3) Canteloupe.  There's your shopping list for the Bellevue Farmers Market this week. Now, go!

It's high summer, people, and if you haven't eaten a grilled hamburger or a pulled-pork sandwich at least three times already, you must be a vegetarian.

Because I frequently work as an official at my kids' swim meets and get fed by the hospitality committees, I've learned that Costco has a pulled pork offering that isn't too bad. But before any of you go running off to purchase some, let me also say that pulled pork is just about the easiest thing in the world to make, and NOW is the time to make it.

All this could be yours: Greek salad, green beans with garlic, and a pulled-pork sandwich

Beginner's Pulled Pork (adapted from Slow Cooker Revolution)
1/4 c brown sugar
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 3-lb boneless pork butt roast (from one of our meat vendors!)
1 c barbecue sauce, plus extra for serving (I chose a brand in a glass bottle with no HFCS...)

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Prick roast all over with a fork and rub dry mixture over pork. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Spread barbecue sauce over pork, cover, and cook 9-11 hours on low or 5-7 hours on high in slow cooker.

Shred pork and serve with extra barbecue sauce.

Really, it's actually easier than going to Costco to buy it because now you don't have to fuss with the parking and the monster cart and the long checkout lines and the people clogging up the works at every sample stand! You're welcome.

As for the second can't-miss of the week, if you're a maker of peach desserts, now is your moment. The freestone peaches are in! Ask your favorite fruit farmer for a box, let it sit a few days to fill your house with fragrance and to reach that optimum moment of ripeness, and then dig in. My husband made four pies for the freezer, and I've got extra filling to make a cobbler later this week. (Oh, and several got eaten out of hand because they were irresistible!)

Before

After

My hub claimed that this year's freestones were even better than 2014's. No big surprise, considering the weather we've been enjoying. If only he'd taken up jam-making, as well as pie-making...

And lastly, did you notice Alvarez and a couple others of our farmers had melons? I saw watermelons and canteloupe and so far have tried the canteloupe. Same as with peaches, you pick one and let it sit out until it gets fragrant and a little soft. Then you slice it into lusciousness and the family eats the whole thing in one go before you can even remember you were supposed to take a picture. At least, that's how it worked at our house.

Really, really, really, don't miss these this week! We'll see you at the Market Thursday and Saturday.