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Amazing Dark Cherry BBQ Sauce

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Dark Cherry BBQ SauceThis homemade sweet and smoky BBQ sauce will take your BBQ ribs to the next level.   It gets its rich amazing flavor from taking sweet dark cherries and rich maple syrup and combining them with the warmth of fresh ginger, cinnamon, and rosemary.  It is so simple and quick to make in your Instant Pot®.  You’ll never want to use store-bought BBQ sauce again!

The flavors with deepen as this sauce sits in your refrigerator so if you have time, you will want to make this a day or two in advance.   If you are in a pinch though, don’t worry.  It will still taste great.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes + time to come to pressure
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
3-4 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
2½ c. fresh or frozen dark cherries, pitted
1 10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, with liquid
3 T. apple cider vinegar
2 t. fresh ginger, finely minced
1½ t. ground cinnamon
½ t. smoked paprika
3 T. maple syrup
1 T. fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 t. liquid smoke (optional)
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Add olive oil to Instant Pot® and select the “Sauté” function on the high temperature setting. Add shallot and garlic and sauté until soft and slightly golden, approximately 3-4 minutes.

2. Turn Instant Pot® off and add remaining ingredients, including the liquid from the tomatoes and the liquid smoke, if using. Stir to combine and season with salt and black pepper, to taste.

3. Add lid and lock into place. Make sure the valve is set to the “Sealing” position and set the “Manual” setting to high for 10 minutes. After a brief pause, the Instant Pot® will automatically start building pressure.

4. When finished cooking, do a quick release (QR) of the pressure according to the manufacturer’s suggestions before unlocking and removing the lid.

5. Transfer the sauce to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.

Note: For a thicker sauce, return to the Instant Pot® and bring to a low boil using the “Sauté” function set to high. Heat, stirring frequently, until the excess liquid is reduced and the sauce reaches the desired consistency.

If you have enjoyed this tasty Instant Pot® BBQ sauce recipe, share this link with a friend and check out our  signature Family Favorites Menu Plans featuring all ‘homemade’ recipes your family will love! 

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Slow Cooker Tropical Spiced Pineapple Pork Roast

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Tropical spiced pineapple pork butt made slow and easy in your slow cooker.  It’s a little sweet, a little savory, and a little spicy too.   

We’ve taken fresh pineapple and spicy jalapeno and paired them with toasted sesame oil, creamy peanut butter, five-spice powder, and fresh cilantro for power-packed burst of flavor that is going to make you say WOW! 

This delicious dish comes together very quickly following the instructions below, but if you are really short on time there are a couple of extra steps you can skip.   To make this a truly one-pot meal, simply place the well-trimmed and seasoned pork butt roast directly into your slow cooker without searing.  In addition, the juices can be thickened right in the slow cooker crock by stirring in the arrowroot slurry with the other ingredients 30 minutes before it is done cooking.

Important Tip: Taking the time to trim as much fat as possible from the pork butt roast before cooking significantly reduces  the amount of fat that in the very flavorful juices/sauce this dish creates while cooking.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 3-8 hours
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

1 small yellow onion, diced
16-oz. fresh pineapple, cut into 1” chunks
¼ c. gluten-free soy sauce*
2 t. rice wine vinegar
1 T. honey
1 T. sesame oil
2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 t. five-spice powder
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1” chunks
1 medium jalapeno pepper, finely diced
2 T. natural, creamy peanut butter
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 4-5 lb. pork shoulder butt roast, trimmed
Salt and black pepper, to taste
¼ c. fresh pineapple juice
3 T. fresh cilantro, chopped
Optional: 2 T. arrowroot

Directions:

  1. Add onion, fresh pineapple chunks, soy sauce (*can substitute coconut aminos), rice wine vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, five-spice powder, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, and peanut butter to a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker crock. Stir to combine thoroughly.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season trimmed pork roast on all sides with salt and pepper, to taste. Add to hot skillet and sear on all sides, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer seared pork to slow cooker crock.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and deglaze skillet with fresh pineapple juice. Use a spatula to scrape up flavorful brown bits from bottom of pan. Remove from heat and pour pan juices into the slow cooker.
  4. Cover and cook over high heat for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8. When finished, stir in fresh cilantro and transfer pork and pineapple mixture to a serving platter with a slotted spoon. Cover and keep warm.

Optional: If desired, create a slurry by combining 2 tablespoons arrowroot and ¼ cup of juices from the slow cooker. Transfer remaining juices from the slow cooker to a large skillet over medium-high heat and whisk in the arrowroot slurry until well combined. Cook for several minutes or until sauce is reduced and thickened.

To serve, spoon warm pork and pineapple mixture over a bed of cooked brown or our delicious cilantro-lime rice. Top with the juices or thickened sauce, if desired, and enjoy!

If you enjoyed this delicious slow cooker Tropical Spiced Pineapple Pork recipe , you will really love our Family Friendly Menu Plans!  Save $15 on our super convenient annual plan with coupon code Save15!

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South of the Border Slow Cooker Chicken

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Slow Cooker Mexican ChickenIf you’ve been searching for a healthy and delicious slow cooker chicken recipe, you’ve found it!  This Mexican inspired dish is loaded with flavors from South of the border.  It is so simple to make and can be served in so many different ways.

It is perfect for burrito bowls, in lettuce wraps, or one of my favorite ways to serve it… over a bed of flavorful cilantro-lime rice. This freezes well so make a double batch and enjoy it for dinner this week and have one in the freezer to heat up on a busy night when you just don’t have time to make dinner for your family. You’ll be so glad you did!

Tip: Don’t skip the squeeze of fresh lime juice after cooking. It really brightens the flavors and pulls them all together. As an added bonus, zest your lime before juicing and save the zest to add a flavor boost to rice, beans, shrimp or even sprinkle on a salad.  It really helps the flavors pop!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 3–8 hours
Serves: 4-6

Slow Cooker Mexican ChickenIngredients:

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 10-oz. cans Rotel fire-roasted diced tomatoes & green chilies, undrained
2 15-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small jalapeno pepper, finely diced
1½ T. hickory-flavored liquid smoke
2 t. ground cumin
1 T. chili powder
1 t. smoked paprika
2 t. dried oregano
1 t. cayenne pepper
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 limes, quartered
¼ c. fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:

  1. Unroll and add chicken thighs to bottom of a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker crock. Top with tomatoes, black beans, garlic, jalapeno pepper, liquid smoke, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine, making sure the chicken thighs are coated and submerged in the liquid.
  2. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. 30 minutes before done cooking, remove lid and shred chicken while in the slow cooker with two forks. Stir to combine shredded chicken with other ingredients. Cover and cook for remaining 30 minutes to allow chicken to absorb the flavors.
  3. Remove lid and squeeze fresh lime juice into the crock. Add cilantro and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
  4. To serve, spoon chicken mixture over plain brown rice or cilantro-lime rice. Top with cilantro-lime sauce if desired. Serve with remaining lime wedges. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed these recipes, take a look at our Family Favorites Menu Plans for even more delicious and easy recipes your family will love.  They will make your life so much easier!

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Kicked Up Cilantro-Lime Cream Sauce

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Creamy Cilantro-Lime SauceThis kicked up cilantro-lime cream sauce makes EVERYTHING taste great!  It gets a boost of flavor from our homemade fajita seasoning and is perfect on salmon, chicken, veggies or this amazing South of the Border Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe and cilantro-lime rice from our fantastic  Family Favorites Menu Plans. It boasts a wonderful combination of cool and spicy you are going to love.

To achieve the best flavor, you’ll want to make the cilantro lime sauce the night before you need it to give the flavors a chance to blend.  Planning ahead also saves time on those busy nights you need to get dinner on the table as quickly as possible.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: n/a
Serves: 4

Tip: Prepare the fajita seasoning in larger batches and store in mason jars to use later.

Ingredients:

Cilantro-Lime Sauce:

1 c. plain, full-fat Greek yogurt
1-2 T. homemade fajita seasoning
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely minced
2 T. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
2 T. fresh lime juice
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Homemade Fajita Seasoning:

3 T. chili powder
1½ T. smoked paprika
2 t. onion powder
2 t. garlic powder
2 t. ground cumin
½ t. cayenne pepper
1 t. dried oregano
2 t. sea salt

Directions:

  1. Prepare the fajita seasoning by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and stirring until thoroughly blended. Store any excess in an airtight container for later use.
  2. Prepare the cilantro lime sauce by thoroughly combining all ingredients in a medium glass or other non-reactive bowl. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

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Cilantro-Lime Rice

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Mexican Lime RiceTired of boring old rice?  Don’t worry.  It’s so easy to change boring, basic rice into something extra special with the addition of just a few fresh ingredients.

In this recipe, we’ve teamed up fresh lime and cilantro to create a classic flavor combination that is sure to tickle your taste buds.

This is a great side dish with grilled chicken, pork chops or this South of the Border Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe from our Family Favorites Menu Plans.

Mexican Lime RicePrep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 45-55 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

3 c. cooked rice*
3 T. fresh lime juice
2 t. lime zest
3 T fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste

* Use your favorite rice… white, brown, or jasmine rice.

Directions:

  1. Prepare rice according to package directions.
  2. Fluff cooked rice with a fork and stir in fresh lime juice, lime zest, and cilantro until blended. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and serve immediately.

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