Super Simple Pork Roast

Super Simple Pork Roast

National Pork Month is here!  Let me hear a cheer! 

Goodness you’d think I still had a pork queen’s crown on my head with lines like those.  I enjoyed my days working with Iowa pork producers, first as Buena Vista County Pork Queen and then as the State Pork Princess.  I met so many neat people and learned so much about the industry that I’m still a sideline promoter of.   

I married the Farmer Boy in 1999 and spent a good portion of trips back to Iowa while we were dating and engaged helping him run electrical lines, a first generation radiant heat system in pex pipes and set up crates in the farrowing building that Bartling Land & Livestock was building.  The Farmer Boy and I spent our first married New Year’s Eve in that farrowing building making sure the electronics that had been installed were Y2K compliant and that no technological glitches resulted in danger for the sows and piglets in that barn. We are still cautious and diligent in the care we provide to the hogs on our farm.  We have both confinement and hoop barn structures and both produce healthy, safe meat for our nation’s food supply. One production scenario isn’t better than another, they both produce a safe and healthy product that I’m willing to serve to my children and sell to my friends and neighbors.

Our kids now work in that building I help build with the Farmer Boy.  The Mini-Me learned how to do practical application math while she helped wean piglets. “How many cc’s of iron will I need if there are seven piglets and each piglet needs 2 cc’s?” “Two cc’s, seven times means you’ll need 14 cc’s Dad.” The Mini-Farmer Boy is polishing his animal handling skills and improving his eye hand coordination by learning how to catch piglets that can run like greased lightning.  Pork production is providing the chance to educate my children about the food they eat, how to ethically and humanely treat animals and allows my kids to see my husband’s work ethic in action.  I think raising hogs gives us far more than just a paycheck. 

Enough waxing nostalgic about what pork production means to our family.  Here is a tasty and simple roast pork recipe that the Mini-Me can even make.  It is crockpot friendly and is great to come home to on a busy family night.

 

The Groceries:

1 boneless pork roast (is great with a fresh ham, shoulder or loin roasts can be fresh or frozen)

1 Envelope Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix

1 C Water if frozen, 2 C Water if unfrozen

1 Large Onion Sliced in ¼ inch slices (Our family likes 2 onions, but not everyone is onion crazy like we are)

Optional: Bag of baby carrots to add to cooker for an instant side dish.

 

The Process:

Line your crock pot with a disposable cooking bag and spray lightly with cooking spray. Place pork roast in cooker and pour water in bottom.  Spread seasoning mix across the roast and top with slices of onion.  Cover with a lid.  Turn on low and let cook all day while you are at work.  To serve remove roast from cooker, slice and cover with foil to keep warm. Take juices from bag and skim as much fat as you can from them.  Bring to a boil in a sauce pan.  While juices are coming to a boil, add 1 T cornstarch to 1 C milk or water and add to the boiling juices. Salt and Pepper to taste. Stir constantly until thickened.  Serve the gravy over riced or mashed potatoes, with the onion slices served to the side.