For this meal, brown sugar and balsamic are simmered and then reduced to a simple glaze that is poured over tender pulled pork. This dinner was a huge hit with all three of my boys; they almost licked their plates clean. This has been a great month for finally trying recipes that I’ve had on my list for ages. I’ve seen this pork tenderloin recipe floating around online for the past couple years.
It may have taken me over two years to finally make it, but it was worth the wait. The combination of flavors was excellent and I’m glad I finally got around to trying it. I simplified the original recipe a wee bit, because I tend to do that with most recipes. I also used a pork roast that I already had in the freezer, instead of the suggested pork tenderloin. My family devoured this meal and all of my kids gave it two thumbs up. Served with boiled baby red potatoes and a Strawberry Spinach Salad, the work involved for this meal was just minutes. Slow cookers or crockpots are an appliance of which I have more than one. If you are an avid slow cooker user like I am, you might understand the need for more than one. So, let’s talk about my favorites: First up is this 6-quart slow cooker that has a locking lid. These crockpots are fantastic for transporting foods. Mine has gone everywhere from church potlucks to barbecues, game nights to Thanksgiving dinner. However, fair warning, these slow cookers run crazy hot. Low is closer to a boil than a simmer, the warm setting actually simmers. So trust me when I say HIGH is high. My everyday slow cooker is this 8-quart Crockpot. It’s my go-to appliance for cooking large roasts and big batches of chili. Fun fact: did you know that a full 4-quart cooker, actually cooks more slowly than a half-full 8-quart cooker? For just cooking a few pounds of chicken to shred for enchiladas or other smaller recipes, this 3-quart version is perfect. Thanksgiving has become a breeze since I have mastered how to hold all of the side dishes using these medium-sized round slow cookers. If you aren’t a fan of the idea of keeping more than one slow cooker in the house, these CrockPockets are a game-changer when it comes to preparing and holding multiple dishes at the same time. They slide into a standard 6-quart crockpot, dividing it into two sections that are perfect for serving different side dishes or keeping taco fillings warm for parties. {originally published 8/8/13 – recipe notes updated 2/16/22}
