Slow Cooked Chinese Pulled Pork

As you may have noticed, I have not blogged much in the last year... forgive me, I am working full time and am in grad school, so I have very little time to cook and blog!  I've been eating very simple tofu kale salads that serve my most immediate need: to fuel my brain, but not necessarily to indulge my creative urges to cook and enjoy a delicious meal.  I was talking to my sister about how I never have time to cook and she suggested that I get a crock pot to make easy, but warm and comforting meals during the busy semester.  Well, of course I have not had the time to buy a crock pot, but luckily my sister got me one for Christmas!  The first dish I attempted to make was Chinese style slow cooked pork for Christmas dinner.  I found a great recipe online, bought a hunk of pork and put everything into the pot on Christmas morning, turned it on low and left for the day.  I went to Glide Memorial Church for a joyful and soulful Christmas service, saw the Nelson Mandela movie, and then by the time I came home, there was a deliciously cooked piece of meat waiting for us!  It turned out so well!  I am very proud of myself as I'm usually intimidated by cooking meat, but I think this crock pot slow cooking thing is the way to go!  I can't wait to try some lentil soup, chili, and honey sesame chicken in my crock pot!  Enjoy this delicious dish!

Ingredients

• 2 lb pork sirloin center cut roast
• 1 cup of gluten free soy sauce/tamari
• 1 cup of gluten free chicken broth (I needed about 2 cups to fill my crockpot because it is a large one, but use 1 cup if you have a regular small crockpot)
• 1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
• 3 tbs maple syrup
• 1 tsp sesame oil, plus a pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp of Chinese Five Spice
• 5 gloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 tbs of freshly grated ginger
• 2 scallions sliced
• 2 cups of sliced shitake mushrooms
• Olive oil, salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a bowl (or tupperware if you want to let it marinate overnight), mix together all of the ingredients except the pork and mushrooms and let sit.
2. Season the pork with salt and pepper, and leaving the string on, fry it in a pan coated in olive oil on medium/high heat for about 7 minutes on each side, or until golden/browned.  
3. Place pork and marinade into the crock pot and turn knob to "low" setting and let cook for about 7 hours.
4. When you think the pork is close to being down (maybe 30 minutes before), throw in the sliced shitake mushrooms.  
5. When the mushrooms are tender and the pork can be pulled apart, turn off the crock pot and serve over rice and steamed bok choy, kale and snow peas!  

New Favorite San Francisco Restaurants

 

It is a good thing for people like me that "gluten free" has become trendy!  More and more restaurants are offering gluten free options and accomodations.  If you have an extreme case of Celiac disease or gluten allergy, please always be cautious in eating at restaurants that are not totally certified gluten free, as there is always a chance of cross contanimation.  Luckily my allergy is not severe, and I have had wonderful experiences eating at great places in my city that accomdate someone like me!  Here is a list of a few new places I've discovered that are very friendly to people with allergies and food restrictions. 

Precita Park Cafe/Dolores Park Cafe/Duboce Park Cafe

This local chain of cafes has a lovely San Francisco vibe, energized by the parks near them, and a warm and friendly atmosphere.  I've always enjoyed their cobb salad and smoothies, but they now have gluten free bread!  Try their delicious turkey, bacon and avocado sandwich or their curry chicken salad sandwich! 

Burger Meister, a classic burger joint in the Bay Area, was a place I used to always walked by, assuming I couldn't eat anything there.  But one evening in Berkeley, while my gluten free mother was visiting, we were wandering around trying to decide where to have dinner, when I suddenly had a craving for a burger.  Burger Meister was right there and we asked if they had gluten free buns, and to our surprise they do!  We gorged on burgers and sweet potato fries!  They also have a gluten free veggie burger that I have yet to try!  Check out one of their multiple locations!

Radish is a relatively new restaurant in the mission that has deliciously fresh comfort food, plus they serve gluten free bread with their sandwiches.  I tried their yummy marinated tofu sandwich and their house made root chips and salad.  They also make their own gluten free flat bread!  Check this place out!

Plant Cafe is high class healthy dining.  Plant Cafe uses local and organic ingredients to make a plethora of dishes that will please vegans, meat eaters, and gluten free folks!  They even have gourmet gluten free pizza, house made kombucha, killer kale salads, and the best acai berry smoothies.  They also have a little take-out cafe including a dessert case that has gluten free sweets like this chocolate mouse brownie treat!  They have several locations including a cafe in the Virgin terminal at SFO.  Seriously, if you have not tried Plant Cafe yet, make it your New Year's resolution!  

Sobo Ramen

I have been waiting for years for someone to invent gluten free ramen, and finally Sobo Ramen opened up in Oakland serving gluten free ramen options!  My friend had a coupon for this place so we made our way over the bridge and enjoyed the most delicious gluten free ramen ever!  You have to check this place out!